The village of Larchmont Recreation Committee will kick off National Bike Month and the addition of bike lanes to Larchmont Avenue by dusting off the Tour de Larchmont.
on May 6, and cyclists of all ages are encouraged to come out and participate. Photo courtesy Flickr.com
The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., will consist of bicycle decorating, riding and safety tips, followed by a 1.5-mile bike ride through Constitution Park.
“It’s a great event, it gets people out on their bikes,” said Carolyn Lee, co-chair of the Recreation Committee.
Lee said that the last Tour de Larchmont took place in 2011. Since then, the event has been on hiatus due to lack of interest and funding.
Even though participation has varied in past years, Lee said that if the weather is nice, the committee is hoping for a turnout of 100 people.
Jeff Shaffer, chief pedal officer at Westchester Bike Camp, and a certified instructor under the Adventure Cycling Association, will kick off the event by discussing bicycle safety techniques.
“It’s all about having fun and being safe,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer explained that for the past four years he’s combined his interest in coaching and cycling into teaching children, teens and adults cycling at Westchester Bike Camp, which offers one-on-one bike riding lessons as well as training for more long-term cycling rides.
Shaffer is passionate about bike safety, and says that helmets should fit snuggly, with two fingers worth of space between a person’s eyebrows and the beginning of the helmet.
“I see lots of people with helmets way back on their head,” he said. “People fall forwards, so you need to protect your forehead, that’s the strike zone.”
The Tour de Larchmont will also coincide with the introduction of the Skull Patrol, a program sponsored by the village Recreation Committee and the Larchmont Chamber 10538 who have partnered with the Larchmont Police Department.
There will be police officers on bikes throughout Larchmont that will be giving out tickets to children who are using their helmets properly. Those tickets can then be exchanged for a reward, including pizza, candy or a small toy.
Lee explained that after a child exchanges a ticket, he or she will be entered in a raffle for a new bike; the winner will be chosen in September. Miller’s Bike Shop and Caldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have agreed to donate bikes for the raffle.
Walter’s Hot Dog truck will be on hand selling food to participants of the Tour de Larchmont, and DJ Joe Tribuzio will provide music.
There is no registration necessary and those interested are encouraged to just show up.
Note: A previous version of this article said that the Tour de Larchmont was through Constitution Park. The Tour de Larchmont begins at Constitution Park and goes through Larchmont Avenue through Larchmont Manor and ends at Constitution Park.
