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RW24 attracts hundreds of bike racers to Riverwest
For the second year in a row, The Riverwest 24 -- Milwaukee's only 24-hour bike race -- rolls through the Riverwest neighborhood. The event takes place this Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m. and continues until Saturday evening. This year, a jazz band will play a 24-hour set to support the riders.
According to co-organizer Jeremy Prach, 343 people registered to race as opposed to the 188 participants last year. People are encouraged to still join the race, but will not be eligible for T-shirts or food because of the high number of riders already registered.
"The support has been overwhelming," says Prach.
The 5-mile course winds through the Riverwest neighborhood, and teams and individuals compete to complete the most laps during the 24-hour timeframe. Multiple block parties and live music support the event.
A large block party in the 3000 block of Pierce Street will host a variety of local bands, including The Figureheads with a kids' set at 2:45 p.m.; Ben Hall from The Ragadors at 3:30 p.m.; Uncle Larry at 4:30 p.m.; Irok Z at 5:30 p.m.; DJ Kres at 6:30 p.m.; The Figureheads with an adult set at 7:30 p.m. and Hearts of Stone at 8:30 p.m.
Glendale's Christal Korfhage is riding with a team called "Fierce Pierce" and she plans to pull two riding shifts, including the 3-5 a.m. time slot.
"I am looking forward to experiencing Riverwest in a new way since I do not live in the neighborhood, but love it," says Korfhage. "Seeing all the people and the cheering will be great."
Prach says the RW24 is 100 percent D.I.Y.
"We have not taken a dollar of offered corporate support, from the T-shirts to the home cooked meals," he says. "Enjoy."
Talkbacks
rw24ever | July 28, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. (report)
In response to Hckyboy00: Each of the local businesses you suggested were sponsors either last year (2008), this year (2009), or both. The list of RW24 2009's sponsors will be up on the site (www.riverwest24.com) soon. Here is a list of *last* year's RW24 2008 Sponsors: Adambomb Gallerie, Lakefront Brewery, Koss Headphones, Uptowner, Bens Cycle, Lotusland Records, Bike Milwaukee.org, Ma Baensch, Breakaway Bicycle Couriers, Octopus Caps, Bremen Cafe, Riverhorse Bar, COG Magazine, Riverwest Co-op, Cognition Caps, Rockhaus, L & W Liquor, Ernesto Lube, Rushmore Records, Fischbergers Variety, Seagull Bags, Fuel Cafe, Sunrise Foods, Great Lakes Distillery, the Borg Ward collective, Heroine Salon, the Shop, In Stereo Music Group, Under the Weather Bags
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Milly | July 24, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. (report)
Jeremy is a refreshing Riverwest visionary. He does so many things, not just the RW24, to celebrate and improve the neighborhood. Keep it up, Jeremy!
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dukefame | July 24, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. (report)
Two years ago Prach told me about this idea and I didn't think they could pull it off, he's kinda like Kramer with ideas/schemes....These guys (and gals) have put a lot of energy into this race/event and it is amazing that it has gotten this large so quickly. Congrats to the organizers and all the riders....
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Hckyboy00 | July 23, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. (report)
its good to see participation grow this year, the riders were pretty well behaved, other than the usual bike riding illegalities (helmets/lack there of, ignoring traffic signals, weaving, etc.) While they should be proud of their creation, i would suggest opening sponsorship up to local businesses, the Co-op, Nessum, Bremen Cafe, Centro Cafe, Truly Spoken, Fuel, Dan K's, Fitschbergers (?), etc. I think everything we can do to raise awareness of the community as a whole is a great idea.
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