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Ride into the night

6/3/2015

With all the themed rides about to hit town this summer, why not support one that puts money back into its respective community? The Git Lit Ride in Waukee and Dallas Center will light up the evening this Thursday with its evening ride.

The GIT LIT! Ride will take place on June 4. Check-in is at 5:30 p.m. at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee.

The GIT LIT! Ride will take place on June 4. Check-in is at 5:30 p.m. at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee.

“Who doesn’t love a reason to enjoy a refreshing beer, ride a bike on a nice summer night and get creative with glow sticks and LED lights?” said Heather Behrens, ride organizer. “Supporting your community while you’re at it is the icing on that cake.”

The check-in/pregame starts at Mickey’s Irish Pub Waukee. After indulging in a little food and drink (or two, or three), riders will depart for the next bar and enjoy a gorgeous sunset on the Raccoon River Valley Trail before arriving for a fill up at Longest Yard in Dallas Center. Being right around 12 miles, this ride is the perfect event for non-riders and avid fans alike. As they say, you never truly forget how to ride.

“It’s an easy cruise on a fantastic trail with some awesome local bars that are rather handily accessible,” Behrens said. “Plus, the cars driving by that part of the trail get a nice view of everyone all lit up on the way back.”

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While the entry is free, donations are encouraged. But don’t worry, your gifts aren’t without their own rewards. Along with helping raise money for the Waukee Trailhead Project (WTP) — with all proceeds supporting the construction of “In the Shadow of the Rails,” a fantastic new WTP on the Raccoon River Valley Trail — your donations can earn you some pretty nifty stuff that assures you’ll be lit in more ways than one.

The donation levels are split into three groups: Glimmer ($20), Glow ($40) and Blaze ($60). Glimmer level donors will receive a bike light, a personal glow item and a drink ticket. Glow donors will receive a bike light, glow in the dark water bottle, two personal glow items and a drink ticket. The Blaze level gets a bike light, a glow-in-the-dark water bottle, personal glow items, a drink ticket and one “insanely” cool reflective vest. There will also be prizes awarded for Best Lit Bike and Best Dressed Rider, as well as great raffle prizes.

“I’ve been super impressed with the creativity of riders,” Behrens said. “In the past, winners have taken home coolers of beer, I-Cubs tickets, etc. We also run a raffle. I’m not sure of the big prizes yet, but last year it was super cool bike jerseys from various beers.”

While riders will be off the main roads and on the trail, night riding isn’t without its worries. Assuage all fear and increase your odds of winning Best Lit Bike at the same time with phosphorescent paint. Substantially brighter than glow-in-the-dark paint, phosphorescent paint can glow up to 12 hours and only needs around 10 minutes to charge. Once you’re glowing, drivers can see you at quite a distance, and you’re sure to get compliments for stylish and safe riding.

“Git Lit is great because we get to enjoy the ‘golden hour’ of the day — any photographers favorite time — sunset and a moonlight ride back,” said Behrens.

And if you can’t make it out to Thursday night’s ride, check it out again on July 2, when riders will be cruising between Mickey’s Waukee and Captain’s Quarters in Adel for another sunset to moonlight, GIT LIT! Ride. CV

 

GIT LIT! Ride

Thursday, June 4, Participation is free. Check-in at Mickey’s Irish Pub Waukee: 5:30 p.m. Depart Mickey’s at 7 p.m. Depart Longest Yard 9 p.m. Find out who won the Best Lit Bike and Best Dressed Rider as well as the raffle about 10 p.m. at Mickey’s.

 

David Rowley is an Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a master’s in film journalism from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

 

 

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