COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Take a ride with Bicyclists of Iowa City

Editor's note: Mary Copper of Coralville has been a Bicyclist of Iowa City member since 2000 and a board member since 2005, working as publicist.

By Mary Copper, community contributor

Come along for the ride.

The Bicyclists of Iowa City, known as BIC, was founded in 1976 and is a bike club with almost 500 members from the Iowa City area. BIC is known locally and regionally for our cycling advocacy and our wide schedule of activities and events. We plan rides almost every day of the week, catering to beginners as well as intermediate and advanced riders.

Our rides include in-town riding and regional touring. Benefits of a BIC membership include participating in scenic and challenging bike routes, safety and support on longer rides, along with great friendship and camaraderie.

Saturday and Sunday touring rides are planned year-round (weather permitting) and range in distance from 20 to 100 miles.

Saturday rides focus more on the general group enjoyment of the ride. These are casual rides where we stop to regroup at certain points along the route in order to refresh ourselves. Most rides are slow to mid-paced. Ride leaders will look after the slowest rider so no one is left behind and the group typically sticks close enough together to be seen.

Sunday touring rides are a bit more focused on the miles and training aspect of cycling. If you are training for RAGBRAI and other long mileage events, and are more focused on mileage than conversation, these are excellent rides. You don't need to be a faster rider to ride one of these rides, but you should be prepared to complete the mileage selected for that day.

BIC also has a series of urban rides which are scheduled in distances of 5 to 20 miles and for those who ride less than 10 miles per hour. They are perfect for the beginning or new rider who wants to increase his or her cycling skills or just hang out with a great group of people. All riders stay together as a group.

BIC also offers three weekday rides. Every Tuesday morning, the group, known as “2sday 2wheelers” will gather at the designated point and begin the ride at 9 a.m., weather permitting. Rides vary in length from 30-45 miles and the pace averages round 12-14 mph. Tuesday morning rides are scheduled from April through October.

Every Wednesday night we meet at a designated starting point at either 5:30 or 6 p.m. We take a “loop route” which varies in length from 22 to 32 miles, and at a faster pace, around 13-20 mph. These are every Wednesday from April through September.

If you're a beginner or a casual recreational rider, join us every Thursday evening for a leisure ride around Iowa City via the trails and low traffic roads. Scheduled from May through August, rides may extend into October based on weather conditions and general interest.

BIC also offers several special event rides each year.

In April, we start the season off right with a short ride from a local establishment. We'll ride 15 to 25 miles to get those who have been out of shape since November some time to warm up their legs. Afterward, be treated to a hospitality and lots of good food while being surrounded by your friends.

The season has begun.

In May, BIC members have a special Cylcle De Mayo ride. They also take a little cycling vacation at the end of May. The The MARVelous Memorial Weekend Ride will take BCI members to historical and pleasurable places around the Iowa-Illinois-Minnesota area. A different place every year.

Independence Day in July brings the annual Amana Breakfast Ride, a bike ride through the rolling countryside rewarded with an all-you-can-eat breakfast in Amana. Bring your appetite for this one as the food is practically unlimited.

The last full week in July is the annual RAGBRAI. BIC provides RAGBRAI wristbands, transportation to and from the start and end points, and hauls baggage for members. This is the ride that many members start training for in April.

In late August, BIC hosts the annual Courage Ride. This ride is fully supported with rest stops and sag wagon, as well as a waffle breakfast and prizes. Help us in our joint effort with the Bailey family to raise money for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

In October, we end the season with the Spooks on the Trail ride. A casual trail ride with cyclists decorated in costume, it's a fitting end as the snowy season is just around the corner.

In December, BIC members decorate their bikes with lights and do a Holiday Lights Ride that is followed up with warming food and beverages.

BIC is a very friendly and welcoming group whether one wishes to join to gain proficiency as a cyclist, or for the social aspects. Even in the off-season BIC members gather to stay active. When there is too much snow for cycling, members meet for cross country skiing and tailgate with hot chocolate, cider and snacks.

BIC has provided financial support to many local cycling causes such as signs for the trails, trail maps, the RAGBRAI Dream Team, Bikes for Kids and Think Bicycles. There also is also the opportunity to donate your time to fun local events through BIC members support the Old Capitol Criterion and the Jingle Cross Rock bike races by acting as corner marshals.

BIC members also volunteer to do valet bike parking at local events such as the Arts Fest and the Jazz fest. Each year the club puts on bike rodeos for the local grade schools to promote safety and cycling with children.

BIC has meetings year-round, all which are open to the public. Our Executive Board meetings usually include club business pertaining to current topics of interests, issues, events, etc. The General Meetings usually include more advocacy items, or general entertainment presentations which may include picture slideshows, RAGBRAI information, education, etc.

Check the latest edition of the BIC newsletter, the BICycle Post, to obtain the information on the next club meeting or check out the online calendar the BIC website. http://www.bicyclistsofiowacity.org

BIC memberships are just $20 per year for an individual or $25 per year for a family.

More information at http://www.bicyclistsofiowacity.org/pdf/membership.pdf