The second annual West End Bike Stoke Night will be hosted at the Flying Bear Pizzeria at Naturita Bicycle Company on Thursday, April 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. All ages are welcome to the event and are encouraged to join in the excitement of the upcoming biking season.
Stoke Night will include activities for the whole family, a bike rodeo for the children, a silent auction, a raffle, prizes, as well as information about the new trail system that will be developed this year.
Prizes for the rodeo and raffle will include merchandise from local businesses that are collaborating on the event, and the auction will have quality cycle packages available for bidding. Proceeds will go to help the West End Trails Alliance (WETA) continue their mission of building and maintaining trails in the West End.
The West End Trails Alliance is sponsoring Stoke Night to celebrate the new bike riding season with the community, as well as share important information about the local biking trails.
WETA’s president and owner of Paradox Cycle in Naturita Brock Benson explained the meaning of Stoke Night. “Stoke” is a synonym for “very excited,” which the biking community uses to show their enthusiasm for the sport of mountain biking and trail biking. Having events that focus on biking helps to build up interest in the community.
“It’s kind of like stoking a fire, we’re stoking our bike fire,” Benson said, “and stoking our community.”
The bigger purpose behind this particular Stoke Night is to celebrate the launch of the anticipated new trail system in Naturita. WETA has been working with the Bureau of Land Management for the past eight years to develop the layout for the 17-mile trail system that will be the newest addition to the area.
Stoke Night event will offer opportunities for community members to discuss the new system with Trails Alliance members, as well as see maps of what the trails will look like, and other important mountain and trail biking information.
During the event, the Flying Bear will be in full service, making food and drinks available to purchase throughout the night. The owners, Virginia Ericson and Nick Badovinac, enjoy hosting events at their business and giving the community a space to gather together.
“I am most looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces that I love in our little community come out and come together,” Ericson said.
Benson spoke of his anticipation for the upcoming social gathering.
“I think the community coming together is the most exciting part,” he said. “And, there’s a rumor Paradox Cycle might have an after-party following Stoke Night. So you’ll just have to show up and find out if that happens,” he said.
For more information on Stoke Night, mountain biking or trail biking in the West End, all are invited to visit the social media pages of the Flying Bear, Paradox Cycle and the West End Trails Alliance. All are also invited to visit their websites too: www.pizzabikesbeer.com; www.paradoxcycle.com and www.westendtrails.org.
