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Nappanee Community Memorial Bike Ride — July 11
Posted by Danny Graber on July 3, 2009
The Nappanee community invites all bicyclists to join them for a memorial ride to remember those from the community who have died while bicycling to work. There are two stages to this event: 1) the six-mile memorial ride starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Summit Street entrance into Stauffer Park in Nappanee, and 2) prior to the memorial ride, the Nappanee Area Cycling Club (NACC) is hosting a longer Saturday morning ride of approximately 30 miles — starting at 7:00 a.m., also in Stauffer Park and then ending at the same location at 9:00 a.m.
The three bicyclists of the Nappanee/Wakarusa community who died were of the Amish faith. The Amish use bicycles as a primary means of transportation, year round, and are a leading example of the many utilitarian virtues of the bicycle. Many of the Amish Community will be participating in this ride. Come and support them. The community seeks to make bicyling safe.
The Nappanee Bike-to-Work Safely Committee is organizing the ride along with the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce and invites all Michiana area bicyclists to join them. For more information you may contact the chamber at (574) 773-7281 or e-mail nappaneeofc@kconline.org. You may also contact me at (574) 370-6192 or e-mail at dannysg@verizon.net.
Following the memorial ride there will be light snacks and drinks offered along with cookies baked by the Amish community. July 11 is also “Embrace the Pace” celebration day for the town, sponsored by the Nappanee Chamber.
Directions: From the intersection of US 6 and SR 19 in downtown Nappanee, travel east to Summit Street, turn north, and travel to the park entrance. This is the staging area for the ride.
Here’s a Google Map:
View Larger Map
Paul Taylor said
Thanks for posting this Danny. I’ll be there.
Danny Graber said
The correct e-mail for contacting the Chamber is nappaneecofc@kconline.org. Sorry for the error in the post — Danny
Adam Bee said
I will be out of the area that day, but if I were here I would go to this for sure. I think it will be a fulfilling experience for almost everyone who participates.
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As a side note, I’m interested in learning a lot more about how the Amish use bicycles. A quick Google search didn’t turn up much; can anyone recommend some reading?
Paul Taylor said
After a morning thunderstorm, the weather turned pleasant and a large crowd turned out for the ride…I would guess a couple of hundred or so. After introductory remarks by organizers, and a prayer, we set out with a full police escort. The riders seemed about equally divided between Amish, and ‘the Lycra set’.
Most people I talked with were from the Nappanee area, but South Bend, Walkerton, and Elkhart were also well represented.