Missouri Bicycle News

With a new bike club in Maryville, seeing 20 or more bicyclists riding along 71 Highway may not be such a strange phenomenon at all.

The Maryville Bike Club kicked off in April –– that is when nearly 40 members started riding as a group every Tuesday evening and Friday morning. . . .

All ages and riding abilities are welcome to join the Maryville Bike Club. At this point, the oldest member is in their 70s and the youngest is 21.

"We get together twice a week to ride," Anderson said. "We meet at 9:30 a.m., Fridays and 5:45 p.m., Tuesdays to start our rides. We leave from Donaldson Westside Park, ride down Icon Road, across V east to 71 Highway and south to Pumpkin Center. It's around 23 miles and takes between an hour and an hour and a half to ride it. It's fun to ride with a large group and safer, too." . . .

Some goals for the bike club are:
• To promote good bicycle awareness.
"It's important for the public to understand the rights of bicyclists," Anderson said. "They have the same rights as other motorists. Bicyclists need to show the same respect to motorists."
• To promote good health
"Biking is a good, long, sustainable low impact form of exercise," Anderson said.
• To give more support to the Nodaway County Trails program. . . .

Anyone interested in more information about the bike club can e-mail Anderson at maryvillebike@hotmail.com to receive postings, reminders and upcoming rides.