The first annual Pedal & Gears bike festival is on Saturday, April 30 and takes place along Lakeside Avenue. Activities include a family-friendly bike ride (gathering at 9 a.m.) to start at 9:30 a.m., and bike-related activities, live music, food and shopping specials from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (rain or shine).
Richmond’s Lakeside Avenue is gearing up for National Bike Month with its first annual Pedal & Gears bike festival on Saturday, April 30. The Northside neighborhood has a family-friendly bike — ride gathers at 9 a.m., wheels roll at 9:30 a.m. Plus enjoy bike-related activities, live music, food and shopping specials from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (rain or shine). PLEASE NOTE: This event is not at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, although the Garden welcomes visitors that day. Activities will be along Lakeside Avenue.
There is ample free vehicle parking in the Lakeside area, but riding bicycles to Pedals & Gears is encouraged. Sports Backers and Richmond Area Bike Association (RABA) are providing bike valet services.
9 a.m. Family-Friendly Bike Ride: The day starts with a free family-friendly bike ride for all ages and interest levels, hosted by Bike Walk Northside. Riders should gather at 9 a.m. in front of the businesses on MacArthur Avenue in the Bellevue neighborhood to ride to the Lakeside Farmer’s Market via Bryan Park. All children should also be accompanied by an adult on a bicycle. The ride is approximately 2.5 miles on neighborhood streets and paved park roads and ends at the heart of the festival activities in the Lakeside Shopping District. All ride participants will receive a free pass to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Activities along Lakeside will include live music, food available for purchase, free bike check-ups, a kids bike rodeo, discounted pedi-cab rides, shop specials, the Lakeside Farmer’s Market and much more (see below).
Lakeside Avenue has been designated one of Richmond’s first Bike-Friendly Business Districts. The neighborhood has a history tied to cycling dating back to1895 as the site of the Lakeside Wheel Club (now Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden) and most recently as the location of 2015 UCI Road World Cycling Championship races.
Pedal & Gears is presented by the Lakeside Business Association with participation from Sports Backers, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond Area Bike Association (RABA), Henrico County, Bike Walk Northside, IamRVA and others. Activities include: