Medina Gazette: Medina Bicycle Fair

The Medina Bicycle Fair will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 30 at the Claggett Middle School gym, 420 E. Union St., Medina. The event is free and open to the public.

Residents are invited to bring their bicycles for a free safety inspection, the chance to win a bicycle helmet, and learn about the benefits of bicycling.

The Medina Bicycle Fair will also help famililies prepare for the second annual Medina Bike to School Challenge sponsored by Century Cycles May 6 to 24. The challenge strives to inspire more than 1,800 students at A.I. Root and Claggett middle schools to ride their bikes to school as much as possible for three weeks -- to improve their health, help the environment, inspire the community to use their bicycle for short trips around town, have fun and win prizes.

Last year, Medina's middle school students biked 13,171 miles during the Bike to School Challenge, saving their parents $3,205 in gasoline expenditures and the environment 14,488 pounds in carbon dioxide emissions. They also burned 227,903 calories.

At this year's fair:

• Professional bicycle mechanics from Century Cycles in Medina will provide free bicycle safety inspections, display essential bike commuting gear and information, and make smoothies on the Century Cycles blender bike.
• Century Cycles and Raleigh Bicycles are teaming up to give away 20 bicycle helmets to the first 20 families who attend (limit one helmet per family).
• Medina Police Department with assist with bicycle registrations.
• Medina Bike to School Challenge organizers will be available to answer questions about the program.
• Bike Cleveland will have a booth about its programs and bicycle advocacy efforts.

For more information and regular updates about Medina Bike to School Challenge, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/bts or follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.