FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kim True
BikeMaine Ride Director
Cell Phone: 207-400-2500
Email: kim@bikemaine.com

BikeMaine 7-Day Cycling Event Unveils Inaugural Route
First in New England, BikeMaine Expects to Boost Tourism

February 6, 2013, Bangor, ME – BikeMaine, a seven-day, 400 mile rolling celebration of Maine debuting September 7-14, unveiled its inaugural bicycle route today. The loop route, which begins and ends in Orono, will see cyclists camping in the following host communities: Orono, Dover-Foxcroft, Belfast, Castine, Bar Harbor (two nights) and Camp Jordan (Ellsworth). Limited to 350 riders in the first year, half from out-of-state, the event is expected to grow to about 2,000 riders after the startup years, offering an economic boost to host communities supporting the ride. Each year, the route will visit a different part of Maine with new host communities. BikeMaine is the latest and most ambitious undertaking of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine to promote and celebrate safe cycling events and pedestrian initiatives.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kim True
BikeMaine Ride Director
Cell Phone: 207-400-2500

Inaugural BikeMaine Cycling Announcement and Route Unveiling
Announcement Tomorrow, 02/6/13, in Bangor

BikeMaine, a seven day, six town, 400 mile mass cycling event — the first of its kind in New England — will unveil the 2013 inaugural route and announce this year’s host communities tomorrow, Feb. 6, in Bangor. The announcement will be made at a 2:00 PM press conference hosted by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Bangor Savings Bank at the G. Clifton Eames Learning Center, 203 Maine Avenue, Bangor.

The media is welcomed and encouraged to attend. Other invited guests include representatives from host communities, sponsors, and partners, local and state officials integral to the success of the Ride, and BikeMaine leadership. Light (and tasty) refreshments follow the announcement.

TIME: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

LOCATION: G. Clifton Eames Learning Center, 203 Maine Avenue, Bangor

This article originally appeared in the Portland Press Herald

Thursday December 20, 2012 | 02:52 PM
Posted by Karen Beaudoin kbeaudoin@mainetoday.com

Back during the summer days of riding in riding in short-sleeved jerseys past blooming fields and lush green trees, I wrote a column about the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s new ride, BikeMaine. In July, the inaugural event seemed a long way off. That’s no longer the case.

The Coalition released this press release this morning about our exciting new ride!

Augusta, ME – On its twentieth anniversary, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) is launching a major new 7-day bicycle event that will showcase Maine as a premier cycling destination on the East Coast. BCM is Maine’s leading voice for bicyclists with programs on safety, improved infrastructure and advocacy both in Augusta and Washington. As a result of BCM’s efforts, Maine has consistently ranked in the top ten bicycle-friendly states and as high as number two last year.

At the Coalition’s Board of Directors meeting on Thursday June 21, the Board unanimously voted to proceed with the inaugural BikeMaine event for September 7-14, 2013.   The Coalition has secured the necessary start-up funding for the event.  The Betterment Foundation has approved a two-year grant, the Horizon Foundation and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation have each approved one-year grants and the Maine Office of Tourism has approved a grant to cover first year marketing expenses.  The organization is also talking to select businesses for sponsorship of the ride.