Event will include three different lengths, including a 90-mile ride
Published in the March 5- 18, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Bicycling Magazine editors Lou Mazzante, David Howard, and Christine Bucher lead riders on a section of the first Bicycling Fall Classic in 2011. On May 9 and 10, the first-annual Bicycling Spring Classic will bring cycling, as well as Bicycling’s editors and readers, to Morgan Hill.
Photo courtesy Bicycling Magazine
Bicycling Magazine’s annual Fall Classic bike race in Pennsylvania grew so successful since it started in 2011 that the publication decided to find a West Coast site to hold a second ride in spring. It chose Morgan Hill. As many as 1,500 cyclists will visit May 9 and 10 to participate in this inaugural cycling event that will be hosted at Specialized Bikes.
The scenic South Valley region gave Bicycling Magazine a “perfect place” to launch the event for cyclists to experience a great day on the road together, said Editor-in-Chief Peter Flax.
“As we considered creating a new Spring Classic event, we knew we wanted it to be someplace that was close to a major population center but just far enough away to give participants wide open space and quiet roads, as well as a host community that had both character and a connection to the cycling community,” he said. “I’m lucky enough to have ridden all over the country, and all over Europe, too, so I can say with some authority that the riding in and around Morgan Hill is world class. I have participated in the Specialized lunch ride and been on other cycling excursions in the area and it’s truly outstanding.”
The Fall Classic event, which is held in Trexlertown, Penn., began as an opportunity for Bicycling Magazine readers and cycling enthusiasts in the northeast to ride on the roads that its editors love and are eager to show to more cyclists, said Andrew Bernstein, marketing manager for the event. Its success with cyclists inspired the Spring Classic that will tour the South Valley.
“I’m very grateful that the city of Morgan Hill has embraced the event with open arms,” Bernstein said. “Part of the reason why we chose Morgan Hill is that we have a great partner with Specialized Bikes.”
The Spring Classic will start with a VIP reception held at Specialized on Friday May 9, he said.
Most events for the Spring Classic will take place Saturday May 10. It will include bike rides for three different distances and each distance will cater to different cyclists. The long-distance ride is about 90 miles, Bernstein said, and is intended for experienced cyclists or for cyclists who want a challenge.
The Spring Classic is not just an event for cyclists but welcomes everyone in Morgan Hill to come and enjoy an afternoon with their family discovering the world of cycling, he said. The expo will include a kids bike rodeo, a bouncy house, and other family-friendly activities.
“This incredible event shines a spotlight on one of Morgan Hill’s many recreation opportunities,” said John McKay, a member of the Tourism Alliance for Morgan Hill. “Bicycling will continue to be one of our community’s primary focuses and the fact that the Spring Classic could have been held anywhere on the West Coast but will happen here highlights what a special area we live in.”
For more information about the event, visit http://www.bicycling.com/springclassic.
