Ride Around the Moon – Virtual Event
Connect with fellow riders around the state for a virtual ride “around the moon”! Register yourself, or your Quaranteam, and join us in reaching the common goal of riding “around the moon” or 6,786 miles!
How much you ride, where you ride, how fast you ride all depends on what you feel comfortable doing. Riding with the kids to the park near you each week? Taking 100 mile solo trips? Hopping on the indoor trainer before the kids wake up? Slow rolling a 10 miler to let off stress after work or home schooling your kids? It all counts! Time is not being tracked, only how far you go as we ride together (while apart) to reach the goal.
- Solo Rider $15
- Pair $25
- Quaranteam (3-6) $35
Use the Team/Group function to collectively ride and encourage others in your workplace, cycling club, or community to join our ride and help reach the goal.
Prize packages will be awarded in the following categories. Prizes are still being determined, but will be super cool!
- City with most participants registered percentage (per capita using census July 1st 2019 estimates)
- Top 3 Group/Teams with most participants registered
- Top distance by group/team
- Raffle Prize package for one lucky winner of Bonus Support Local game
Each paid and registered rider will be mailed a custom 1.25″ soft enamel pin celebrating this year’s event as well as a sticker to slap where ever you choose.
Once you’ve registered we will email you instructions for a bonus game, or check it out here! Completion of activities will gain you an entry and chance to win one of our prize packages! Similar to our Santa Rampage ride, where we encourage riders to support the local economy these added bonus activities will include supporting locally owned businesses across Wisconsin. Use your Bike Fed Membership discounts at Bicycle Benefits participating locations. Search for your city here to find participating businesses. We also encourage you to shop at minority owned businesses or small local places that may not be on benefits list. Not a member? Join today!
Registrants will also be sent a playlist available on various streaming platforms consisting of classic Nortena and Polka music to listen to on your ride to help with the vibes.
The virtual Polish Moon Ride supports the Bike Fed’s education and advocacy programs aimed at making Wisconsin the best place in the country to ride a bicycle. We realize, however, that the Bike Fed is not the only organization affected by this pandemic. So we are also accepting donations to:
- The Hunger Task Force of Wisconsin: Dairy Recovery Program. Hunger Task Force processes and distributes milk to Free & Local partner food banks and food pantries through the Hunger Relief Federation of Wisconsin, a statewide association that supports food distribution in local communities. If you know the history of Wisconsin Dairy farms and bikes you know if it weren’t for the dairy farmers of the past we may not have the 1000s of miles of connected and paved roads many of us enjoy riding on today!
- Or want to make sure your donation helps more people get on bikes more often? Give an added donation to our JUST BIKES Coalition which is in need of a grant funding match to meet it’s goal of increasing access to bike resources in low income communities of Madison.
- We will make a donation on your behalf to the The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. LDF is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.
SOME BACKGROUND:
Many of you in the Milwaukee area may be familiar with our Annual Polish Moon Ride. A family-friendly, police led, slow paced ride through the near south side neighborhoods of Milwaukee. Bringing together and celebrating the original Polish Immigrants and current Latinx residents cultures through bikes and Polka Music.
Live music and dancing and food and drinks among 500 of your closest friends is generally a great way to kick off the summer. Sadly, it was not in the cards for this year to host a large scale in person gathering. Registrants will be sent a playlist available on various streaming platforms consisting of classic Nortena and Polka music to listen to on your ride to help with the vibes.
Why “Polish Moon”? The ride began in the Walker’s Point Neighborhood of Milwaukee, 6 years ago. Starting under the Allen Bradley Clock tower, affectionately called the “Polish Moon” as its big white face glowing could, on some nights when you’ve had a few too many Żywiec, be mistaken for a full moon. Read more here.
While we are sad that we can not have our usual party we are excited to host a virtual ride that can bring together our entire state, and beyond, under one moon! So join us to ride with the common goal of making it “around the moon” or 6,786 miles!