JOLLY: The annual Riverside Christmas bike ride continues as a tradition that brings great joy to the community.
By Elizabeth Bailey, Staff Writer
Traditions are a great way to bring people together and the Riverside’s Christmas bike ride is no exception. Originating in 2014, the Riverside Christmas bike ride has brought joy and holiday spirit to families within the community each year. The ride is sponsored by the Inland Empire Biking Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes cycling. Starting in 2016, the event added a costume theme each year. In 2016 the theme was Star Wars, in 2017 the theme was Dr. Seuss characters and this year’s theme is Harry Potter, which is perfectly timed with the release of the newest Harry Potter movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Mayor Rusty Bailey has served as the judge of the costume contest every year and rides in the event with his family. The attendance of the ride has grown every year, as people of many ages gather to lift spirits with their holiday cheer, covering their bikes with lights and festive decorations. Vicki Yearian, one of the ride’s more notable figures, managed to complete the entire ride wearing a full decorative Christmas tree, despite being in her seventies. Riders of all kinds, from those with training wheels to those with mountain tires, ride on double seated bikes and accessorize themselves with their equally as dressed-up dogs in their baskets. Some riders are even accompanied by speakers that send notes of warm Christmas music into the cold night air. The ride itself is a five-mile excursion that tours the parade of riders around and throughout Riverside’s light displays, ending by passing through the Festival of Lights, where the sea of people is parted and greeted by the returning travelers. Throughout the ride, people emerge from their houses to wave as the riders ring their bells. The event is wholesome enough to warm the heart of even a cranky old Scrooge, so don’t leave yourself out and enjoy the Riverside tradition that has brought together our community with Christmas cheer.