Santa Clarita community members are invited to join Mayor Bob Kellar for a free community bike ride beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Iron Horse Trailhead located off of Magic Mountain Parkway near Tourney Road.  The Mayor’s Ride will kick off a series of events surrounding the 2013 Amen Tour of California professional cycling race, which is set to ride through Santa Clarita on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

The Mayor’s Ride is a family friendly event where riders of any level can participate.  The course will be off street for over a span of six miles and led by Mayor Bob Kellar and other City representatives in order to ensure a fun and safe ride.  No registration is required, and the race will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.  Participants are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 a.m. for a meet and greet with Mayor Bob Kellar.

“I am honored to kick off a series of cycling related events with this ride as the City prepares for the Amgen Tour of California,” said Mayor Bob Kellar.  “With over 70 miles of off street trails, Santa Clarita is a very cycling friendly community and I am thrilled to have residents join me on this friendly ride on one of the City’s newest trailheads.”

In addition to the Mayor’s Ride, get together with friends and family on Monday, May 13, 2013 for a viewing party of Amgen Tour of California as the world’s top cyclists race towards Santa Clarita in “America’s Greatest Race.”  The viewing party will take place in the evening at Salt Creek Grille, located at 24415 Town Center Drive.  The event is open to all community members and will feature a raffle with prizes including: cycling bags, signed official rider jerseys and other memorabilia.

The City will continue the cycling celebrations following the May 14 and 15 stages of the Amgen Tour of California with two more community events.

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, local businesses are challenged to participate in Bike to Work Day, an environmentally friendly competition with trophies and gift certificates awarded to the business with the most participants.  Businesses are categorized in three groups: Small Business with two to ten employees; Medium Business with 11 to 100 employees; and Large Business with over 100 employees.  Participants will receive other giveaways at various checkpoints throughout the City including: City Hall, Bouquet Junction, trail access at Camp Plenty and Soledad Canyon Road, and trail access at Newhall Avenue and 16th Street.  To learn more about Bike to Work Day, visit GreenSantaClarita.com.

Iron Horse trailhead

Lastly, community members are invited to “Rock The Bike” at the SENSES block party on Thursday, May 16 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  As the City wraps up a week-long of cycling related events, the bicycle themed event will feature live music, gourmet food trucks, street performers and other activities.  For more information on SENSES “Rock The Bike” party, visit ThursdaysAtNewhall.com.

The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France style cycling road race, presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course.

As the City of Santa Clarita prepares to welcome thousands of spectators and 144 of the world’s top cyclists, residents and businesses are strongly urged to utilize the City’s website to plan ahead and minimize any commuting inconvenience.

“The City’s website is a great resource for the community to use in preparing for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California as it contains detailed maps, traffic alerts and information relating to race festivities,” said Rick Gould, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

On May 14, there will be 10-15 minute traffic impacts around 1:00 p.m. in the area of San Francisquito Canyon Road and Copper Hill west through the industrial center to the I-5 Freeway. Later in the day, there will be an approximate 40 minute closure of southbound Bouquet Canyon after 2:30 p.m., and west to Valencia Boulevard and onto Magic Mountain Parkway from approximately 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  On Wednesday, May 15, there will be an approximate 10-15 minute closure starting around 12:15 p.m. on McBean Parkway, from Town Center Drive north to Newhall Ranch Road to Highway 126.

While there will be traffic impacts to residents, emergency vehicles will have continuous access to the entire Santa Clarita Valley at all times during the race and the safety of residents and spectators alike is the number one priority to both the presenters of the race and all agencies involved. Times may vary and other delays could occur. Plan ahead and avoid impacts by checking for the latest traffic information.

For more information on events, volunteering and traffic impacts, please visit SantaClaritaTourOfCA.com or call the City’s Arts and Events Division at (661) 250-3787.