Cycling in the Columbia Basin

by Derrick Pacheco<br>Herald Sports Writer
| July 10, 2008 9:00 PM

EPHRATA - Under the setting summer sun, cyclists from the Columbia Basin head to Ephrata to participate in the Summer Criterium Series. The six-part series provides cyclists of all ages with the opportunity to hit the open road.

The cycling event brings riders of all ages and skill levels together to exercise and ride at pace of the cyclists' choosing.

Cycling enthusiast and Summer Criterium participant Jake Maedke said the series is an opportunity for everyone to try and enjoy cycling.

"It's what you want it to be," he said. "It's a user friendly type of deal."

The Summer Criterium Series consists of six, one-hour events where participants attempt to complete as many laps as possible during the allotted time.

While Maedke said he is one of the faster competitors in the event, he said the casual cyclist can find joy in participating.

"It's a one-mile track so nobody gets left behind," he said. "Come on out. If you do one lap, great. If you do 20, cool."

The criterium series meets at the Grant County Public Works in Ephrata at 6 p.m. on Tuesday nights during July, and concludes with a Saturday race on Aug. 2.

The purpose of the series is to get the community out on the track and riding their bikes, he said.

"It's way cooler to see a 10 year old riding a cheapy, Wal-Mart bike when he could be playing XBox," he said.

Maedke said he believes this is an opportunity for members of the community get outside and ride, regardless of age or skill level.

"We have had a 3-year-old girl with training wheels on riding," he said. "She didn't necessarily make it the whole lap, but it was fun to see her out there."

The cycling series is an opportunity for anyone interested in cycling to have the opportunity to ease into it. Maedke helps coordinate and participate in the Beezley Burn mountain bike race, and said the summer series is a race competitors can be comfortable with.

"The race down Beezley Mountain can be intimidating," he said. "The criterium is a fun time. It's cool to get people out riding."