Oil your chain and locate your helmet — it’s almost time for the Historical Society’s newest Second Saturday event: Bikes, Bingo & BBQ, scheduled for June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Baugh House. In keeping with the celebratory nature of the WRHS’s 50th year, the June event has switched from the “Clean out your garage and sell stuff at our yard sale” to “Let’s have some fun in the sun!”
Bike fanciers will take a leisurely cruise on the greenbelt along the Clear Creek Trail from Prospect Park (across 44th Avenue from the Baugh House) west to Youngfield St. and back. The day starts with a costumed bike parade at the Baugh House, then bicyclists will cut through the park to begin the ride. A leisurely pace will afford the opportunity to view several birds common to the area, including ducks, geese, coots, cormorants and possibly Great Blue Heron.
Those with a quick eye may glimpse a coyote or fox, rabbits and a host of skittering critters. Kids are absolutely welcome, but like everyone else, they must wear a helmet.
Once back at the Baugh House, Mile High Smokers BBQ will be set up to serve brisket or pulled pork sandwiches (slider or regular size) for a cash fee. Make it a meal with chips and a drink. Mile High Smokers is also known for their delicious jerky! They’ll have plenty to purchase and enjoy onsite or take home.
If you’re one of the few souls left who don’t, won’t or can’t ride a bike, don’t fret. You can join the rest of us for some rousing rounds of Bingo (and other board games) in the cool, rustic atmosphere of the Baugh House.
Sponsor for this event is, aptly, the Wheat Ridge Cyclery, serving the community since 1973. Their devotion to the sport of cycling shows in their dedication to complete customer satisfaction, their unparalleled service and expert advice. It’s your trusted local bike shop!
Luckily, the development of the bicycle has seen improvements in comfort, efficiency and safety. The earliest form appeared around 1820: a frame and two wheels propelled by alternating feet. By the 1860s pedal cranks had been added, and the word “bicycle” came into use. The 1870s saw the development of high wheelers, known as penny-farthings, with front wheels as large as 60 inches; they became a symbol of the Victorian Era.
The modern bicycle appeared in the 1880s. The “safety bicycle” featured equal sized wheels and a chain drive that produced the desired gear ratio; pneumatic tires smoothed the ride. Mass production resulted in a bicycle boom in Europe and the U.S., but by the 1950s America’s love affair with cars relegated bikes to the status of a toy for children in the U.S.
Good news! The bicycle is back as a means for transportation, healthy exercise, and sport racing.
