Tour of Novato and FunFair Ride Back Into Town

School Fuel’s Tour of Novato and FunFair is back on Saturday, May 4 with some new routes, a 100K route for the serious riders, a major focus on safety, and organized start times for the different rides and walk.

The 5K walk is also back for non-cyclists down Grant Avenue and up several side streets.  The annual bicycling and family fun day event will be held again at last year’s location on Sherman Avenue, in front of Novato City Hall, so everyone can enjoy our historic downtown.

Last year the Tour of Novato and FunFair, sponsored by Novato’s Foundation for Public Education, School Fuel, raised approximately $100,000 for Novato’s schools and over $400,000 has been raised since the event began.

In response to the feedback from prior year's participants, some of the new improvements to this year’s event include:

• A 100K Metric Century Ride through the rural roads of West Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties.
• An exciting police escort for the first two miles of the 13K Family Ride and a fire truck escort down Grant Avenue! There will also be a bicycle safety inspection and presentation prior to the ride.
• The 5K walk through downtown Novato will feature an organized start time of 10 am and include several new business participants for supporters (and their pets).  Like last year, each walker will receive a "passport" to be stamped by participating businesses along the route. Participants who collect all of the stamps will be eligible for some great prizes announced during the FunFair.
• The Novato Police Dept., the Marin County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), Bank of Marin and the local Boy Scouts will provide additional safety for the riding routes this year.
• Riders and volunteers will enjoy a free after ride meal served from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• Basic First Aid support at the start/finish lines and most rest stops and all the rest stops on the Metric Century route.
• Organized ride start times based upon the route chosen to add to the safety of the event.
• Shopping cart “check-out” on TourofNovato.org so supporters can pledge multiple riders with one transaction.

Last year’s Tour of Novato enhancements are back again this year, including:

• Easier online registration and online store to purchase extra t-shirts, FunFair tickets, and extra food tickets.
• Free FunFair Showcase featuring performances by Novato Unified School District students.
• FunFair Carnival with inflatables, games and unlimited access to the carnival for one low admission fee of $10 per person or $25 per family.

As always, pledges and sponsorships go directly to the school (or schools) of the rider’s choice. Each school is raising money for pre-determined educational needs at their site.

Riders of all ages are welcome to participate, and there are several different courses available to accommodate a range of riding skills.

New Novato merchant Bicycle Brüstop will be onsite from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. providing a tune-up clinic for riders and repair kits for the Sag Wagons along the course. 

The day’s schedule is as follows:

• 6:30 a.m. – Tour of Novato Check-in Opens
• 7:00 a.m. – Metric Century (100K) Ride Official Start
• 7:30 a.m. – Organized Stretch & Warm Up at City Green (Sherman Ave.)
• 8:00 a.m. –Leisure Ride (40K) Official Start
• 8:30 am – Safety Inspection & Talk
• 9:00 a.m. –Family Ride (13K) Official Start #1
• 10:00 a.m. –5K Tour of “Downtown” Fun Walk Official Start
• 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – FunFair Carnival, Showcase and Food Court Open

“Last year’s event was a hit with all of Novato,” said Dale Kline, School Fuel board member and Tour of Novato coordinator. “Our downtown businesses loved seeing all of our students out riding and walking and we know this year will be even better! Our community has made a huge commitment to continue raising money for our schools, and it is amazing to see.”

Donations will go to School Fuel for distribution to the schools per the rider’s wishes. Donations are tax deductible. 

To sign up for the event, make a donation, sponsor a rider, volunteer, or just learn more about the Tour, and FunFair activities, please visit: www.tourofnovato.org.

To volunteer, contact Kristen Hayes: volunteer@tourofnovato.org.  Both student and adult volunteers are welcome.

For details on business sponsorship opportunities contact Sylvia Barry: Sylvia.barry@mindspring.com

About School Fuel:  School Fuel is the local education foundation for the Novato Public schools. School Fuel has contributed over $1.5 million to the Novato schools since it was founded in 2003. The mission of School Fuel is to support and enrich the education available to every student in the Novato Unified School District by raising funds, encouraging volunteerism and increasing community awareness of student and district needs.