Too Much Going On! Mayor's Challenge, Arky 100, Biketoberfest

That's not a bad thing when it comes to bike-related activities, but it challenges me to try to keep up with all of my self-appointed responsibilities while maintaining the priorities of my job and my ride time.

Little Rock Mayor's Car Free Challenge

I'm obviously behind the curve on this, as it kicked off last Sunday, but I appreciate Mayor Stodola's efforts and it's not too late to join in for a day or two. 
From Mayor Stodola:

I would like to invite you to join me in the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Car-Free Challenge where I, along with many citizens, will give up the use of our cars for a week!

The challenge is Monday, October 7th through Sunday, October 13th. Our Car-Free Challenge will kick off on Sunday, October 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a Safety and Learning Fair at the River Market West Pavilion and will culminate with a drawing for prizes at Bernice Garden located at 1401 South Main Street at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 13th.

I know you’re thinking “I can’t do that!” But please realize you can walk, bike, ride the bus, hitch a ride with a friend or any combination of these alternative forms of transportation. You can even cheat a little if you must.

It’s easy to participate and even win prizes. Just print out a scorecard at http://www.littlerock.org/mayorsoffice/taskforces/lr-sustainability.aspx to keep track of your daily activities. You can also register your participation on Twitter by using #CarFreeLR. You can enter the drawing for prizes by turning in your scorecard at Bernice Garden on Sunday, October 13 or by using #CarFreeLR.

This challenge is important to our community because of both the health benefits and the environmental impact. Walking or biking to work is a great way to add exercise to your day and it serves as a helpful example to our children of how to live a healthy lifestyle. There are also many positive environmental impacts from walking, biking and carpooling. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaving your car at home two days a week can reduce your carbon emissions by two tons a year. By making small changes in our lives, we can make a big change in our impact on the environment.

Please join me in this challenge! Thank you.
Sincerely,

Mark Stodola

Mayor

Arky 100- Sunday, October 13
This venerable century ride is in its 42nd year. When I started riding, the Arky was a goal for me, as the idea of me riding 100 miles on a bicycle seemed about as likely as becoming an astronaut. To convince myself that it was possible, I went out and did a 100 mile ride the week before the event in a fateful move, as the day of the Arkie that year was marked by incessant rain and Biblical floods, so I went boating, instead.
I did follow up the next year and found the Arkie course to be a good one, consisting of lightly travelled roads, rolling hills, and rural landscapes. Thanks to the Arkansas Bicycle Club for continuing the tradition of the Arky100. Click the link above for registration and event information.
PS: The Arky is known to give a nice technical T-shirt, making event part of the registration fee kind of a freebie.

If you sleep in on Sunday and don't make it to the Arky, you have options!

Biketoberfest- Bikes, Beer, more (as if you needed more)!

Ride on down to the River Market Sunday afternoon to enjoy some brew, bike demos and competitions, good music, and a chance to win some great prizes from co-sponsor Chainwheel

You can join a ride from Cook's Landing to the event here.
Don't get too crazy sampling the beer, as you'll want to join the Rockabilly Fun Ride from 3-4PM.