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THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 23, No. 17
April 26, 2023
SLOW RIDE
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
EXPLORE THE CITY ON TWO WHEELS WITH BIKE PENSACOLA By Morgan Cole
T
hour. The pace is very leisurely and no one gets left behind.
he freedom and excitement
Every ride features a different
you feel while riding a bike
route, and Wagley believes one of
are unlike any other mode
the event’s biggest draws is that it
of transportation. Whether you
exposes people to parts of the city
enjoy leisurely riding with friends
or other areas that they have never
or use your bike to commute on a
been to or considered learning
regular basis, there’s something
about before.
thrilling about using a bicycle to
The first ever Slow Ride was held
explore the streets of your own city.
in May of 2015 with a group of just 17
It’s not only an efficient and fun way
people, and has since, quickly grown
to explore all that Pensacola has
to the most popular ride in town.
to offer, it also allows you to take
According to Wagley, the leisure
in your natural surroundings and
side of the sport has taken off way
from fast-moving traffic.
gain a truly immersive perspective
more than the competitive side,
“The first Slow Ride was on a
on the city.
but he welcomes it all. Part of the
Friday night ride with a couple of
From the scenic views of the Gulf
reason for this shift, he explained, is
dozen friends. Within a few months,
of Mexico and slow rides through
various infrastructure changes that
it grew to 150 people, which told
quaint neighborhoods, to white-
have been made to make the road-
us that this was something that the
knuckling down wooded off-road
ways safer for cyclists and pedestri-
community very much wanted,”
trails, there’s no shortage of beauti-
ans, including changing Palafox to
Wagley recalled.
ful places to explore that provide a
a two-way street.
Although the Bike Pensacola Slow
wonderful way to get closer to nature
Wagley has been biking every-
Ride event evolved from humble
while also discovering some of the
where in Downtown for close to
origins, it has grown to become one
area’s hidden gems.
20 years and is thrilled about the
of the most popular outdoor leisure
community acceptance of the bike-
events in the city, now drawing close
curious lifestyle.
to 300 riders each month.
Thanks to the diligent work being done by local organizations like Bike Pensacola, the cycling culture
“People who participate in that
Join Bike Pensacola for the most
in Pensacola is improving. Estab-
will talk to people around them and
popular ride in town. The next Slow
lished in 2015 by local biking enthu-
that’s how cultural changes happen,”
Ride event is tentatively scheduled for
siast, environmental advocate and
Wagley said. “That’s how biking grew
April 29 at 10:30 am. Riders will meet
Bike Pensacola Executive Director,
in Pensacola and that’s how it will
at Malaga Square located at 1000 East
Christian Wagley, Bike Pensacola is
continue to grow.”
Blount Street in East Hill. A kid’s Slow
a coalition of bicyclists, bike clubs,
Wagley said the initial idea for
Ride will happen before that at 9 am.
bike shops and other organizations
the event came from a conversation
For April, Bike Pensacola will host
working to improve conditions for
between himself and his friend Tim
a children’s Slow Ride at 9 am, just
bicycling in Pensacola.
Bustos.
prior to the main ride event.
In addition to offering informa-
“We got to talking and determined
The event is free and family-
tion on bicycle laws and other tips
that there was a need for a group to
friendly and no reservations are
to help keep rides safe and enjoy-
host rides and advocate for a safer
required. Self-propelled or electric-
able, Bike Pensacola hosts a monthly
and more pleasant city for cycling,”
assist bicycles are welcome. Chil-
group Slow Ride event, which is held
Wagley explained.
dren 16 years of age and younger
on Saturday afternoons. For this
Wagley and Bustos called some
must be accompanied by an adult.
free community event, the public
of their friends, made a Facebook
Cyclists under the age of 16 are
is invited to gather at a designated
event page and a handful of people
required to wear a helmet by law,
location near the downtown area for
met at a downtown surf and skate
including those in bike trailers. The
a fun leisurely ride among friends.
shop. The following month, they
Pensacola Police Department will
The event, Wagley said, has
held a second Slow Ride, with even
escort riders to keep them safe from
more people in attendance.
moving traffic.
helped boost cyclist confidence and
BICYCLE HAND SIGNALS
raise awareness of how beautiful and
By July, Wagley said, there were 45
For more information on
bikeable the downtown area really is.
to 50 people and by August, the event
Bike Pensacola and upcom-
For each Slow Ride, all partici-
had grown to include nearly 150
ing Slow Ride events, check out
pants, as a group, will leisurely bike
people. From there, things have been
@BikePensacola
their way through different areas of
rolling ever since, with the rides now
book, call (850) 687-9968
on
the city. Each ride is anywhere from
drawing crowds and police escorts
or email bike@pensaolacan.org. ■
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT Fitting Your Bike Frame:
1. Straddle the bike and stand in front of the seat. 2. Lift the front and rear wheels off of the ground until the bike frame touches you. 3. If it is a road bike, there should be 1 to 2 inches between the tires and the ground. For a mountain or hybrid bike, there should be 3 to 4 inches between the tires and the ground. 4. Another way to test the fit of a frame: When you’re sitting on the bike and one pedal is pushed all the way down, there should be a slight bend in your knee.
Road Bikes: If the bike has a traditional straight top tube that is parallel to the ground, you should have approximately 1 inch of clearance between the ground and tires when you lift the bike as you’re straddling it. Mountain Bikes: When you lift the bike, you want 2 inch minimum clearance between the tires and the ground. If your bike has full suspension, it’s okay to have less initial clearance (1 to 2 inches) because the suspension compresses under your weight once you sit on the bike. Hybrid Bikes: If your hybrid bike is a city commuter, use the road bike guidelines. If it’s a beach cruiser or a stepthrough style, you don’t really have to worry about standover height. Most of these have steeply sloping top tubes that let you step over easily and put your feet flat on the ground when seated.
Fa c e -
five to six miles and lasts about an to monitor and help keep riders safe These hands once trembled with fear and uncertainty. Now, they’re holding on to brighter days.
These hands once trembled with fear and uncertainty. Now, they’re holding on to brighter days.
Source: REI.com
Scan the QR code
We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.
for details on the Experience Pensacola Bike Loops developed by Bike Pensacola. These routes follow low-traffic city streets to help you have the best biking experience.
850.912.8383 • BrightBridgeMinistries.org
visit SummationWeekly.com
We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.
850.912.8383 • BrightBridgeMinistries.org