On Saturday, July 16, more than 285 cyclists participated in the second annual 14.2-mile Tour de Luke charitable bike ride – riding a total of 4,047 miles and raising a total of $4,000.
The event is organized by the City of Lancaster and Lucky Luke Brewing, with support from other local partners, including Team LAKAYS Cycling, the Squeaky Wheel Bike Shop, Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club and High Desert Cycling.
Among the other supporters were the City of Palmdale, Air Reel Drone Services, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Advanced Printing & Graphics, the BLVD Association, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The 14.2-mile community bike ride started and ended at the Lucky Luke Brewpub in Lancaster, where cyclists enjoyed an after party with complimentary beer, event swag, raffles, live music by local band “Reality Check,” and more.
“We were so excited to see nearly 300 people come out for this year’s event to have fun together, get active, and raise funds for a good cause,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris.
The 2022 primary charitable partner, Resurrection Cycles, is a local nonprofit bike shop whose mission is to “change lives by providing the tools to get people working and the wheels to get there.” They offer low-cost bicycles and bicycle repair to those in need. Since 2019, Resurrection Cycles has been providing affordable, reliable transportation to community members whose main sources of commuting are via bike, whether it be an unhoused neighbor or disadvantaged youth.
“All our event organizers and supporters helped ensure the cyclists were safe and well cared for during the ride in the summer heat,” said Mayor Parris. “We are grateful to everyone – the participants, event partners, sponsors, and vendors – who helped make this event a success, and we look forward to seeing you next year!”
In 2023, the City of Lancaster will continue to partner with Lucky Luke Brewing to raise money for Resurrection Cycles.
“My husband and I really enjoy cycling and wanted to share our enthusiasm with other community members,” said Lucky Luke’s owner, Samantha Schmitz. “We were thinking about organizing a charity bike ride, and since the city was already organizing community bike rides, we reached out to combine our efforts. We are thrilled at how the partnership with the city has unfolded.”
Keep an eye out for the 2023 Tour de Luke date by visiting the City of Lancaster’s SEE AND BE SEEN webpage: www.cityoflancasterca.org/seeandbeseen.
