CIBA Newsletter Article
June 27, 2009 - N.I.T.E. Ride's Outreach Surges
The SIXTEENTH annual N.I.T.E. Ride was held Saturday, June 27, 2009
at the
Major Taylor Velodrome. Beautiful - but HOT - weather was on hand for all
of the day's events, cooling off nicely for the MAIN EVENT at 11:00pm.
Participation levels shattered previous records for the event, with nearly
3,000 registered riders this year. "We're thrilled with the response",
said
Event Director Dan Shields. "Especially considering the heavy rain
we had
last year, we were quite surprised to have over 2,600 - a record number -
register in advance. We're certainly reaching more and more people in our
mission to promote bicycling for recreation, exercise, commuting, and
touring."
The N.I.T.E. Ride's outreach also included support of World Bicycle Relief,
a public charity whose mission "is to provide access to independence and
livelihood through The Power of Bicycles." World Bicycle Relief has
already
provided more than 50,000 bicycles to individuals in Zambia and in areas
affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. World Bicycle Relief had a
prominent display area at the N.I.T.E. Ride and also provided educational
material to each participant. For more information, please see:
www.worldbicyclerelief.org
The N.I.T.E. Ride went through the IUPUI campus, past the State Capitol,
around Monument Circle, to the Rest Stop at the American Legion Mall, then
up Meridian Street through the near North Side and the Butler University
campus before returning to the Velodrome. Everyone then enjoyed a pasta
dinner from Fazoli's Italian Restaurant and LIVE MUSIC from the great
Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra.
The 2010 N.I.T.E. Ride is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 11:00pm.
SEE YOU THERE!!!
Everyone owes a big THANK YOU to the N.I.T.E. Ride Committee as
well as
the 130 volunteers who worked so hard to put on such a great cycling
event:
Eric Schwarzkopf: Marketing & Publicity
Randy Schmucker: Website
Coordinator
Rick Taylor: Parking
Set-up
Roger Stevens: Event
Parking
Linda and Joe Hunter-Lattak: Onsite Registration
Madelyn Zalon: Merchandise
Michael Crouch: Event
Logistics & Facility Set-Up
Elaine Carter: Route & Safety
Ron Gurth and Sally Search: Rest Stop
Michelle & Troy Harding: Post-Ride
Party
Rosemary Thomas: Treasurer
and Pre-Registration
Catherine Dusing & P.J. Weir: Volunteer Coordinators
Dan Shields: Director,
Online Registration, and
Entertainment
Special thanks also to Sgt. Bret McAtee of the Indianapolis Police
Department and Kevin Wilmouth, Special Events Coordinator for Wishard
Hospital, for setting up excellent emergency communications and coverage of
the route with over 80 police officers and two ambulances, and to Bicycle
Garage Indy for their pre-ride merchandise sale, three "rolling bike shop"
minivans, many staff on bicycles equipped with tools and supplies and
dispersed throughout the rider pack, and mechanical support before and
during the ride. BGI's support, with over 30 staff onsite, was critical
in
making this event safe and enjoyable by all, and is very much appreciated!
THANK YOU to N.I.T.E. Ride Sponsors
BIG THANKS go to the 2009 N.I.T.E. Ride sponsors! Please support
these
sponsors and make sure to let them know how much you appreciate their
support of the N.I.T.E. ride:
Bicycle Garage Indy
Giant Bicycles
Kroger
Markey's Audio Visual
Fazoli's Italian Restaurants
Advance Sweeping Services
Aqua Systems
Nabisco
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Major Taylor Velodrom
Copyright © 2009, Randy Schmucker and his licensors. All rights reserved.