Ride To The Sky Bike Event Offers Fun-Filled Day With Routes Throughout The UC

The 7th Annual Ride to the Sky event will be on Saturday, September 11h. The bike ride offers routes ranging from 9 miles to 100 miles that take riders all throughout the Upper Cumberland.

Coordinator Chris Wakefield said that after traveling to different places for rides, he and a group of regular riders wanted to create a unique event centered in Cookeville. He said the festival-feel event will have live music, good food, and good drinks from Red Silo after the ride.

“When we started this ride in 2013-2014, we wanted it to be a little bit unique out there,” Wakefield said. “Providing more than the standard, go to a ride, show up, ride, have a mediocre meal, and go home. What we wanted to do was create an event.”

Wakefield said that the ride benefits Carmen’s Fund, a non-profit that promotes CPR education. He said that Carmen’s Fund provides life-saving training to those across the Upper Cumberland that might not have access to it otherwise.

“Educating these folks and getting CPR out there to the public touches so many lives,” Wakefield said. “At the event, I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘My father was saved by a paramedic that performed CPR.’ It’s just amazing how that provides so much to the community.”

Wakefield said the event is open to riders of any skill level. He said that it’s a chance for riders from all over to share in a fun-filled day.

“Seeing these riders come in from all over the country to our area,” Wakefield said. “Seeing them enjoy the day and having fun.”

Wakefield said you can register online at Ride to the Sky’s website. The 9-mile family fun ride costs $40, and the 36-mile, 62-mile, and 100-mile ride all cost $50. Wakefield said that there will also be same-day registration. The rides begin at 6:30 a.m.