Sharky’s Ride the Beaches Celebrates 17 Years
SCENIC BIKE RIDE WITH A HUGE HEART
Sunday, April 28, Venice, Florida
Cyclists from near and far will be traveling to Sharky’s in Venice
on 28th to be a part of THE bike event of the season – Sharky’s Ride the Beaches. Celebrating it’s 16 th year, Ride the Beaches has a rich history of giving back to the community. This year the ride
will support three charities:
- Team Tony, a local Sarasota based foundation helping, hands on those going though cancer treatment and their families.
- Friends of the Legacy Trail, dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of Sarasota County’s best cycling asset, the Legacy Trail Park.
- Livestrong Foundation, helping people nationwide finding the resources and strength to fight cancer.
In 2018 Ride the Beaches hosted 1,300 cyclists and raised over $37,000 for charity. Over the past 16 years, Ride the Beaches has donated $292,000 to charity. The owners and employees of Sharky’s, as well as community members, donate their time to this event. Every penny over cost is donated
All riders will start the day with complimentary breakfast on the beach at Sharky’s consisting of fresh fruit, juice, bagels, fruit bread, and coffee. All rest stops will be stocked with water, sports drink, fresh fruit, snacks and/or sandwiches. After riders work up a sweat, they will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch complete with beer, smack dab on the beach at Sharky’s
Riders will have the choice of three scenic bike rides – 15, 35 or 70 mile rides. The 15 mile ride stays on the island of Venice, with an optional extra 4 miles that goes off the island, on the Venetian Waterway Trail. This ride is suitable for almost anyone with a bike and a desire to see some of the most beautiful spots on the Island of Venice. You will ride to Casperson Beach and access the Waterway trail. After riding the trail to the north side of Venice you will ride low traffic roads to the Venice Yacht Club for a rest stop. From there you will meander through residential side streets back to Sharky’s. The 35 mile ride will take you over the Intercostal waterway to the neighborhood streets of south Venice. You will cross the intercostal waterway again, and have your first rest stop. Now ride down beautiful Manasota Key. In some places you will be so close to the beach, you have to watch for sand in the road. After returning on the key you will hit the rest stop again and head back to Venice, this time using the Venetian Waterway
Trail part of the way.
The 70 mile ride will follow the 35 milers for the first half. After Manasota Key the ride will head east through horse farm country. There will be a rest stop along the Myakka River. From there we head west again and will pick up The Legacy Trail. We will ride the trail up to the next rest stop sponsored by The Friends of The Legacy Trail and then to Casey Key for more riding along the beach, ending at Sharky’s for lunch.
Online registration is available at www.registersharkysride.com. The cost to participate is $45. Sharky’s on the Pier, Smack Dab on the Gulf, is located at 1600 Harbor Dr. South in Venice (1.4 miles south of Venice Avenue). Call (941) 488-1456 or visit their website for more information at www.sharkysonthepier.com.