SIOUX FALLS — For the past 36 years, Sioux Falls-area bicyclists have gathered on New Year’s Day to shake off cabin fever and ride the bike trail.
The ride has been held in conditions such as a foot of snow, during temperatures as low as minus 20 and in high wind chills, Spoke-N-Sport owner Chad Pickard said.
Bicyclists of all ages and skill levels are invited to meet at the Spoke-N-Sport Cliff Avenue location starting at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, for the 2023 ride. At 1 p.m., cyclists will start on the bike trail near the store and ride down to Falls Park, though riders can go as far as they want before heading back. Afterward, participants can go to the store for chili provided by Wendy’s and drinks from The Breaks.
“Everybody is looking for a way to get out the house and be more active (this time of year),” Pickard said. “It’s a great way to start out the new year — with a bike ride. The cycling community is pretty closely knit so it gives people a chance to connect with friends they ride with in the summer.”
Conditions on the bike trail can be snowy and icy in spots, so Pickard says mountain bikes and fat bikes are recommended but not required. Riders need to wear helmets and dress warm.
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Bicyclists of all skill levels are encouraged to attend.
The event has been held since the Spoke-N-Sport store opened in 1988, and Pickard says it has brought in as much as 400 bicyclists during years with good weather.
Pickard said the event shows how strong the bicycling community is in Sioux Falls.
“We like to create events. (And having someone alongside you) provides a lot of comfort for a lot of riders,” he said. “We want to create a lot of outlets as possible for people who love to ride.”
Editor's Note: The Breaks provided drinks for the Spoke-n-Sport New Year's Day ride. This was corrected from previous versions.
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