Late Saturday night thousands of locals will roll out to support a great cause. The 36th Annual Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Ride incorporates creativity, exercise and community outreach all into one event.
The 20-mile, 3-hour ride costs between $30 and $35 and each participant will receive an event t-shirt. At least 1,600 San Diegans are expected to participate in the ride, which begins at midnight.
All proceeds benefit Hostelling International’s Youth Education and Outreach Program, which helps to support community youth programs.
Before the ride, participants and onlookers will gather at the starting area- the south parking lot of the County Administration Building where there will be booths with food, entertainment and registration, as well as contests and prizes.
Alaska Airlines will sponsor a costume contest, which is traditionally one of the highlights of the event as participants try to outdo both themselves and each other each year. Riders will also dress up their bikes in the “Light the Bike Contest”, where participants decorate their bikes in elaborate themes, making them look more like small parade floats.
“Some of them you can’t even see their bikes!” says event coordinator, Tiffany Olson.
The mostly flat course will take a scenic tour of San Diego, stretching from Harbor Drive to Shelter Island, to Old Town.
