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:
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.