Gravel Grinder News: New PCL Event & Spinergy Stands With Ukraine

Gravel Grinder News: New PCL Event & Spinergy Stands With Ukraine – by Guitar Ted

Today in Gravel Grinder News we have a new commemorative PCL event from Nebraska and news from Spinergy Wheels. Let’s jump in.

Pirate Cycling League Announces Randy’s Ride Fundraiser

The Pirate Cycling League, hosts of Garmin Gravel Worlds, have added a memorial ride in honor of the late Randy Gibson to its 2022 event lineup. Randy’s Ride will be held Sunday, October 2, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

According to Garmin Gravel Worlds co-promoter, Jason Strohbehn, this event will be a grassroots event designed to raise money while celebrating the life of Randy Gibson, a Lincoln cyclist and Gravel Worlds co-promoter who was killed by a drunk driver in 2017. 

“Every year since 2017, more and more friends have met up on the first Sunday of October to ride Randy’s final gravel route,” Strohbehn said. “Last year we did a cash donation at the start and raised over $500. We wanted to continue this tradition and continue to raise money in the name of our friend Randy.” 

Registration will only be $5, and each registrant will have the options to add a free will donation. The first $2,000 raised will be matched by the Pirate Cycling League. All proceeds will go to support deserving non-profit organizations including the Randy Gibson Memorial Fund, Adventure for All, and Nebraska NICA. Any corporate sponsorship of the ride will be donated to non-profit organizations as well.

“This is not a race. There will be no finish line arches, no event shirts, no swag, no lights, or bells and whistles,” Strohbehn said. “It’s come as you are and ride at your own pace while making some good in the world.” 

Sofia Gibson, Gravel Worlds Outreach Coordinator, and daughter of Randy Gibson said, “My dad was all about community. Seeing the community he loved so dearly come together to honor his memory over the years has touched so many lives for the better. I cannot wait to keep his memory alive in this way through Randy’s Ride, an official memorial ride to commemorate his life, and raise money for those who need it.” 

Learn more and register for the 2022 Randy’s Ride https://www.bikereg.com/randys-ride.

Spinergy Wheels Announces Support Effort For Ukraine:

In light of the conflict in Ukraine, Spinergy Wheels has instigated a program to support Ukrainian refugees with a percentage of wheel sales going to a food kitchen relief effort. Here’s a bit from the press release we received.

Spinergy will donate a portion of proceeds from bicycle wheel sales to World Central Kitchen (WCK). WCK’s #ChefsForUkraine is serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as those that remain in the country. WCK is serving round-the-clock dishes at eight border crossings across the country, as well as supporting local restaurants preparing meals in 12 Ukrainian cities including Odessa, Lviv, and Kyiv. WCK teams are also on the ground regionally serving meals daily in Romania, Moldova, and Hungary.

Rated 100—“Exceptional”—by Charity Navigator, World Central Kitchen Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded by Chef José Andres.

Purchase of a special “Stand With Ukraine” Spinergy wheel set, which features one blue and one yellow PBO spoke referencing Ukraine’s national flag, will have a portion of that sale go to World Central Kitchen to help with the relief efforts for Ukrainians. Customers wishing to participate in this effort can go to Spinergy’s website and select “Custom UKR” from the drop down menu for any Spinergy wheel.

NOTE: Images and text for today’s Gravel Grinder News was provided by the PCL/Garmin Gravel Worlds and Spinergy Wheels.