(May 1, 2015) The Eastern Shore International Mountain Bicycling Association (ESIMBA) will be hosting a bicycle awareness party on Monday, May 4, at OC House of Rock in West Ocean City.
“People should attend because these five bike and pedestrian groups will be in the same place at once to give their opinions on biking. This is a brainstorming and fact-finding mission,” said event organizer, Tres Denk. “It’s important to the health and well-being of our county. People crossing paths help generate ideas that improve our lives.”
The festivities begin at 7 p.m. with an information gathering session and family-friendly activities taking place. There is no cost to attend, but organizers are raising money and awareness during the event.
“We are introducing our community to bike friendly ideas and will be asking for their ideas as well,” Denk said. “Be prepared to answer the question, what do you wish was better about walking, running and riding bikes in West Ocean City?”
Local community groups such as Berlin Skate Bike Unite and the West Ocean City Pedal Pedestrian Committee will be in attendance.
In addition, the Lower Shore Land Trust will have information on the Assateague Gateway Trail, Bike SBY from Salisbury and Maryland Coastal Bays are all slated for Monday’s activities.
The goal of the event is to help build a safer and better-quality bicycling community in the area.
Denk’s mom is making barbecue and there will be veggies and dip with chips.
DJ Biggler, the voice of the Delmarva Shorebirds, will be providing entertainment and spinning tunes until 10 p.m.
A Chinese auction will take place with items including a bike inspired by Little Miss Lovely, a Dolle’s candy gift basket, K-Coast goodies and prizes from Dogfish Head. In addition, a Wheel of Fortune fundraising game will have water bottles, bike tools and T-shirts, Denk said.
Money collected from the auction will be used to further biking projects including trails at the YMCA and Pocomoke Forest in Pocomoke, to fund events such as Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, Bike Rodeos and to continue educating the community in bike advocacy, he added.
At 9 p.m., the Founders Awards will be presented and trophies will be handed out to ESIMBA’s biggest sponsors, which are Ocean Cycles, Little Miss Lovely, Cycle Works, Dolle’s Candy, Fullcity Media, Fishers Popcorn, Buchanan Subaru, Continental Cycles, Burley Oak and Fenwick Islander Bicycle Shop.
“The last four years could not have been possible without them,” Denk said.
At 10 p.m., the event will cater to adults with hard rock bands, Flytrap and Chainsaw Riot taking the stage. Biking stories are encouraged and there will be discussions on the information shared throughout the evening.
The Eastern Shore International Mountain Bicycling Association is a group of local biking enthusiasts who joined to create, enhance and protect natural surface trails.
“We have been very successful and want to return the support we received from our community to grow and include all types of bicyclists and pedestrians,” Denk said.
In July 2014, members started to explore the idea of a Bike Week for bicycles.
“The Eastern Shore is an awesome destination as we all may agree. However, the journey for pedestrians, runners and bicyclists is less than adequate to average,” Denk said. “We have seen improvements with signs and bike lane markers, but how great could it get? How much better would it be if people could walk around and ride their bikes easily and more safely?”
On Thursday, May 7, from 5-7 p.m. the ESIMBA will host a Bike Rodeo at Herring Creek Nature Park in West Ocean City for kindergarten through fourth grade children and all family members are welcome to attend. Another event will be held on Saturday, May 9, from noon to 2 p.m. at Bainbridge Park, at the North Gate of Ocean Pines.
After a signed waiver, organizers will have a helmet check, give a basic skills course on bikes and then ride the trails. A Worcester County sheriff will attend to provide assistance, and snacks will be given out.
Bring bikes, helmets, water bottles, closed toe shoes, bug spray and sunscreen. There will be several bikes available to use.
Contact Mike Maykrantz for more details at mmaykrantz@comcast.net.
For more information on ESIMBA or its upcoming events, visit www.esimba.org or call 410-430-4992.
