April 20, 2008, 9:00 Sunday morning
Asheville's Pack Square
Metric-Century Bicycle Ride...or less
Beating the Bounds-Asheville is an annual bicycle event beginning at 9 am Sunday, April 20, at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. The ride coincides with Strive Not To Drive and Earth Day week activities.
This bicycle ride, open to all experienced bicyclists, begins and ends at Vance Monument in the heart of the city, and travels to the four boundaries of Asheville lying east, south, west and north. “At each boundary, riders will gather and raise a ruckus,” says Robbie Sweetser, the event’s organizer. “Beating the bounds is an ancient tradition to bless fields and crops, to emphasize village boundaries, and simply to bring the people of a community together.”
The ride traverses many of Asheville’s neighborhoods: Haw Creek, Oteen, Beverly Hills, Skyland, Biltmore Park, Biltmore Forest, Biltmore Village, Pisgah View, West Asheville, Malvern Hills, Sand Hill, Deaver View Park, Emma, Richmond Hill, Woodfin, Lakeview Park, Beaverdam, Grace, and Town Mountain. There will be a special observance in Biltmore Village as the parishioners bless the passing bicyclists in the front of the historic Cathedral of All Souls in celebration of the beating the bounds tradition and serving as the opening to their Earth Day celebrations.
Public metered parking spaces near Pack Square are free on Sundays. There is no fee or registration required. All riders are encouraged to bring noisemakers and wear festive costumes for the festivities.
The route measures 64 miles. However, since the route encircles the city, a rider may choose from several alternate cut-offs to adjust the total miles to their preference. One popular cut-off is the mid-point in Biltmore Village returning to Pack Square for a total of 34 miles.
The pace will be moderate over rolling terrain. Each gathering stop will be near convenience markets, Sweetser says, and a mid-day break is possible as the ride passes by the cafes of West Asheville. This is an urban ride requiring proper road etiquette...and we get to enjoy our city from its many perspectives.
“Precise origins of this tradition aren’t really clear, although it has been part of ritual celebrations within many cultures across the world,” Sweetser explains. “It’s a good time for Asheville to continue this great celebration.”
“The Celts of Britain had been celebrating this tradition for centuries before the Romans made note of it,” he continues. “In simple terms, the tradition involves people of a locality perambulating their farm or village, pausing as they pass certain trees, walls and hedges that mark the extent of the boundary to exclaim, pray and ritually ‘beat’ particular landmarks with willow twigs.” In our case, we’ll just do a “Wahoo!!!”
For more information, contact Robbie Sweetser, 828/274-5979 or robbie@griffinarchitectspa.com.
© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Inc. 2008