It's Tour de Main This Friday

along with the Greenprints Alliance and Downtown Woodstock businesses is hosting the 2nd Annual Bike Parade and Family Fun Ride this Friday night. 

Last year, more than 200 riders participated, a number expected to double for this year’s event.

“The idea is to showcase what fun bikes can be,” said Josh Boggs Out Spokin’ Bikes employee. 

Riders in the Bike Parade will travel from the Old Walmart on Highway 92 through Historic Downtown Woodstock and back for a 2-mile family friendly route.

Registration for the Bike Parade is free, and there will be a registration tent available starting at 5:30 p.m. July 1 in the old Walmart lot. Participants must only sign a waiver to join the fun.

“We will roll out by 6:15 p.m. and loop through Main Street and back,” Boggs said. 

Since the route is short and flat, the entire family is welcome to attend and participate.  Even Boggs’ 3-year-old daughter will be one of the riders. He said last year’s families participated with bikes and jogging strollers to enjoy the Tour de Main. 

Additionally, kids of all ages can decorate their bikes to participate in a Bike Decorating Contest. The top three decorated bikes will win prizes. 

The event is also an opportunity for community members to learn more about Greenprints Alliance, a non-profit organization devoted to Georgia’s green infrastructure and to connecting the community to natural resources. 

Boggs said Out Spokin' Bicycles has been a supporter of the Greenprints Alliance from the beginning.

“We support anything that will put trails in and around Woodstock,” he said. “The more trails we have, the healthier our community will become. Increasing awareness of cycling for recreation, fitness and fun is good for everyone.”

In a natural collaboration of trail makers and trailblazers, Greenprints Alliance Chairman David Potts said he is excited to participate in Friday’s race with his family. 

Greenprints is working on the design of an additional 7 miles of multi-use trails.

“We’re going to keep the progress going,” Potts said. 

Since the Tour de France kicks off the first week in July, the Bike Parade is a great opportunity to ride bikes on the streets where riders normally can’t, Boggs explained.

 “July 1 is a special day for bicycling in Georgia,” Boggs said. “Georgia's 3-foot Passing Law goes into effect that day, which requires motorists to give cyclists, at a minimum, 3 feet of space when passing them on the road. This is a huge deal for the safety of road cyclists in Georgia.”

The Bike Parade will be police escorted and safety helmets are required for everyone. 

For more information on this family fun event, visit the Out Spokin' Bikes website.