It’s exciting to say finally that the return of a Winston-Salem favorite is now officially “next month”!
“Gears and Guitars Cycling/Music Event” is happening September 9th-11th, 2022, with the ninth edition of the event sponsored by dedicated, long-time supporters Novant Health, Flow Automotive, and the Carolinas Pain Institute.
While Friday and Saturday offer exciting events in both professional and amateur cycling, as well as festive—and free this year—live music, Sunday is the pivotal day for families in the community to participate and enjoy a little adventure together.
Here’s what to know and how to prepare for the Sunday fun!
You’ll find “Fondo” rides (community rides that are open to anyone), that cover not only two road distances (40 miles and 60 miles), but also for the first time, some Greenway and gravel options (seven and 15 miles), showcasing our wonderful Greenway and bike path network. “The 15-mile gravel option goes all the way from Bailey Park to, and around, Salem Lake, and the seven-mile Greenway option is perfect for beginners or families,” says Michael Hosey, Director of Community Outreach for Winston-Salem Cycling. All rides will offer rest stops and be supported by chase vehicles, and all Gears & Guitars Fondos are presented by Flow Automotive.
Registration for all the Fondos is $55, which includes a lunch voucher from one of the food trucks on site, a T-shirt, and a swag bag of goodies from event sponsors. Registration onsite opens at 7:30 a.m. and the rides depart shortly thereafter from Bailey Park. Spiffy new “Gears & Guitars” jerseys will be available onsite this year (see the website for a glimpse!).
The family bike parade will take place around 12:45 p.m., at Bailey Park, with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center providing a decorating tent so cyclists can festively adorn their bikes if they like!
A kid’s bike rodeo will also be supported by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and will be a way for kids to practice or learn bike handling and bike safety skills. Some bikes will be on hand, but kids are encouraged to bring their own bikes to practice on and also to be ready for the family bike parade! The bike rodeo will run from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
There will be free live local music in the afternoon, featuring the bands “Killing Gophers,” “Deluge,” “Repeat Offender,” and “Crenshaw Pentecostal.”
Public parking for Saturday and Sunday is located in the parking garage on Church Street, and all activities are expected to be completed around 3:00 p.m. Please visit winstonsalemcycling.com for all the weekend’s exciting details, and to register for the events!
