A group of cyclists is trying to start a new Flying Pig tradition. Organizer Jason Barron says the night before last Sunday's marathon, seven people rode the entire 26.2 mile course.
"We'd heard about it happening in other cities. I think it's an older tradition where a group of cyclists will get up on the morning of the race, after the roads are shut down. At three in the morning, once the streets are secure, they'll ride the whole course because it's not often you get a closed course to do a nice long bike ride like that. It kind of inspired us," he says.
Barron says while it rained a little on Saturday evening, he and the other cyclists still had fun.
"I spoke to the Flying Pig Marathon event organizers and let them know we were doing it," Barron says. "I wanted to make sure we weren't going to mess up anything they were doing, and they were super supportive. They said they thought it sounded like a great idea; that it was another great way to enjoy physical fitness and exercise on Pig weekend."
Whether or not it becomes an official Pig event, Barron's hoping to make it a tradition that coincides with Bike Month, which takes place in May.
"Not everybody can run a marathon -- in fact, most people can't run a marathon," Barron says. "Cycling's a lot more accessible to folks. Twenty-six miles is a long ride, but it's a ride a lot of people can complete. We're hoping to give another way for folks to get out, get physically fit and enjoy such a great week in Cincinnati."
Barron says the ride took about three hours, which is half an hour longer than the winner in the men's division and 15 minutes slower than the women's winner. He points out the cyclists had to stop for lights and traffic.
Barron is executive director of Red Bike, but says the Flying Pig ride is not affiliated with his work.
