Recreational and competitive cycling is set to take over the streets of Downtown Long Beach for a two-day event, April 3-4, 2009. The inaugural Long Beach Bicycle Grand Prix festival and race will consist of anything and everything bicyclerelated: from vendors to fashion shows, from fixed gear demonstrations to criterium road races. The event represents the launch of Bike Long Beach, an innovative plan to make Long Beach “the most cycling friendly urban city in the United States.” The festival is sponsored by the Downtown Long Beach Associates, the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency.


Bicycle Grand Prix
The races on Saturday will run from 11:00 a.m. until about 7:00 p.m. There are both men’s and women’s events for all skill levels and ages, and a featured Fire and Police competition. The .0.83 mile course in Downtown Long Beach starts and finishes at Broadway and Pine. A shorter course means high speeds, quick laps, and excellent viewing opportunities anywhere on the track for spectators. Races are sanctioned by USA Cycling / USCF and California Bicycle Racing. The grand finale, the men’s pro twilight race, will feature 125 racers engaged in 40+ mph sprints on state-of-the-art bikes, in hopes of taking home a portion of the $10,000 purse.

Festival
The event will commence Friday afternoon around First Street in the East Village and will feature live music, delicious food, and the Alley Way Beer (and wine) Garden. The momentum of the festivities will increase in anticipation of the competitive atmosphere that is certain to fill the air on Saturday. Over the course of the day, participants in seven categories will put rubber to the pavement, culminating in the $10,000 men’s pro twilight race Saturday evening. Attendees are invited to stick around after the men’s pro race to take in the Bikestation CYCLESTYLE Fashion Show, highlighting the hottest bike gear for 2009. Following the Fashion Show will be The Pro Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Pine Avenue from 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. The city streets will keep rocking into the evening hours with live music and an after-party on Pine. The revelry will include vendors, expo booths featuring local non-profits and advocacy groups, and delicious fare from Pine Avenue restaurants.