Ride the Charley Western Trailway

Family bike ride and prizes during Whitewater Weekend

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

This Saturday the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a family bike ride of the Charley Western Trailway anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

“Our goal is, you know, just to hopefully bring out more riders and create regular users of the trails,” Erich Feller, ride organizer, said.

This is the tenth year of the trail’s completion. In the summer of 2001 community members began moving forward with the conversion of the Charley Western Railway to a trailway. The project was completed in 2006.

“The trail is a continuous five mile loop around Charles City when you add in Charley Western Trail and Riverside trail as well as the roadways,” Feller said.

The trail ride event scheduled in conjunction with Whitewater Weekend is intended for the entire family — whether biking with training wheels, riding in a stroller pulled behind a bike or veteran biker — all are encouraged to participate. While the ride is free, in order to be eligible for prizes it is recommended bikers register before taking to the trail.

“We have about 50 riders signed up,” Feller said.

After the ride names will be pulled for prizes.

“Prizes will be announced at the bandstand behind Charles City library noon that same day,” Feller said. Prizes include certificates ranging from car washes to day passes to the YMCA. Also to be given away are a portable chair, sweatshirts, piggy banks and hats. Riders can sign up at Aroma’s Coffee Shop on Main Street.

Feller reminisces about the completion of the trailway.

“Up along the riverside portion of the trails, me and my brother used to race bikes and scooters up there all the time, since then the trail has expanded,” he said. “It’s a great way to get out and see Charles City and see the great town it really is.”

The Charley Western Trailway is an enjoyable trail for any skill level of biker.

“It’s really an all purpose trail — you can use any type of bike on the trial,” Feller said. “It’s more a scenic trail than it is a challenging trail.”

He estimates the ride will take the average biker roughly 20 minutes to complete. The entire trail is paved with areas of sun and shade and crosses the river twice. Maps will be given out to those who are unfamiliar with trail.

This is the second annual Charley Western Trailway Family Ride to be held during Whitewater Weekend.

“It is a great way to get out and burn a few calories before you dig into some ribs later in the day,” he said. “Our long term vision is to make Charley Western trail a (historic) destination for people all over the area to come and use.”