Not a pandemic nor sub-zero wind chills broke the long tradition of the Bike Ride to Rippey.
Five hundred bicyclists pre-registered for the Perry Chamber of Commerce’s 44th annual Bike Ride to Rippey – the BRR ride – held the first Saturday in February every year, regardless of the weather.
However, many riders skipped the ride due to hazardous cold.. At 12 pm, the temperature in Rippey was 5 degrees, without factoring in the wind, and visibility was less than 1/4 mile under an unforgiving grey sky. Several support vehicles drove the expected route to assist bicyclists if needed.
Generally, riders were on fat tire bikes, with tires wide enough to get traction on snow-covered roads. They wore full helmets with goggles and face coverings.
Visibility improved as the afternoon wore on, and the number of riders picked up a bit.
This year, in response to the pandemic, there was no “official” start time for the ride. Rippey is the turn-around point in the ride, and plenty of food, hot drinks and beer are usually available. This year, the street was empty.
