The Friends of the Paint Creek Trail are hosting the 2nd Annual Paint Creek Crawl- Bike Local, $hop Local event on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Encompassing the entire Paint Creek Trail and business districts from Rochester to Lake Orion, participants 16 and older will play a “scavenger hunt-style” game, collecting 10 unique “stamps” from various locations to be entered in a prize drawing. The Grand Prize is a $500 Gift Card to Rochester Bike Shop!
This event celebrates the area’s strong cycling tradition. “Last year, we had 100 participants ride or walk on the trail and into the downtown areas to collect their stamps. It was a very successful inaugural event, raising over $2,500 for trail enhancements. Many people didn’t realize how many great stores and restaurants there are so close to the trail,” said Trail Manager Kristen Myers. The 8.9 mile Paint Creek Trail has a southern terminus in downtown Rochester, and a northern terminus in the Village of Lake Orion.
As a fundraiser for the Friends of the Paint Creek Trail, a 501 (c)(3) organization, all proceeds will benefit future enhancements of the Paint Creek Trail. The first project on their radar is the installation of a new water fountain. The cost for the Paint Creek Crawl is $25 until April 28 and $30 thereafter and on-site. To be guaranteed and event T-Shirt, participants must register by April 28. Online registration and printable registration forms are available online at http://www.paintcreektrailfriends.org and will be available the day of the event. The event will begin at 9:00am at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, in Oakland Township, and the ride is approximately 20 miles round trip. Registered participants will receive a special entry card to collect the stamps, with a drawing by 12:00pm. Many other great prizes have been donated by local businesses. For the safety of participants and other trail users, helmets must be worn while participating in the event.
“We’re so happy to have the support of the business community again this year. With the construction in downtown Rochester, and the close proximity of the downtown Lake Orion business district, we’re hoping to increase awareness of using the trail to get around town and support local business at the same time. We are proud to showcase the Paint Creek Trail as a premier community, recreation, and non-motorized transportation trail,” said Friends of the Paint Creek Trail President Jim VanDoorn.
The Paint Creek Crawl is sponsored by Art Concepts Design & Framing in Rochester Hills, Rochester Mills Beer Co, Dr. Ronald Fried Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry, Rochester Bike Shop, FAMS Custom Printing, and Goodison Veterinary Center.
For more information on the Paint Creek Crawl – Bike Local, $hop Local Event, visit www.paintcreektrailfriends.org or call (248) 651-9260.
Paint Creek Crawl Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Paint Creek Crawl?
A: The Paint Creek Crawl is a cycling event, utilizing the entire 8.9 mile Paint Creek Trail. The trail connects the two business districts of Rochester and Lake Orion. To showcase the trail as a non-motorized transportation corridor, we thought it would be great to show how you could ride the trail into both areas. We have arranged for local business participation by having many places as “stamping stations”. Each participant rides the trail to Lake Orion and Rochester, stopping at various locations and businesses to receive a passport-style ink stamp on an entry card. Once the entry card is complete, it is brought back to the Paint Creek Cider Mill and used for our Grand Prize and door prize drawings. Think of it as a variation of a scavenger hunt!
The event starts at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306. It’s at the corner of Gallagher Road. Registration and Pre-Registration check in starts at 8:00am.
Q: Do we have to ride a bike?
A: We recommend the use of a bicycle to participate. However, if you would prefer to walk to one end, and drive to the other, its your choice. We don’t care how you obtain the stamps, but we need the completed card back by 11:30am.
Q: What is the cost?
A: If you register by April 28, the cost is $25 per rider, and that guarantees you a Paint Creek Crawl T-Shirt. After April 28, up to the morning of the event, the cost is $30, and we cannot guarantee you will receive a T-shirt. You can register online via paypal, send us a check made out to Friends of the Paint Creek Trail (4393 Collins Road, Rochester, MI 48306), or bring cash. We cannot accept credit cards on site.
Q: How will I know where to go?
A: Once you check in at registration, you will be given your entry card, with a map and names of the locations to visit. You can visit them in any order you wish!
Q: Are helmets mandatory?
A: Yes, for your safety and the safety of those around you, wearing a helmet is mandatory.
Q: How long do we have to obtain all the stamps?
A: The event starts at 9:00am. Based on last year’s timeframe, we will have the drawing around 11:30am.
Q: I see this is a fundraiser. Where does the money go?
A: All proceeds from the event goes to the Friends of the Paint Creek Trail, our non-profit group that supports Paint Creek Trail improvements. Currently, we are raising funds for a new drinking fountain along the trail, interpretive sites, and trail connections. We would also like to improve some of our trailheads along the trail.
Q: Can my children participate in the crawl?
A: Due to the length of the ride, the Paint Creek Crawl is geared for people 16 and up. If you choose to bring a child in a bike carrier, they do not need to register, but they will need to wear a helmet.
