Ride Santa Barbara 100 and Yamaha Bicycles Commit up to $15,000 for Santa Barbara Cycling Programs

Yamaha Funds All Kids Bike Program at Franklin Elementary School and Pledges to Match up to $5,000 when RideSB100 Riders Donate to SB Bike + COAST at Registration

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 26, 2022 – Ride Santa Barbara 100 (RideSB100) and Yamaha Bicycles, the event’s official e-Bike sponsor, are pledging up to $15,000 to support local cycling programs in Santa Barbara this year.

Yamaha has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match for donations to SB Bike + COAST, the official charity partner of RideSB100. Participants have the option to donate to this important local organization and earn perks when they sign up for the event, and now Yamaha Bicycles will double their donations up to $5,000.

“SBBIKE + COAST is honored that Yamaha Bicycles has made such a significant pledge,” said Heather Deutsch, the organization’s executive director. “The donations will support our community bike shops, and our education, encouragement, and advocacy programs.”

As part of its 2021 sponsorship of RideSB100, Yamaha provided $5,000 for Harding University Partnership School to receive the city’s first All Kids Bike program – including 24 bikes and helmets – for kindergarten students to learn to ride in PE class. The program has been in place since December.

Kyle Marme, physical education teacher at Harding Elementary commented on their first All Kids Bike class this year: “The kids LOVED it and can’t wait for the next class. I was impressed with how well they followed directions and rode safe and responsibly.”

This year, Yamaha has stepped up again, donating another $5,000 through its RideSB100 sponsorship so that Franklin Elementary School can also receive the program.

“RideSB100 has grown out of the passionate cycling community in Santa Barbara, and we’ve enjoyed our relationship over the past several years,” said Drew Engelmann, Yamaha Bicycle’s national sales and marketing manager. “After seeing how the kids reacted last year when we delivered the All Kids Bike program to Harding Elementary, we just had to come back and do this in Santa Barbara again this year. Who knows, maybe a future Gibraltar Challenge champion will come out of these PE classes.”

“We’re excited to welcome Yamaha Bicycles back as our official e-Bike sponsor, and thrilled that they have decided to include donations to both All Kids Bike and SB Bike + COAST, which is our official charity this year,” said Jamie Monroe, RideSB100 race director and owner of Easy Day Sports, the event’s producer.

“Yamaha has long supported active lifestyles and the importance of outdoor recreation. In that, we have found a tremendous connection with the Santa Barbara community, Ride SB100, and the All Kids Bike program and we look forward to supporting the cycling community for yet another year,” said Rob Trester, Manager of Yamaha’s Smart Power Vehicle Division and the Yamaha Power Assist Bicycle group in the U.S.

Last year’s 10^th anniversary ride sold out, and event organizers expect to sell out again this year. Taking place October 22, 2022, RideSB100 is the only century ride to feature the renowned Gibraltar Challenge and an epic beachfront expo on Santa Barbara’s “American Riviera”.

Cyclists can register online at www.RideSB100.com and secure their spots for the 2022 event.

RideSB100 features four routes catering to riders of varying skill and experience levels:

• 100 Mile: An advanced ride featuring the timed Gibraltar Challenge, a 7-mile, 3,000-foot climb.
• 100 KM + Gibraltar: A shorter distance that also includes the Gibraltar Challenge.
• 100 KM: A challenging cycling experience featuring scenic coastal and mountain roads.
• 34 Mile: A fun and picturesque course for casual riders and weekend warriors.

Named “One of 9 American Centuries to Master” by Outside magazine, RideSB100 delivers one of the most scenic, challenging, and fun cycling experiences in the country from California’s Central Coast to the Santa Ynez Mountains.

More information about Ride Santa Barbara 100 can be found at www.ridesb100.com and on the event’s social channels: Facebook.com/ridesb100, Twitter.com/RideSB100, and Instagram.com/RideSB100.

 

About Ride Santa Barbara 100

Ride Santa Barbara 100 features four routes starting at the beach near Downtown Santa Barbara and traveling through the beautiful Southern California coastal mountains. This world-class cycling event is designed to be a challenging and fun experience that riders will never forget. The 11th annual RideSB100 is scheduled for October 22, 2022, and will support Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition and the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (SBBIKE + COAST). Register at www.RideSB100.com.

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Media Contact:

Julie Kelly

SPEC PR

julie.kelly@specpr.com