Listen to this articleLocal gay bar and club Club Try-Angles will be sponsoring a bike team for the Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride 2008 tour, a 150 mile ride benefiting the Utah chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on June 28-29.
Community members interested in joining the team are invited to a meeting for Team Try-Angles at the club (251 W 900 S Salt Lake City) at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 22.
In past rides, team leader Adam Frost said he volunteered with friends and family to make sandwiches to be given to riders at lunch stops. This year, however, he said his friends and family weren’t available to help, so he thought he’d ride instead.
“In the past, as far as we know, there’s never been a specific queer team gathering, and that’s what we want to do this year,” he said.
In past years, Frost said he and friends typically over $1,000 dollars for the MS Society of Utah (each rider is required to raise $250). This year, the team has set a goal of $5,000.
Started in 1986, the annual bike ride has grown from 100 to 3,000 riders. In 2007 it raised 1.5 million dollars for MS programs, services and research.
Currently, Team Try-Angles has three members (four are required to ride as a team). Frost said the goal of this weekend’s meeting is to find more riders.
“We’d love for it to be a huge team, that’d be awesome!” he said.
The two-day ride will begin in Logan, UT on Saturday, June 28. While riders have the option of biking as much as 175 miles, 40 and 75 mile routes will be available all weekend and 100 mile routes available on Saturday. The minimum number of miles participants are required to ride is 40.
To help riders who want to participate but need to get in shape first, Team Try-Angles will also offer training rides throughout the spring.
“It’s a lot of work for the weekend, but it’s one of those things where it’s fun work,” said Frost.
The team will also hold a fundraiser for the ride, with all money going to the MS Society.
Riders of all orientations and gender identities are welcome to join the team.
For more information, email teamtryangles@gmail.com or call 859-3011.
