2009 Bicycle Week Events March 21 st 28 th / Charlotte County

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1 BMX COMPETITION Florida State Series / Qualifiers - March 13-15, 22,25,28 located Charlotte BMX Punta Gorda, a volunteer organization which has riders of all ages and skill levels. Beginners get to practice and train with national and world class riders. Charlotte BMX encourages you to visit their facility. TASTE OF PUNTA GORDA Sponsored by Rotary - March 28 located at Laishley Park. Come join Punta Gorda s restaurateurs, local bands, community groups for a fun filled family day. Hours: 10am 5pm Traffic Safety Class by Acme Bicycle Shop & Peace River Riders Bicycle Club March 22 class location at 3745 Tamiami Trail (First Financial Services of Charlotte County (FFSCC) in Port Charlotte. Learn how to ride your bike safely and confidently through a Smart Cycling course from the League of American Bicyclists. The short course, Traffic Skills 101 is a full day course for bicyclists. You will learn the importance of Lane Positioning, State Laws, Handy Tips, Evasive Maneuvers and more. Class cost is $45. You need to bring your helmets, pens, highlighters, snacks, lunch money and be prepared to do a 10 mile ride. Bikes N Brunch Sponsored by Team Punta Gorda March 21 Enjoy a Saturday morning, no-spandex bicycle ride and stop at 4 different area restaurants for a complimentary breakfast treat. Children over the age of 12 are welcome. Helmets are required. Ride departs Punta Gorda Acme Bicycle Shop promptly at 9AM. Call Acme for any questions and to pre-register. $5 donation to Team Punta Gorda.

2 HELMET FITTINGS March BICYCLE RODEO March 28 BICYCLE CLASSES March During Bicycle Week, classes are scheduled throughout the week to help riders learn how to maintain their bikes, how to deal with riding responsibly and how to eliminate failures while on a ride. There is no charge for most the classes, although the Traffic 101 Class on Sunday does have a small fee. March 21 - A class in bike fitting will be offered 11:00 AM at the Bicycle Center at 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Florida. The class will help riders learn the appropriate way to adjust their bicycles to their body. Each rider is different and in order to make the best use of the bicycle, the adjustments made have to be exact. Come learn how to make your bike your own! Call for info. March 22 - The Peace River Riders Bicycle Club are hosting League Certified Instructors Lyndy Moore and Earl Lang who will present Traffic Tamiami Trail (First Financial Services of Charlotte County (FFSCC) in Port Charlotte For complete information check out March 23 - Class helps you learn what you need to carry on your bike and how to check it before you leave home. This class begins at 6 PM at the Bicycle Center at 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Florida. Call for info. March 24 - Riders will progress even further as they learn the rules of the road. Included will be how to ride if you are on a sidewalk and how that differs if you are on the road. This class will be held at 6:00 PM at the Bicycle Center at 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Florida Call for info.

3 BICYCLE CLASSES (Continued) March 25 - Class highlights how to deal with getting home if you have a flat or chain failure while on a ride. This class is being offered at 6:00 PM at the Bicycle Center at 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Florida Call for info. March 26 - The riders will learn how to maintain their bikes so that they can avoid failures while out on the road. Preventive maintenance can make a big difference. This class will be held at 6:00 PM at the Bicycle Center at 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Florida Call for info. March 27 - How to ride in a group is the topic of Friday s class at 7:00 PM at Acme Bicycle Shop located at 1700 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL Earl Lang, a League Certified Instructor will lead this class. More information can be obtained by calling March 28 - You can join a group of riders leaving the Acme Bicycle Shop at 615 Cross St. in Punta Gorda, FL Rides leave promptly at 8:30 AM. For more information call CHILDREN S BICYCLE DECORATING CLASS & PARADE March 28 The Children s Bicycle Decorating Class and Parade will be held Saturday morning at 10 AM. The parade will be held after the children have finished their decorating. They will proceed down the sidewalks of Laishley Park so that they can be given observed for awards for the Most Colorful, Most Unusual and Most Imaginative. Crepe paper, tape and so forth will be supplied. They are encouraged to bring any special items they might wish to use including costumes.

4 HELMET PROMOTION March sponsored by TEAM Punta Gorda. A list of businesses participating in the event will be available from each merchant. Local businesses will display a poster encouraging proper use & helmet fitting when bicycling. Each business displaying the poster will offer a premium to bicycle riders entering the store. Riders can pick up a punch card at any of the locations and any participants in the Helmet Promotion who have a completed punch card can drop it into a container for the drawing to be held on the last day of Bicycle Week, 28th. PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS SUNART Taylor Street 10% discount on any art related item if they come in with their helmet on or in hand. PRESSELLER DELICATESSEN West Olympia Avenue 10% discount at Presseller Deli FLORIDA COMMUNITY BANK - Nesbit & East Marion Ave. First year annual fee waived on medium safe deposit box when you open any new FCB checking account. SWISS CHOCOLATE - West Virginia Ave & Sullivan Street FREE cold drink: Soda, Water, Tea or Coffee PAPILLON W. Virginia Avenue Don t forget I m from Belgium and in Antwerp, we have more bikes than cars; 15% off any items for bikers! (except sale items of course) TIKI S CLOTHING West Marion Ave 10% discount SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES that SUPPORT US BICYCLERS! Thank You! SO. SOUSALITO Sullivan Street 10% discount CAFÉ RUELLE West Marion Avenue (in garden alleyway) FREE Beverage with the purchase of a wrap or sandwich from 11am to 3pm CAFÉ RUELLE TOO King Street (Darkwood Center/PG) BUY one Gatorade and get one FREE. Hours: 10am to 2pm Monday thru Saturday

5 CYCLING WITH NEIGHBORS When Governor Crist proclaimed March Bicycle Month in Florida, Danne Varel was excited by the opportunity it presented to the Peace River Riders Bicycle Club and the community of Punta Gorda. March has been designated as Bicycle Week in which Cycling with Neighbors a goal of Danne s to spread the fever of bicycling, instead of the flu. The Peace River Riders Bicycling Club has invited FOUR bicycle clubs from neighboring areas, in fostering community bicycle spirit, to join with them in hosting the event in Charlotte County on March 28th. Each Club will be responsible for 1 route into Punta Gorda. They will bring riders from outlying parking areas into the City of Punta Gorda. When the groups reach Laishley Park in the center of the city, the riders will have the opportunity to enjoy the Taste of Punta Gorda or join groups visiting Muscle Car City, Fishermen s Village, the Restaurants or the historical Murals located on the building sides throughout the town. All riders will be required to wear helmets. Routes have been selected to minimize traffic and enjoy the experience of riding. Rides into town will depart from the parking areas at 9, 10, 11, and 12 o clock. Rides out of town, returning people to their parking locations will continue hourly until 4pm. The 4 parking areas will be: NORTH First Financial 3745 Tamiami Trail - Port Charlotte SOUTH Muscle Car City 3811 Tamiami Trail - Punta Gorda EAST Winn Dixie Bermont Road - Punta Gorda WEST Fishermen s Village 1200 W. Retta Esplanade - Punta Gorda