WABASH, Ind. – The Dam to Dam Ride (D2D) committee and Breakaway Bike and Fitness Shop have collaborated on a new health and wellness initiative that centers itself around the grassroots movement that started the annual Dam to Dam ride. Beginning the first Saturday in May, the Liking for Biking riding series will kick off as a family-friendly fun ride, connecting people who simply enjoy riding their bicycle.
From May through September, anyone who is interested in riding their bike during the Liking for Biking series is invited to meet at O.J. Neighbours Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. A member of the Dam to Dam committee will serve as the point of contact each month. Rain date is the following Sunday.
Breakaway Bike Shop will continue the riding series with Friday Feast Rides beginning June 16. Each month riders meet at a different restaurant and cycle 15-20 easy miles and then enjoy dinner together. “The feast rides offer the shorter-distance rider a fun way to socialize with other people who enjoy a similar cycling level,” said Shannon See, co-owner of Breakaway Bike Shop. “After the ride, we just grab a quick bite to eat before heading home. It’s really fun.”
In 2010, William Rauh gathered a handful of his friends to ride the Wabash County Bike Route in celebration of his milestone birthday. The group of friends enjoyed the leisure of riding bikes together throughout Wabash County so much that they chose to continue to make the ride an annual event. Organically, the event grew by word of mouth until 2014 when the local organizers partnered with Visit Wabash County to grow participation in what is now known as the Dam to Dam Wabash County Century Ride.
“It has always been about riding my bike with friends and family,” said William Rauh, founder of the event and committee member. “The Dam to Dam Committee wants to hold true to the foundation of the event; that simple feeling of just riding your bike, breathing in fresh air and hanging out with friends. That is why the D2D event is a ‘tour’ and not a ‘race’.”
September 10th will mark the 8th anniversary of the Dam to Dam Wabash County Century Ride presented by Parkview Wabash Hospital.
Breakaway Bike Shop’s Friday Feast rides are scheduled for June 16, July 28, August 18, and September 15. Families and friends are invited to meet at a particular restaurant and ride twelve to twenty miles each time. A full location and event calendar is available on the Dam to Dam or Breakaway Bike Shop website.
The Liking for Biking series is free and open to everyone at any age and at any level. Anyone who chooses to participate will receive a $5 gift certificate to Breakaway Bike & Fitness Shop and a complementary t-shirt just for being a part of the biking series. Specific information regarding each of the family friendly fun rides is available on the Dam to Dam website.