Despite heat, residents join Elk Grove mayor on bike ride

Despite the sweltering heat, about 75 bicyclists joined Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson Saturday morning on his fifth annual Bike with the Mayor event.

"Anyone who comes out today is a true, avid cycler," Johnson said, sweat beading on his forehead. "People are supporting the community, supporting cycling. With this heat, these conditions, it's phenomenal."

The event was launched five years ago in conjunction with the Tour of Elk Grove bike race, to get residents interested in cycling.

"It was a way to show people you can have racing, but you can also have fun," Johnson said. "We don't have the Tour anymore, but we still kept doing this. It's a great way to have fun - it can be done safely, it's healthy."

The event is organized by Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove, which hosts other cycling events and meetups year round.

The group's president, Dave Simmons, said the event shows bicyclists how they can safely ride on residential streets.

"Another part of it that we're trying to promote too is riding for transportation - getting to the library, getting to Dairy Queen, all those kinds of things, instead of hopping into your car," he said.

Police accompanied participants on the five-mile ride that started and ended at the Elk Grove Historical Museum. Children had the option of taking a three-mile route, but Johnson said they all pushed through the full ride. The event concluded with refreshments and a raffle drawing.