Roswell Cycling Festival Celebrates 15 Years On Sunday

The Roswell Cycling Festival returns for a 15th year, May 7 - 15, 2016. Roswell Bicycles, which has supported the event each year, has expanded its support as a presenting sponsor for the full week of activities. Hennessy Jaguar - Land Rover North Point will return as the presenting sponsor for the two signature events on Sunday, May 15, the Historic Roswell Criterium and Craft Beer Tasting.

“Bike Roswell! has done a great job in managing the Roswell Cycling Festival. With events being held throughout the city for a full week, from mountain bike and family rides to a film festival, this year’s festival is a great way to celebrate National Bike Month. Corporate partners like Roswell Bicycles and Hennessy Jaguar - Land Rover North Point continue to make this a centerpiece for Roswell residents and visitors alike each spring,” said Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, who inspired a local bicycle club in 2002 to host the inaugural event.

Mayor Wood will lead hundreds of recreational cyclists in the Roswell Bicycles-Scott Mayor’s Ride, now in its 11th year, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on May 15. This event takes place at Roswell Area Park and offers ride options for people of all ages and abilities with 6, 18, 42 or 64 mile routes.

The Roswell Cycling Festival presented by Roswell Bicycles will continue to benefit Bike Roswell!, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization promoting safe cycling in the city. Along with the Roswell-Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization (RAMBO), Bike Roswell! organizes all the recreational cycling and family activities for the festival. Athens, Ga.-based SWAGGER LLC, one of the country’s leading production companies for bicycle races. The bicycle races in Roswell attract some of the best elite and professional cyclists from across the country. The start/finish line for all criterium events will be located at 1085 Canton Street in Historic Roswell.

The Roswell Cycling Festival has entertained more than 70,000 spectators since it began in 2002. The races have attracted more than 9,000 junior and adult cyclists. In those 14 years, the popular Kids
Bicycle Safety Rodeo, hosted by the Historic Roswell Kiwanis, has positively impacted 1,700 children. These children have been given an opportunity to complete a free bicycle skills and safety clinic, followed by participation in age-specific races on the same course as the professional cyclists.

The Craft Beer Tasting was added in 2015 and returns to various restaurants in Historic Roswell. For $20, each patron will receive a commemorative five-ounce acrylic beer stein to sample 10 craft beers. A craft beer tasting guide will be provided on May 15 by participating businesses: Ceviche, Gate City Brewing Company, Little Alley Steak, NOCA, Pastis, Salt Factory Pub, and The Big Ketch.

• Purchase tickets for Craft Beer Tasting - www.bikereg.com/historic-roswell-criterium
• Information on the Kids' Bicycle Safety Rodeo - www.roswellkiwanis.org/BikeRodeo2016.html
• Information on all events - www.bikeroswell.com

Event Information- Ryan Barnett, phone: 404-432-9699, email: thomasryanbarnett@gmail.com