Sequim looks to celebrate National Bike Month

There are plenty of chances to warm up for summer riding during May — National “Bike Month” — with rides and other safe activities promoted by the Sequim Bicycle Alliance.

Sequim Bicycle Alliance is an umbrella coordinating group for bicycling interests in eastern Clallam County, furthering the goals of Sequim’s Bronze-level “Bike Friendly Community” designation: education, encouragement, engineering, evaluation and planning, enforcement, and economic development.

Because of public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bike Month activities this May will, as in 2020, focus on individual and family activities.

Specific activities

• Print the 2021 Bike Bingo card and proclaim “BINGO!” each time you finish a row.

• Take photos of rides and post on social media with the hashtags #BikeMonth and #BikeSunnySequim, or on @SequimCycling pages

• Enjoy some friendly competition? Create or join a team for the “Bike Everywhere Challenge” (check out lovetoride.net/washington). Organizers say this is a great way to motivate yourself, family and friends to ride. Earn points by riding miles and by encouraging others.

• Saturday Market Days: Sequim Bike Works will have a raffle fundraiser to go along with free demonstrations of bike maintenance and repairs and basic bike safety checks. (standard social distancing and mask requirements apply)

Events/rides

• 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8 — Socially-distanced and safe ride the Olympic Discovery Trail to Sequim Bay State Park and back. Meet at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza, on the west side along Cedar Street.

• 4 p.m. Monday, May 17 — The City’s Parks, Arbor, and Recreation Board meets online and be happy to hear from the cycling community with ideas, opportunities, and concerns regarding bicycling in the city. Online meeting link and agenda at sequimwa.gov/219/Parks-Arbor-and-Recreation-Board.

• 7:30-9:30 a.m. Friday, May 21 — National “Bike to Work (or Anywhere) Day.” Morning commuters get a free cup of coffee and discounted treats courtesy Rainshadow Coffee and Café, 157 W. Cedar St. Social distancing and mask requirements apply.

• 12:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, May 28 — Sequim Wheelers host a meet-and-greet at Carrie Blake Community Park, behind the Guy Cole Center at the covered pavilion (look for picnic tables); standard social distancing and mask requirements apply. Sequim Wheelers is a nonprofit that offers adaptive bike rides to elderly and disabled community members.

Anytime activities

• 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. — Women on Wheels (WoW) meet at Railroad Bridge Park/Dungeness River Audubon Center for safe group rides. Contact: Jeanie Robards, nwbikerlady@gmail.com

• 9:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday — The Spoke Folks Cycling Club rolls out at from 950 N. Fifth Ave. (Sequim Community Church’s north lot). Rides average 20 miles, moderate speed, no drops, riders welcome, helmets required. Contact: Tom Coonelly at 360-681-7053 or check out olympicpeninsulacycling.com.

• 9:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — Sequim Easy Riders medium-paced group. Contact: Bob Anundson at sequimboy@gmail.com.

• 9:30 a.m. every Sunday — The Sequim Sunday Riders depart from the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge at 554 Voice of America Road for a 25-plus-mile ride. Contact: Randy Barber at 360-477-4156.

More info

Bike Month events are coordinated by members of the Sequim Bicycle Alliance with special support and contributions this year from City of Sequim, Sequim Bike Works, Sequim Wheelers and Rainshadow Coffee and Cafe.

Find an updated schedule and details at sequimwa.gov/933/Bike-Month and Facebook/Instagram search for “Sequim Bicycle Alliance” or use @SequimCycling or #bikesunnysequim.

For the media savvy, register with local Strava clubs such as “Take a Spin in Sequim,” “Sequim Bike Works,” “Ben’s Bikes Sequim” and “Port Angeles Likes Bikes” at Strava.com.