SAFE CYCLING
Local bicyclists brave cold for Snowy Slow Roll
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Local bicyclists braved cold temperatures on Sunday for a Snowy Slow Roll, the first of 2021.
The monthly Slow Roll event series, founded in 2020, kicked off the new year with a snowy and socially distanced bike ride throughout the Spa City.
A Slow Roll is a leisurely ride around Saratoga Springs with a group of bike enthusiasts.
These family-friendly rides, guided by a representative from Bikeatoga, practice safe cycling while looping through quiet neighborhood streets.
Slow Rolls also offer the opportunity to enjoy the company of others who love the outdoors and biking.
The series is held in participation with Bikeatoga, Bicycle Benefits, Impressions of Saratoga, The Dark Horse Mercantile and Palette Cafe.
What started as a one-time event for National Bike Month in May 2020 quickly became a popular monthly gathering for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
“During the pandemic, folks were getting pretty stir crazy, and we felt
that we could safely put on a bike ride and be respectful of giving people physical distance, and also encourage people to take to the streets,” Bikeatoga founder Ian Klepetar said on how the event series started.
Though the series was paused when temperatures dropped late last year, organizers decided to bring back the Slow Rolls this month despite the snow and cold.
“Just because it’s winter weather, doesn’t mean you need to hang up your bicycle,” Klepetar said.
“It’s kind of a cool challenge,” said Marcella Hammer of Palette Cafe. “We don’t have to just bike when it’s beautiful outside. A lot of people do it all year round.”
Hammer, who considers bicycles “the mechanism to human joy,” welcomes anyone and everyone to check out a Slow Roll. “It is so empowering and so much fun for people of all ages to be able to ride their bikes, and the confidence and fun that you get from doing it safely together it’s just completely unparalleled,” she said.
Those who are new to biking, like the many adults who picked up this hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic, can learn about how to safely ride their bikes in an urban setting during Slow Rolls, which are designed for riders of all levels. “What’s kind of an added benefit to the social aspects of the event is being able to show people how to safely navigate through Saratoga,” Hammer said.
“A lot of people feel like when you’re riding in the city it’s unsafe, but a big part of the ride is to demonstrate that if you pick a good route, stay on low volume streets mainly, you can have a very enjoyable experience,” Klepetar said, noting that the rides are purposely held on Sundays because they are generally low traffic days.
Along with getting local residents outside and active, Klepetar hopes the
Slow Rolls can help show participants that they can safely and properly use their bicycles as a vehicle of transportation, even among motor vehicle traffic.
Since being the series last spring, the turnout at Slow Rolls has grown, as has the diversity among riders, Klepetar reported.
“Everyone’s had a really wonderful time. It’s definitely something that people have looked forward to,” he continued.
“We had so much fun with the Slow Rolls in 2020 that we wanted to continue them,” Impressions of Saratoga
and The Dark Horse Mercantile owner Maddy Zanetti said in a press release. “This event, like others, was a bright spot in a very long year. People really enjoyed coming out and riding with us. We wanted to do something to get people outside having fun while staying safe. If we can help bring people downtown and have fun in the process it is a win-win!”
Participants in Sunday’s Slow Roll, who dressed warmly and wore their masks, were treated to some perks by local businesses including $1 drafts at Pint Sized and a coupon for both Impressions of Saratoga and The Dark Horse Mercantile.
For even more discounts, cyclists can sign up for Bicycle Benefits, a nationwide program founded by Klepetar with many participating businesses in the area.
Looking ahead, organizers would love to make the Slow Roll series a larger and more community-wide event.
Slow Roll rides are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month in 2021.
Additionally, there will be a special themed ride on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, when attendees are encouraged to don their red, pink and purple attire for a roll around town. This event will begin at 1 p.m. at Palette Cafe, located at 493 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
Anyone interested in receiving email reminders with details about upcoming Slow Roll events can sign up online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/hX7xYdI/biketalk.