Press Release: February 26, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Century Cycles supports Cleveland Bicycle Week on May 15 - 23

Plans include Pajama Party Night Ride on May 15, Ride of Silence on May 19 and Bay Bike To School Challenge, plus special bicycle accessory discounts 

Rocky River OH (February 26, 2010) – Century Cycles is proud to support Cleveland Bicycle Week on May 15 - 23 with a wide variety of events throughout Northeast Ohio and at its stores in Medina, Peninsula and Rocky River, to help more people go by bike and have fun on two wheels. Plans include a Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on May 15, a Ride of Silence in Peninsula on May 19, and recommendations and discounts in every Century Cycles store on the staff's favorite bicycle commuter accessories.

During Cleveland Bicycle Week, Century Cycles is also sponsoring the third year of the Bay Bike to School Challenge, a special program that encourages 5^th through 12^th graders in Bay Village to bicycle to school as much as possible from May 3 through May 21.

For complete information on all of Century Cycles' events for Cleveland Bicycle Week, visit www.centurycycles.com/for/clebikeweek. For more information about Cleveland Bicycle Week in general, visit www.clevelandbicycleweek.org.

On Saturday, May 15, the regularly-scheduled Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail will be transformed into Pajama Party Night Ride, complete with pajama-clad bicyclists, glow-in-the-dark goodies and a cereal snack at the 12-mile ride's halfway point. While the Night Ride is free as always and requires no advanced registration, the Pajama Party Night Ride will be collecting donations for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Fund.

The Pajama Party Night Ride will begin at 8:00 p.m. Meet in the parking lot at Century Cycles' Peninsula store (1621 Main Street, on Route 303 between Route 8 and I-271, next to the Winking Lizard restaurant). Parking is available at the Lock 29 Trailhead, just north of the store. Participants must have their own bicycle, helmet and headlight to join the ride. Children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Although no registration necessary, participants must sign a waiver. 

Century Cycles Night Rides were in the national spotlight last year when Bicycling Magazine, the sport's most popular publication, dubbed them a "great" ride. The 2010 schedule of Century Cycles Night Rides on the Towpath Trail is: Saturday, April 24; Saturday, May 15 (Pajama Party Night Ride); Friday, June 4; Saturday, June 26; Friday, July 9; Saturday, July 24; Saturday, August 7 (Niterider Demo Light Night Ride); Friday, August 27; Saturday, September 18; and Friday, October 8. For more information about Century Cycles Night Rides on the Towpath Trail, call Century Cycles in Peninsula at 330-657-2209. Online, please visit www.centurycycles.com or e-mail info@centurycycles.com.

On Wednesday, May 19, at 7 p.m., Century Cycles and the Medina County Bicycle Club are inviting people to join them in a Ride of Silence in Peninsula, Ohio. That evening, Rides of Silence will be taking place in Cleveland and around the world to honor (and in memory of) those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways and to raise awareness of cyclists' legal rights to share the road with motorists. The Peninsula Ride of Silence will begin at the Lock 29 Overflow Parking Lot in Peninsula, just off Route 303 in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cyclists will ride south on Akron-Peninsula Road for 12-15 miles at a silent and slow 12 mph pace.

Helmets are required. This event is free and open to the public. No registration necessary. For more information, please call Century Cycles in Medina at 330-722-7119. For more general information about Ride of Silence, visit www.rideofsilence.org.

Century Cycles staffers regularly commute to work and do errands by bicycle, and they have tested and tried a lot of products along the way. They share their knowledge and experience on this list of their seven favorite accessories that can help anyone bicycle more. In support of Cleveland Bicycle Week, Century Cycles has them all on sale at 20% off their regular prices from May 15 - 23 (no coupon necessary).

1. All Bicycle Fenders: Commuting in Cleveland may not be a sunny day affair -- fenders keep you and your bike clean.
2. Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight: Maximize your visibility even in daylight with two extreme LEDs that can be seen for up to one mile.
3. Topeak Explorer Rear Rack and Matching Trunk Bag: This is an easy on-off system to carry lunch, a change of clothes and other essentials.
4. Avenir or Jandd Grocery Panniers: Popular with staff and customers alike, these panniers are a great way to carry bagged groceries, gallon jugs or six pack cartons.
5. All Bicycle Locks: Protect your investment when you can't store your bike inside with a solid combination lock.
6. Reflective Pant Strap: This is a low cost item with big benefits - it keeps your pant leg out of the chain and another way to be seen.
7. Blackburn Voyager Light Combo: A super-bright headlight comes with a taillight that can mount to your bike, pack or rack.

This is the third year of the successful program in Bay Village, Ohio, which kicks off on May 3 and runs for three weeks, through May 21. Bay Bike to School Challenge incentivizes students at Bay Middle School and Bay High School to kick the car habit and ban the bus-riding in favor of the more environmentally-sound (and healthy) choice of riding a bike to school. The more the students ride, the more chances they have to win t-shirts, bicycles and even free burritos for a year.

Last year, over 1,000 students signed up to bicycle to school and over 70% of Bay Middle School students bicycled daily during the Bay Bike to School Challenge. It has been featured in national bicycling publications and was just honored as Project of the Year by the Bay Village Community Council.

To help the students, teachers and the entire city prepare to go more by bike, a Bicycle Safety Fair on Thursday, April 28, will offer free bicycle inspections by Century Cycles mechanics, information from sponsors, bike licenses from the Bay Village Police Department and giveaways. It is free and open to the public.

Century Cycles is an award-winning chain of independent bicycle stores in Medina, Peninsula, and Rocky River, providing high-quality bicycles and friendly, expert service to northeast Ohio bicyclists and their families. Century Cycles is an authorized dealer of Raleigh, Giant, Diamondback, Electra, Surly, Masi, Bianchi, and Haro bicycles, as well as Santana tandems. The Peninsula store also rents bicycles year-round for use on the Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

For eight consecutive years, Century Cycles has been voted one of the top 100 bicycle retailers in the United States by Bicycle Retailer & Industry News magazine. In 2009, Cent ury Cycles was awarded Bike Shop of the Year by the League of American Bicyclists, one of only eight bicycle shops honored in the United States.

Website: www.centurycycles.com
Blog: www.blog.centurycycles.com
Twitter: twitter.com/CenturyCycles

1079 North Court Street, Medina, Ohio, 44256
330-722-7119

1621 Main Street (Route 303), Peninsula, Ohio, 44264
330-657-2209

19955 Detroit Road, Rocky River, Ohio, 44116
440-356-5705

Define your life. Ride a bike.™

Tracey Bradnan, Cartwheel Communications
Cell Phone: 440-781-7690
tracey@cartwheelcleveland.com
Twitter: @traceybradnan