Bike Month kicks off with tour of city

Bike Habitat is hosting its seventh annual Tour of Carson City on Sunday.

“It celebrates the anniversary of the opening of Bike Habitat and the kickoff of National Bike Month,” said owner Denis Coyne. “And it showcase bike riding in Carson City.”

The 27-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. at the store on Topsy Lane and loops around the perimeter of Carson City. Lunch will be served afterward.

“It gives people an opportunity to do a significant bike ride through the scenic areas of Carson City,” Coyne said. “It’s a beautiful bike ride on a Sunday morning, when traffic levels are really low. It’s a low-stress, low-key, local bike ride.”

He said this year’s course will vary slightly from years before to detour around freeway construction. There will be a rest stop about halfway through the ride.

“It’s not going to be just refilling water bottles,” Coyne said. “There will be special treats.”

The most difficult part of the course, he said, will be climbing the hill up College Parkway and around Combs Canyon Road to hit the bike path that runs behind Western Nevada College. For those who want to avoid the most strenuous part of the climb, there will be an option to take a shortcut over to Winnie Lane.

He said everyone is welcome, but participants should understand the course.

“It’s 30 miles with about 1,000 feet of climbing,” he said. “It’s a road ride, a recreational ride, but it’s a little more than a commuter ride.”

He said riders should be able to maintain about a 10 mph pace.

Events are scheduled throughout May to celebrate National Bike Month, including Bike to School Day on Wednesday. The commuter challenge, which awards prizes in most miles, average miles per participant and number of trips, will run during Bike to Work Week on May 12-16. The week will culminate with a party at the Firkin and Fox on May 16.

To join the commuter challenge or for more information about Bike Month, go to musclepowered.org