Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club bike festivities set June 3

Every summer, Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club athletes work to enhance their skill development for the next season. Some athletes focus on air awareness at Buttermilk Glacier and on our ramps and trampolines, others run and rollerski all over the valley, and many supplement their training though our bike programs, now in their eighth summer.

To kick off our summer cycling programs, which now include a free clinic for beginners, we’ve organized a community bike ride, the Community Pedaleando, happening Saturday at Willits Town Center. It is a fun all-ages bike ride from Willits to Rock Bottom Ranch and back (just over 6 miles). The ride is entirely free and is open to all — no connection to AVSC required.

The ride rolls out at 9 a.m., but the festivities start at 8 a.m. with refreshments, bike decoration and safety checks. All riders will be entered into a raffle to win a bicycle from Basalt Bike and Ski, an Aspen Skiing Co. Snowmass summer lift pass with a $150 gift certificate and a Contour HD Action Camera.

Please plan to join us for a community adventure on the Rio Grande Trail, and bring your family and friends. If you have children who need a bike or helmet for the ride, please contact Miah Wheeler at mwheeler@teamavsc.org.

AVSC is grateful for the enthusiastic support and help from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen City of Wellbeing, Aspen Community Foundation, Aspen Cycling Club, Skico, Aspen Valley Hospital, Basalt Bike and Ski, Basalt Fire & Rural District, Basalt Police Department, Clif Bar, CycleBar, Giant Bicycles, Hotel Jerome, Hub of Aspen, Pitkin Open Space and Trails, RFTA, Roaring Fork Cycling, Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, The Little Nell, town of Basalt, town of Carbondale, Valley Settlement, We-cycle and Willits Town Center.

We’d welcome additional volunteers for the Community Pedaleando; if you’re interested in helping, please sign up at http://www.teamavsc.org/events. As a thank you, all volunteers will be entered in a drawing to win one of three Whole Foods gift certificates.

Whether you are riding or volunteering, join us for a fun day where you’ll learn more about AVSC’s summer bike programs, athlete development, and community outreach.

We look forward to riding and skiing with you.

Mark Godomsky

Aspen