7th Annual Garrett Wonders Memorial Bike Race coming to Downtown Columbus.
07/16/2010-Downtown Columbus streets will come alive Sunday, August 1st with the excitement of European style road racing as elite cyclists from throughout the Midwest and beyond wind through the capitol city streets.
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“Columbus is earning a reputation as one of the nation’s top up-and-coming bike cities,” Mayor Coleman said. “We are looking forward to hosting as many as 300 national class racers and thousands of spectators. As Mayor, I am also very excited that Downtown Columbus will be hosting its first bike race in many years.”
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The start /finish line located on High street in front of the State House is the site of registration which begins at 7am. Morning races will feature lycra clad men and women on high performance racing bikes of varying ages and abilities ranging from former national champions to 12 year old first time racers. Afternoon races focus on community bicyclists with everything from free children’s races to beginner fat tire adult races
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“Our goal is to introduce men and women of all ages and abilities to the joy and excitement of bicycle racing at an exciting venue.” said volunteer organizer, Kurt Lehmkuhl, “and to raise money for the Garrett Wonders Memorial Fund.”
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The Garrett Wonders Memorial Bike Race is held in the memory of Garrett Wonders, a 25 year-old OSU graduate, veteran and member of the Armed Forces cycling team, and an Olympic hopeful, who was tragically struck and killed by a car while on a training ride in 2004. The race raises money to promote cycling safety, awareness and provides an annual scholarship to a member of the OSU cycling club of which Garrett was president before graduating with Masters in Nuclear Engineering.
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This year’s 7th Annual Garrett Wonders Memorial Bike Race expands to two-days. The weekend begins in Uptown Westerville at 21 South State Street, on the Saturday, July 31st with races running from 8 am to 12:30 pm. The second day moves to Downtown Columbus on Sunday, August 1st. The course begins on High Street in front of the Statehouse heading north, to Broad. Broad turns west, downhill before reaching the river and turning south onto Civic Center Drive. This flat slightly curving two lane road contours the river until the course takes a tight left hand corner onto the three blocks of new uphill granite cobbles of Town Street, making a steep little climb before reaching the level asphalt of High Street, back to the start finish line in front of the State House.
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Though the race attracts racers from as far away as South Carolina and Quebec, there is something for the whole family with free street sprints for children ages 2-10 years of age with all entrants receiving free Jeni’s ice cream and Community Fat tire race for anyone with a bike who wants to give the course a try with gift certificates awarded for Tip Top, who will be open to cater to racers of all types after the event. Visit www.garrettwondersrace.com. for more information.
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CONTACT:
Kurt Lehmkuhl
Garrett Wonders Memorial Fund
614-381-9047
ktlehmkuhl@hotmail.com
