For over 16 years Longmont Bike Night has been a staple of Old Town, with bicyclists meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays to ride together. Ryan Kragerud, the creator and organizer of Bike Night described it as “... an organized bicycle ride through Old Town (that gets) people together of all ages to ride bikes.”
Bike Night aims to foster community by having themes for rides, which can be found on the official Longmont Bike Night Facebook page, as well as by taking time during the rides to stop and talk with others.
This year Longmont Bike Night was supposed to kick off its 17th season on May 20. However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kragerud made the decision to postpone the kickoff.
“It just seemed like the correct thing to do, most things were being postponed or canceled and I decided to postpone it until it seemed like we could start it up again,” he said.
But the tradition was missed.
“There were a lot of people asking when Bike Night might start, if it was going to start, were we canceling, those kinds of things, a lot of community concern,” Kragerud said of reaction to the delay.
With six summer Wedesdays passed, Kragerud made the decision to resume Bike Night on July 1. He said health and safety were his highest priorities so “(Bike Night is) following … the guidance of Boulder County Public Health (to the best of our ability).”
That guidance includes registering people in attendance so if a participant tests positive for COVID-19 other participants can be notified; remaining socially distanced from others; wearing masks when possible, and reminding participants not to ride if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive or been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment encourages outdoor recreation, which is in step with the statewide “ Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors” virus-related guidance and restrictions.
Longmont Bike Night riders can register via a Google Form.
Bike Night has averaged riders numbering in the mid-30s since it resumed — a stark contrast to the normal average of approximately 125 riders per night.
Despite reduced attendance, Kragerud categorized Bike Nights as a success.
“If one more person shows up to ride bikes then that (is) a Bike Night, and that (is) a good night. So yeah, I’m very excited that the number of people who are coming out are finding some joy in it and that we’re all practicing social distancing and wearing masks and stuff like that,” he said.
“... I love seeing people get together and enjoy themselves, and since Bike Night started 16 years ago, it’s always fun to hear what draws people to Bike Night and what they get out of it. It’s one of those things that’s energy-giving in a day and age, with what’s going on in the world, it’s nice to participate in something that’s energy-giving rather than sucking more energy out of us. So that’s what I get out of it. I think that’s what other people get out of it, too.”
Bike Night enthusiasts will have six more nights to ride until the season ends on Sept.16, a shortened season of only 12 rides as opposed to the normal 18.
Rides are about 6 miles and take about an hour, “maybe a little longer if we decide to stop in different places and hang out,” Kragerud said.
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