Popular series offers Trail Mix of opportunities to Walk, Ride, Dine
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Season four of Fort Wayne's Trek the Trails offers a "tasty" fare! Free, guided community bike rides are still the main course of Trek the Trails, with 27 rides planned through October 1, but new offerings are sure to whet your appetite.
Five of the events will incorporate Trail Mixers with food available after the ride offering a chance to grab a bite to eat while getting to know other trail users who have similar interests in our trails. This season will also offer a 1-2 mile walk on the trail at the same time as the bike ride.
"The trails are inviting – they're for all ages and I'm glad to see them being used throughout the community. The addition of the mixers will offer residents a chance to socialize with old and new friends. Trek the Trails is a great way to explore our 70 mile trail network that winds through urban and rural areas around the City," said Mayor Tom Henry.
Trek the Trails is jointly planned and organized by the City of Fort Wayne Greenways Department and Fort Wayne Trails Inc. and offers rides at 6pm every Tuesday beginning next week. The rides are 6-8 miles long. There are also longer Saturday rides for more experienced riders. Walks will be included on each event that includes a Trail Mixer.
Walk, Ride and Dine Kickoff
The kickoff event on Tuesday May 7th at 6:00 PM will include a walk and a ride followed by a Trail Mixer at the Salomon Farm barn with food catered by sponsor, Don Hall's Catering. The first ride and walk is sponsored by Fred Toenges Shoes and Pedorthics and Summit City Bicycles & Fitness. All rides are free but as a fundraiser for the first Trail Mixer a $10 donation to Fort Wayne Trails Inc. is suggested for food after the event.
Four additional mixers will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, two with a Food Truck available and one sponsored by the New Haven/Adams Township Parks & Recreation Department.
Win a Bike
Each week during the season, participants can enter a drawing to win a bike from well-known bicycle manufacturer, Trek and Summit City Bicycles & Fitness. The winner will receive a Trek FX 7.2 bike. Participants can register for the drawing at each ride they attend and the drawing will be held at the end of the season. The winner will have the bike fitted to the proper height for them.
Event Details
Trek the Trails will take bicyclists through all parts of the community – along the Rivergreenway, the Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Aboite Trails, the Pufferbelly Rail-to-Trail and the Salomon Farm Trail and even to New Haven's Moser Park.
Helmets are strongly encouraged for participants. If there is unsafe weather, such as lightning, the ride or walk will be cancelled.
Tuesday Trail Rides – 6pm:
5/7/2013 Salomon Farm Park - Meet at the gravel parking lot at 817 W. Dupont Rd. 8-mile ride
Trail Mixer and 1-2 mile walk at this event. Sponsors, Summit City Bicycles & Fitness and Fred Toenges Shoes & Pedorthics, Food by Don Hall’s Catering
5/14/2013 Deer Ridge Elementary School - Meet in the elementary school parking lot at 1515 S. Scott Rd. 6-mile ride - Sponsor, Franklin Electric
5/21/2013 Rockhill Park Trailhead - Meet at the trailhead parking lot near 1400 Catalpa St. 9-mile ride
5/28/2013 IPFW - Meet in the parking lot on the east side of the St. Joseph River near the new Venderly Family Bridge – near 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. 8-mile ride
6/4/2013 Lawton Park Trailhead - Meet at the gravel parking lot on the south side of 4th Street – near 250 E. 4th St. 8-mile ride
6/11/2013 Foster Park Trailhead - Meet at the trailhead parking lot at the end of the main park drive near Pavilion #1 – near 3900 Old Mill Rd. 9-mile ride
Trail Mixer and 1-2 mile walk at this event. Sponsors, Three Rivers Velo Sport, Visit Fort Wayne. Food available for purchase following the event from Ragin’ Cajun Food Truck
6/18/2013 North River Rd Trailhead - Meet at the North River Rd Trailhead, commonly known as the “boat launch” just west of Kreager Park. – near 7300 N. River Rd. 8-mile ride
6/25/2013 Johnny Appleseed Park Trailhead - Meet at the tank on H.W. Baals Drive near Coliseum Blvd. 8-mile ride
7/2/2013 Rockhill Park Trailhead - Meet at the trailhead parking lot near 1400 Catalpa St. 8-mile ride
7/9/2013 Indian Trails Park Trailhead - Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park near the gazebo – near 10300 Aboite Center Rd. 8-mile ride
Trail Mixer and 1-2 mile walk at this event. Sponsors, Summit City Bicycles and Fitness, Organized 4U. Food available for purchase following the event from Affiné Food Truck
7/16/2013 Swinney Park W Trailhead - Meet at the parking lot near the old swimming pool in Swinney Park West – near 2200 W. Jefferson Blvd. 8-mile ride
7/23/2013 Rockhill Park Trailhead - Meet at the trailhead parking lot near 1400 Catalpa St. 9-mile ride
7/30/2013 IPFW - Meet in the parking lot on the east side of the St. Joseph River near the new Venderly Family Bridge – near 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. 8-mile ride
8/6/2013 Deer Ridge Elementary - Meet in the elementary school parking lot at 1515 S. Scott Rd. 8-mile ride
8/13/2013 Moser Park - Meet in the trailhead parking lot near the baseball diamonds – near 601 W. Main St, New Haven, IN 8-mile ride.
Trail Mixer and 1-2 mile walk at this event. Sponsors, Summit City Bicycles and Fitness, food provided by New Haven Parks Department.
8/20/2013 Tillman Park - Meet it the parking lot near the softball diamonds – near 7500 S. Hanna St. 8-mile ride
8/27/2013 Shoaff Park - Meet at the parking lot near the Conklin Pavilion on the south side of the park – near 6401 St. Joe Rd. 8-mile ride
9/3/2013 Lawton Park Trailhead - Meet at the gravel parking lot on the south side of 4th St. near 250 E. 4th St. 8-mile ride
9/10/2013 Rockhill Park Trailhead - Meet at the trailhead parking lot near 1400 Catalpa St. 9-mile ride
Trail Mixer and 1-2 mile walk at this event. Sponsor, Summit City Bicycles and Fitness. Food available for purchase following the event from
Jumby's Joint Food Truck.
9/17/2013 Indian Trails Park Trailhead - Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park near the gazebo – near 10300 Aboite Center Rd. 8-mile ride
9/24/2013 Swinney Park - Meet at the parking lot near the old swimming pool in Swinney Park West – near 2200 W. Jefferson Blvd. 8-mile ride
10/1/2013 Foster Park 7:30PM – Stargazing Trail Ride Meet at the trailhead parking lot at the end of the main park drive near Pavilion #1 – near 3900 Old Mill Rd. 8-mile ride – co-sponsored by the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society
Saturday Trail Rides 9am
For those interested in longer rides, the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM will begin in June. The first Saturday ride will be 14 miles and will gradually build up to 20 miles in September. These longer trail rides are intended for intermediate bicyclists.
Saturday 9:00 AM rides
6/8/2013 Lawton Park Trailhead -Meet at the gravel parking lot on the south side of 4th Street – near 250 E. 4th St. 14-mile ride
7/13/2013 Indian Trails Park - Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park – near 10300 Aboite Center Rd. 16-mile ride
8/10/2013 Lawton Park Trailhead - Meet at the gravel parking lot on the south side of 4th St. – near 250 E. 4th St. 17-mile ride
9/14/2013 North River Rd. - Meet at the North River Rd. Trailhead, commonly known as the “boat launch” just west of Kreager Park – near 7300 N. River Rd. 20-mile ride