For local residents Gardner Duvall and David Scharff, cycling signals summertime.
“Nothing really means summer more than being on a bicycle,” Duvall said. “It can be fun for the whole family.”
Both avid bikers with more than 35 years of cycling between them, Scharff and Duvall put their hobby to good use every year at the annual Baltimore BikeJam, the mid-Atlantic?s largest cycling festival, held in Patterson Park on Saturday. The men founded the event, now in its 10th year, through Lateral Stress Velo, a Baltimore bicycle club and racing team.
“We always thought it would be cool to join a bike race with a city festival,” said Scharff, president of LSV and a internist at Mercy Medical Center. “The first few years we ran in conjunction with the Polish Festival. One year we were unable to do it on the same day. The Friends of Patterson Park got involved to help, and that?s when BikeJam started.”
BikeJam includes Maryland?s only pro race on the National Race Calendar, along with Baltimore?s largest pro-am cycling race, the Kelly Cup.
The day includes races for all levels of cyclists, including juniors and children. The RecRides are leisurely rides for participants who aren?t interesting in racing, but just getting out and having a good time. The Kids? Pavilion has interactive games, art activities and the Helmet Giveaway, in which CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will donate and distribute 500 helmets to kids. The festival also features a Bike and Health Expo and a stunt show from two-time national trials champion rider Mike Steidley. There will be live music from noon to 5 p.m., refreshments and an awards ceremony.
More than 5,000 people are expected to attend. “We see kids as young as 12 racing, and men over 60 years of age racing as well,” Duvall said.
But the day isn?t just for serious bikers. “We really cater to a lot of different interests that revolve around cycling,” Duvall said. “It?s a real broad spectrum, and we try to bring that all together.”
IF YOU GO
Baltimore?s BikeJam 2008
WHERE: Patterson Park, Baltimore
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
TICKETS: Free
