Inaugural Asbury bike tour to be held on Saturday "It's a way to invite people to come together and visit every part of the city"

By Molly Mulshine

Bikers of all stripes can enjoy a bicycle tour of Asbury Park this Saturday.

Registration for Bike Asbury Park starts at the lot across the street from the Springwood Center at 1201 Springwood Ave. at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 16. The event is free of charge and the only requirement is that each participant wear a helmet.

Cyclists will be led on a 4.7-mile tour of the city, encompassing “the north, south, east and west sections of the city,” said fire department member and co-organizer Nick Marino.

Any type of bicycle, from road bike to beach cruiser, is welcome at the event, city manager Terence Reidy said. “If you want to come with a three-wheeler it doesn’t matter, as long as you wear a helmet.”

The event is not a race, Marino said, and cyclists can enjoy a leisurely rate of around 11 to 15 miles per hour.

“It’s just a nice outing, being able to see the city from two wheels,” Marino said. “There’s a little fitness involved with it, as well as fresh air. It’s just another way to enjoy Asbury Park.”

The event was born of a conversation between Reidy and city employees Gary Puyer and Cassandra Dickerson, all of whom are cyclists. Reidy had completed the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York City, and wanted to bring something similar to Asbury Park.

“We said if we were going to do a community ride, we had to make sure we were in every section of the city and invite people to join us,” Reidy said.

Marino, who Reidy describes as a “monster cyclist,” was also brought on to the biker tour team. He created the 4.7-mile route for the tour.

The bicycle has become an increasingly popular mode of transportation around town, Reidy said. There is an increase of beach cruisers in town due to the rentals available at Brielle Cyclery, as well as packs of more serious cyclists with helmets and equipment.

Workers from Brielle Cyclery will be on hand to provide tune-ups before the tour. After the ride, cyclists can enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers and music at the lot across from the Springwood Center.

“We’re going to make sure we go through every part of town,” Reidy said. “This is really an opportunity to ride around town in a very leisurely way and just see the community.”

Jun 14, 2012