New Year’s Day brought over 200 cyclists out for the annual Polar Bear Ride. Sponsored by the Greensboro Velo Club, the ride had three courses: 25, 41, and 60 miles. Cyclists started and finished at Cycles de Oro on Mill Street. In the morning, participants were greeted with coffee and after the ride, they celebrated with a spread of food inside the bike shop. The above photo was taken just as the owner of Cycles de Oro, Dale Brown, finished taking pictures for the different cycling clubs and then sounded the start of the race.

Fortunately, streets aren’t crowded with cars on New Year’s Day and, to our knowledge, the event was accident free- give or take a few cyclists rolling over because they couldn’t get out of their toe clips in time. Riders were asked to bring 2 cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank and Greensboro cyclists stacked the table with canned goods. Some years, temperatures plunge and the January 1st ride really does feel like a North Pole event. This year, the weather was relatively mild, averaging in the high 40’s- low 50’s. What a wonderful way to start the year, getting exercise, donating food to a food bank, and spending time with a great community of cycling enthusiasts! Greensboro rocks, and rolls, and cycles!