Culinary Ride expands to Cedar Rapids and beyond

CEDAR RAPIDS - An Iowa City celebration of food and bicycles is expanding this year. For the first time The Culinary Ride will host rides in Cedar Rapids, Ames and the Quad Cities this month.

The Culinary Ride takes participants on a biking tour of Corridor farms and other local food destinations, with stops for snacks prepared by area chefs along the way.

Culinary Ride creative director Audrey Wiedemeier said the original ride, which started in Iowa City in 2011, has grown considerably. Last year, she said almost 400 people attended.

'We wanted to keep it community-oriented and intimate,” she said. 'We noticed people from other communities coming to Iowa City to do the ride, so we decided to branch out.”

In addition to the Sept. 21 Iowa City ride, rides will be held in the Quad Cities Sept. 14 and in Ames and Cedar Rapids Sept. 7.

The Cedar Rapids ride will start at NewBo City Market, following an almost 46 miles route. Riders will stop at Matthew 25's Urban Farm, the soon-to-open Cedar Rapids New Pioneer Co-Op, Allen's Orchard, Indian Creek Nature Center and the Winery at Kirkwood. It will end with an after-party featuring barbecue, beer and cupcakes back at NewBo City Market.

Baysha Lichty, NewBo market and programming manager, said the ride fits right in with NewBo's mission.

'Everything we do we try to revolve around local - whether breweries, farms or wineries,” she said. 'If you can actually go visit those places, that goes really well with our vision here at the market.”

Part of the proceeds from the ride, which costs $45 in advance and $55 the day of the ride, will benefit Matthew 25 and Horizon's Meals on Wheels program. Tickets are available online at http://culinaryride.com/ with online sales ending Sept. 5.

The Iowa City ride will benefit Youth Off-Road Riders and the Iowa City Farm to School chapter. Iowa City riders will be able to chose between a 25 mile route and a 65 mile route. Cyclists will stop at Yellow Velo, Wilson's Orchard, VersaLand, Beuter Farms, Salt Fork Kitchen, Big Grove Brewery and University of Iowa student gardens.

Wiedemeier said she hopes the Culinary Ride inspires people to give both local eating and bicycling a try.

'If you can bike 40 miles and go visit a farmer, you can bike to the grocery store,” she said. 'We want to create this local food and bicycle revolution that adds to the momentum that is happening across the United States.”

IF YOU GO

'What

: Culinary Ride

'When

: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

'Where

: NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

'Cost

: $45 in advance and $55 the day of the ride

'Details

: Culinaryride.com