Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ATG Tour de Fresno Bike Ride Benefits Young Cyclists in Armenia

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ATG Tour de Fresno Bike Ride Benefits Young Cyclists in Armenia

    ATG Tour de Fresno Bike Ride Benefits Young Cyclists in Armenia
    Armenian Technology Group, Inc
    ATG Bike For Hope
    1300 E. Shaw Ave Suite # 131
    P. O. Box 5969
    Fresno, CA 93755

    Tel: 559-224-1000
    Fax: 559-224-1002

    Website: www.BikeForHope.com
    Contact Person: Varoujan Der Simonian

    Granville Homes Tour de Fresno Charity Fun Bike Ride
    Experiencing Historic, Cultural Fresno like Never Before!

    Some 150 cyclists enjoyed the Granville Homes Tour de Fresno -- a
    35-mile bicycle ride through Old Fresno -- on Saturday, September 19,
    2009. Participants saw over 50 cultural and scenic sites up close,
    including Valley Lahvash Bakery, the McClatchy and Wishon homes on
    Huntington Blvd., William Saroyan's childhood neighborhood, the Water
    Tower, and the Meux Home.

    They pedaled along the shaded lanes of Old Fig Garden and cycled to
    Sunnyside along Butler Ave. They returned to Fresno through
    Chinatown. At the rest stop in the Old Fig Garden Women's Club, the
    riders were treated with Valley-grown fresh fruit. At the end of the
    ride, artisanal ice cream and samples of local ethnic cuisine were
    served. With scores of raffle prizes distributed, almost everyone left
    a winner after the ride! The Granville Homes Tour de Fresno was
    organized by ATG Bike For Hope. Proceeds from the ride will support
    training 250 children at the Cycling Club in Armenia.

    The Fresno Police Bike Unit escorted the group ride. Ten Fresno police
    officers joined the cyclists on their bikes all day long, providing
    them road security and safety along the way.

    Cyclists brought their family and friends to Downtown Fresno to enjoy
    a leisurely ride at a relaxing speed of 10 to 12 miles per hour, and
    explore some of Fresno's historic buildings and cultural sites, parks,
    and unique neighborhoods. The full course was 35 miles, although
    cyclists could opt out after 15 or 20 miles. The charity event started
    at the Fulton Mall Clock Tower at 8 am and took the riders through
    many of the streets that are the heart and soul of Old Fresno.

    The cyclists enjoyed the art displayed at the Fulton Mall and
    witnessed the wonderful multicultural fabric of the Fresno community
    at the Courthouse Park, including the David of Sassoun statue on the
    corner of "M" and Tulare Street. The riders pedaled through the
    Cultural Arts District on Van Ness, cycling between the Old Fresno Bee
    Building/Renovated Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Artes Americas, KVPT
    Channel 18 Public TV Station, and the African-American Museum.

    Some of the other highlights included the completely renovated
    Historic Virginia Hotel on Kern Street, the new Federal Building, and
    the Fifth District Court of Appeals. The Old Santa Fe/Fresno Amtrak
    Train Station, the nearby Basque Hotel, the historic Warner's Theater,
    the Memorial Auditorium and the iconic Fresno Water Tower converted to
    Visitors Center, the Meux Home Museum, and the City Hall were some of
    the other sights on the itinerary.

    The Fresno Police escorted the cyclists along the same road where one
    of Fresno's most well-known sons, author William Saroyan, once peddled
    his bicycle on "M" street by the Convention Center and the theater
    that now bears his name. They road their bikes on Broadway Street,
    indicating where Saroyan was born, and passed the corner of Inyo and
    "L" streets, where at the age of ten Saroyan sold the Evening Herald
    newspaper, competing for customers with a young John Garabedian, whose
    Foundation now funds numerous cultural programs in Fresno.

    The cyclists road their bikes by nearby local bakeries -- the Valley
    Lahvash Bakery operating since 1922 on the corner of Santa Clara and
    "M" streets, and the Hye Quality Bakery on "L" Street. Saroyan often
    visited there to taste centuries-old traditional flat bread that moved
    him to write "Valley Bakery, where the best bread in the World is
    baked=80¦."

    The tour traveled to the historic neighborhoods of Chinatown and by
    the Buddhist Temple prior to returning to Fulton Mall where a
    delicious lunch, artisanal ice cream, refreshments, fresh fruits, and
    prizes were awaiting them..

    Beyond downtown, the route took the cyclists through some of Fresno's
    most
    well-
    known neighborhoods, including Huntington Boulevard, passing by the
    historic McClatchy and Wilson Homes. The shaded lanes of Old Fig
    Garden, with a rest stop at the historic Fig Garden Women's Club,
    provided the riders with another pleasant experience.

    Over 30 valley businesses and organizations sponsored the Tour de
    Fresno, with Granville Homes acting as the title sponsor. Other
    sponsors included the Fresno Police Department, City of Fresno, San
    Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Downtown Association of
    Fresno, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Fresno, Men's Society of the
    Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Pilgrim Armenian
    Congregational Church, ATG Bike For Hope, Fresno County Bicycle
    Coalition, Fresno Cycling Club, Women On Wheels, Central Valley
    Cycling Coalition, Velo Pasadena, Champion Raisins -- National Raisin
    Company, Fowler Packing Company, Del Ray Packing, Western Pistachio
    Association, Blue Diamond Almonds, Fig Garden Packing Company, Uncle
    Harry's Bagel and Coffee, Hero's Restaurant, Kebab Xpress, De Alba
    Travel, Jalisco Jewelers, Los Panchos Restaurant, New Millennium Nail
    Services, Hacienda Grande Jewelers, Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, Rubber
    Soul, Steven's Bike Shops, Tri-Sport, and hundr! eds of ATG supporters
    around the country.

    With the success of the 2009 ride, Tour de Fresno Charity Fun Bike
    Ride organizers are already planning for next year's event, which will
    be held on September 18, 2010.

    In the meantime, organizers invite readers to explore the links below.
    View a map of the 15-mile bike route.
    View a map of the 20-mile bike route.
    View a map of the 10K bike route -- Downtown portion of the 20-mile ride.
    Download a registration form.
    Browse Photo Gallery
    For information, call 559-224-1000.
Working...
X