Citizen Staff Writer
ALAN FISCHER
afischer@tucsoncitizen.com
Tucson’s Clean Air Days & Bike Fest will wheel a new cycling event into town April 19.
The New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride will put pairs of cyclists through a huge obstacle course downtown, said Josh Kravetz, organizer of the event billed as a scavenger hunt.
Riders will start downtown, make their way to five known checkpoints and three mystery sites, then race back to the finish line.
The team posting the quickest elapsed time wins, he said.
Participants will be required to take on physical challenges that could include riding adult-sized Big Wheel trikes, bike jousting, human wheelbarrow races and human bumper cars, as well as mental challenges that could include long division, he said.
“We try to make it the most fun that anyone has ever experienced,” Kravetz said.
Teams may visit the checkpoints in any order they choose. However, he urged participants to carefully plan their routes to log the quickest time.
The winning two-person team will receive a pair of single-speed cruiser bikes, he said.
Participants can expect to ride about 20 miles, with no checkpoint more than five miles from the start-finish line.
“We want riders to go through the cool parts of town and get a feel for riding through the city,” Kravetz said. “We want to show how great bikes are for transportation.”
The events educate the public on such topics as bike advocacy and sustainability, he said.
The entry fee is $45 per person through Saturday, and increases to $60 per person afterward.
Tucson was selected to kick off the 10-city 2009 Urban Assault Ride series because of the area’s strong cycling scene, good weather and abundant opportunities for road and mountain bike rides, he said.
Clean Air Days & Bike Fest, organized by Pima County, Pima Association of Governments and the city of Tucson, boasts dozens of cycling related activities throughout the month of April.
New cycling challenge to roll into town
IF YOU GO
What: New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride bicycle challenge
When: noon April 19
Where: Maynard’s Market and Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave.
Who: two-person teams, minimum age 7 riding with parent; teams must have one member 18 or older.
Price: $45 per person until Saturday, then $60 per person Sunday through April 17.
Info: www.urbanassaultride.com