Bike for Beck: Everything You Need to Know (Part 1)

The second annual Bike for Beck and Beck Fest is right around the corner, this Sunday, May 19th. Registration is still open for the 10-, 20-, or 60-mile ride, but the afternoon's worth of festivities at the Beck itself is free for everyone.

Here are some updates on what to expect, and other last-minute information:

What to Ride

Would you like to bike, but don't have a ride of your own? Beck’s got you covered, thanks to these three providers:

For the ride itself through the Metroparks, bikes will be available from Great Lakes Tour Co.  Sign up by May 17 to reserve your own bike for the course (helmets and other necessary accessories included). Check out their website for rates and other pertinent information.

If a leisurely ride around Lakewood is more your speed, the Bike Rack (powered by Downtown Cleveland Alliance) will also provide bikes available throughout the day.

If you're not much of a rider but still want to get in on the action, take a tour around Lakewood in the back of a pedicab, courtesy of Ride On Cleveland.

Check Out the Beck (Fun for Kids)

To spotlight the Beck's continued commitment to arts education in the community, the Beck invites you to explore their offerings for all ages. Children can participate in a variety of visual art activities guided by Beck's instructors. A 30-minute improv comedy performance, meanwhile, will showcase just one of the options for adult education. For kids (of all ages) who prefer more free-form modes of artistic expression, there will be an interactive drum circle, and a segment of the front lot will be set aside for sidewalk chalk creations.

You Can Win!

Throughout the day, Beck will also be raffling off two baskets full of bicycle- and community-themed prizes. Buy a ticket, and stick around for the announcement of the winner in the late afternoon.

Spotted Around Lakewood: Bike Your Art Out

Recently, a few Beck volunteers collected old junk bicycles and, in conjunction with the Screw Factory, redecorated them and chained them up around Lakewood as a public art installation that promotes B4B. Keep an eye out for the bright rainbow bike outside Buckeye Beer Engine on Madison, the vibrant mix of patterns on the bike outside the Winking Lizard on Detroit, the orange-and-white stripes on the bike near the CVS Pharmacy on Detroit, and several more around the neighborhood. Check out the gallery below for some shots of the bikes.

Quotes

Last week, I wrote a bit about the musical acts that will be gracing the Red Stage this year. Here are some more quotes from the musicians themselves about the event:

"Bike for Beck is a cool event for a great cause -- I'm really looking forward to it as a way to support theatre and the arts."

-Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/musical theatre performer Jerry Popiel, who will be performing a solo acoustic set.

"Lakewood is an arts community. The arts are valued in the schools and are available all around town (from clubs and bars, to the library and art spaces like the Screw Factory). Revolution Brass Band is proud to be a part of the Lakewood community (5 of the 8 members live in Lakewood and 4 of us grew up here) and we are excited to support Beck Center for the Arts."

-Kris “Skinnyk” Morron, trombone/songwriter/arranger, Revolution Brass Band, who will be performing for the second year in a row as the final act.

Stay tuned for Part 2 later this week, in which I'll be talking a bit more about what to eat and drink (on the trails and at the fest), as well as more entertainment offerings.