Bike enthusiasts gather in Edmond for Cycle 66 races

Cyclists from across the country will gather in Edmond on Nov. 6 for a day of events with Cycle 66. 

More than 700 riders are expected to arrive in time for Sunday’s events, beginning at 8 a.m. Two courses for kids will be included: a one-mile race and a single-loop criterium. For more experienced riders, three routes will be available, consisting of 10 miles, 33 miles or 66 miles. The Crit @ Cycle 66 race will serve as the main event.  

Each route will be supported with gear, relief wagons, signage, rest stops, first aid stations and critical traffic control. 

“Cycle 66 is truly a ride for everyone,” said Bonnie Winslow, Cycle 66 ambassador with Bike Oklahoma who worked with Oklahoma legislators to approve the new US Bike Route across Route 66 in Oklahoma. 

Winslow said she traveled across the country, sporting Cycle 66 apparel through the summer, returning to Guthrie, ready to continue her ride. 

“We are still cycling and encouraging folks to come ride any of the Cycle 66 routes on Nov. 6.” 

OKC Velo – Bike Lab Club, a local nonprofit, is helping organize the Crit @ Cycle 66 criterium, an amateur race sanctioned by USA Cycling. The downtown closed-circuit course will allow cyclists to ride at top speeds, quickly moving through an area often occupied by motor vehicles.  

The 66-mile route is meant for the more advanced, pushing riders to complete a trip down the American Mother Road through five cities: Edmond, Oklahoma City, Jones, Luther and Arcadia. This route incorporates the Katy Trail connection near Interstate-44 and Northeast Grand Avenue. 

For recreational riders looking for a challenge, the 33-mile route runs south to the state Capitol in Oklahoma City and back to downtown Edmond.  

The 10-mile route is meant for leisure. Led and trailed by more experienced riders, this route allows recreational riders and families to experience the wonders of the Edmond community, moving through some of the city’s most notable areas like parks, bike paths and the University of Central Oklahoma campus.  

This year will be the first to include the one-mile kids’ course, organized by Cycle 66 and Bike Club OKC. Children of all ages are invited to take part, whether riding on two wheels, training wheels, tricycles or strollers. Kids are also encouraged to decorate their bikes for this free event. 

Bounce houses, face painting and music will welcome riders once they return to downtown Edmond around 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

“Bike Club OKC is excited to help organize the kids ride for Cycle 66,” said Alyssa Cozzens Lutz, Bike Club OKC president and program director. 

“Through our after-school program, we know how important it is for kids to find fun alternatives to technology through exercise in the outdoors.” 

These outdoor events are being held as a public display of support for cycling, as well as America’s historic highway Route 66, and will benefit charitable causes by donating a portion of the event’s proceeds to the Autumn Life Behavioral Health Center, a dedicated geriatric psychiatry inpatient program at OU Health Edmond Medical Center. 

Registration for the Cycle 66 races is available now online. The first 400 people to pick up their packets from the Edmond Conference Center between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, will receive free cycling socks.  

On-site registration on the day of the event is also available. 

For more information visit cycle66ok.com.