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Wrightsville Beach
Thursday, March 28, 2024

River to Sea Bike Ride continues to gain popularity

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By Cullen Lea

Contributing Writer 

Around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the 100 block of North Front Street was filled with various riders and their bikes as well as an ocean of neon green T-shirts marking the 26th Annual River to Sea Bike Ride, a 20-mile roundabout trip that takes riders from downtown Wilmington’s Riverfront Park to Wrightsville Beach and back again.

Riders cruised along the old Beach Car Line, which served as a public transit system for beachgoers 100 years ago. The historic route used to be one of the few ways Wilmington residents could reach the beach.

Adrienne Harrington, transportation manager for the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the event keeps growing bigger every year.

“The event is about bringing awareness to health, transportation and the recreation of bike riding,” she said.

With more than one-fourth of a century under its belt, the River to Sea Bike Ride has become a staple event in Wilmington and begins the month of May, coinciding with other bicycle and skate events held during National Bike Month.

“It adds a lot of character and culture to our city,” Harrington said. “The event lends itself to the weather, beach and outdoor climates of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.”

Some riders make it a tradition to participate in the River to Sea Bike Ride.

“This is my fourth year riding,” participant Chad Harp said. “I just got back into riding because of my hip. It’s a great exercise for people like me because it’s low impact on your body.”

Harp explained the importance of the event, as it makes commuters in cars more aware of bike riders in the community.

“You have over 200 riders crossing College Road and it’s a sight,” Harp said. “It makes riders more visible and helps drivers be more mindful of us on the road.”

Others were new to the happening and used it as a way to get to know Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.

“We just moved here from New Jersey,” Mary Smith said. “My husband Paul and I were looking across the East Coast to see what community fit us best. We’re using this ride to see if we made the right choice.”

Joking aside, the Smiths were excited to see that Wilmington celebrated bike riding.

“I’ve been biking for 20 years now,” Paul Smith said. “We want to familiarize ourselves with the routes. Riding is still a big part of my life.”

For some, the event was a family affair and a celebration of bike riding. For Gregg Sales, his wife Tonya and their son Henry, bikes are an integral part of their lives.

“We try to ride every weekend and last week we rode around 30 miles,” Gregg Sales said. “This event is so much fun. It’s a great way to teach my son Henry how to ride and the importance of exercise.”

The little boy, propped up in his father’s bicycle, had one thing on his mind.

“I want to go biking,” Henry said. “And fast!”

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