Two Months of Bicycling Events

By Tommy Noyes

Kaua‘i County Council members Mel Rapozo and Derek Kawakami got a kick out of the Snail Race, one of the bicycle handling skills challenges Kaua‘i Path will set up on Keiki Bike and Safety Day, May 6 at the Wilcox Medical Center. Photo by Tommy Noyes

April and May offer a wealth of events appealing to the bicycling community, from keiki struggling to balance without their training wheels to competitive athletes.

On Earth Day, (Lydgate Park’s Main Pavilion, Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 a.m.) bicyclists of all abilities are invited to express their appreciation for our world-class coastal path by volunteering in Lydgate Park, starting at the park’s main pavilion at 7:30 a.m.

The first 2.5 miles of the East Side’s shared-use path system was completed in Lydgate Park in 2004. Thousands of volunteers working on the Kamalani Kai Bridge earned the federal funds that paid for that stretch of path, plus many more park amenities. A major task for this annual community workday will be painting the Bridge. Snacks and lunch will be served. Call (808) 639-1018 for more info or to register as a volunteer.

Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Westside is hosting a Mini Sprint Triathlon (Saturday, April 22 at 8 a.m.). A sprint triathlon is a short distance swim, run and bike triathlon, ideal for competitors new to the sport. This event is open to the public, with a registration fee for civilians. For info, call (808) 335-4379, and details are posted at pmrf.greatlifehawaii.com.

Keiki Bike & Safety Day is a free event open to the public (Saturday, May 6 at 8 a.m.) at Wilcox Medical Center. Kaua‘i Skate ‘Ohana, Kaua‘i Path, and Wilcox Medical Center will have fun with community organizations teaching skateboard and bicycle skills to keiki aged 5-10. Participants collect stamps on their Bike & Safety Passport to enter prize drawings, and hundreds of properly fitted helmets will be given away. Details are at livehealthykauai.org.

Bicycling Skills for Adults is a free course sponsored by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Program. Designed for bicyclists age 14 and older, this training covers a broad range of topics from bicycle handling to basic mechanics and maintenance. League of American Bicyclists certified instructors will conduct this full day course starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 13 at the Kapa‘a Library. Call (808) 639-1018 for info, or register online at KauaiPath.org.

Get Fit Kaua‘i celebrates Bike 2 Work Day (Friday, May 19) with two easy-paced meet-ups, both supported by Kauai Police Department officers. The Kapa‘a-to-Lihu‘e commute rolls out at 6 a.m. from the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center. Cyclists meeting at the Puhi Park (adjacent to Kaumuali‘i Highway across from Kaua‘i Community College) will roll out at 6:45 a.m., and head for breakfast and prize drawings at the Lihu‘e Civic Center’s rotunda. Call (808) 639-1018 for details.

The Sierra Club’s Tour de Po‘ipu (Po‘ipu Beach Park, Sunday, May 21) offers two bicycling options: challenging (8 a.m. start) and easy (9 a.m. start), with a potluck picnic wrap-up at the Beach Park. Details are at www.KauaiPath.org, or call (808) 212-3108.

The most physically challenging set of events are the Pedal to the Meadow hill climb race from Kekaha to Koke‘e on May 27 and the Mana Time Trial & Cycle on the Strip Criterium on May 28 — details and registration at www.pedaltothemeadow.com.

• Tommy Noyes is Kaua‘i Path’s executive director, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and active with the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps.