The 3-Mile Community Ride planned to welcome the Historic Riverton Century Riders on June 11 is not the first bicycle procession around the streets of Riverton.
In September 1894, in conjunction with an upcoming bicycle race on Riverton’s race track, the Ladies Floral Tournament Club of Riverton orchestrated a complex parade of some twenty-five carriages through the main roads of Riverton.
The wheelmen of the Riverton Athletic Association on their decorated bicycles traveled in opposite directions.
Participants were awarded prizes for the best decorated carriages and bicycles.
It ended with refreshments at the clubhouse of the Riverton Athletic Association.
Another article publicized the innovation of bicycle races by a dozen electric arc lights for the September 25th meet.
Imagine the spectacle of a day given over to the sport of bicycling attended by almost 4,000 fans.
You don’t have to imagine because soon Riverton will devote two days to cycling events – the Historic Riverton Century and Community Ride on Saturday, June 11, and the Historic Riverton Criterium the next day on Sunday, June 12.
There is still time to register for the Community Ride and dinner as well as support the Criterium at gofundme, with the Society being the main beneficiary.
Contact Iris Gaughan at iggaughan@gmail.com or 856-829-8671 if you are able to serve as a race marshal or help sell merchandise. – JMc
