BEVERLY — Bikes and beer will converge from 4-10:30 p.m. July 15 at the 14th annual Beverly Hills Cycling Classic.
The one-mile race is laid out in a loop that runs between 105th and 108th Place on Longwood Drive, Seeley Avenue and Hoyne Avenue.
Spectators line the route, but the primary viewing area is on the grounds of Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center at 10650 S. Longwood Dr. Six craft breweries will be pouring beer in the area near the starting line, joined by three food trucks.
"It should be fun," said Margot Burke Holland, executive director of the Beverly Area Planning Association.
The neighborhood group is behind the move to pair the bike race with the craft beer festival that's being called Bikes & Brews. A $5 per person or $10 per family donation is being asked for those seeking admission to the festival area.
The proceeds from the entry fee will be used to install new landscaping on the 107th Street hill near Longwood Drive, Holland said Thursday.
Admission to a children's area atop the hill at Beacon Therapeutic is free. Besides the playground, kids will also have an opportunity to play video games in a mobile trailer from Dappers Game Zone along with enjoying face painting and learning about bike safety.
Fat Tommy's from Mount Greenwood will also be on hand in the children's area serving hot dogs and other family favorites.
Attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes to the race too, with a bike valet service available, Holland said.
At 6:30 p.m., the course will be opened for a "Family Fun Ride." Afterward at 7 p.m., the final men's race begins. After the final race, the festival area will feature music by Coyote Riot.
Food trucks from The Roost Carolina Kitchen, Empanadas 5411 and Da Lobsta will also congregate in the festival area along with Beverly's Calabria Imports. This is the second such effort to bring food trucks into Beverly under BAPA's "Food Truck Friday" initiative.
The inaugural event on June 10 was held at the Beverly Arts Center and tied to the red carpet release of the locally-produced film "Not A Stranger." All of the food trucks sold out that evening, and Holland is predicting similar results for the bike race.
As for the craft beer pairings, the brews will be $5 each. Vendors include Beverly's Horse Thief Hollow, as well as Argus Brewery, Blue Island Beer Co., Revolution Beer, One Trick Pony Brewery and Tap Room and Half Acre Beer Co.
The Beverly bike race is again the first stop in the Prairie State Cycling Series, which also includes races July 18 in Logan Square, July 21 in South Chicago and concludes July 24 in West Town. Riders compete for the Intelligentsia Cup.
Beverly is unique among the other courses as racers are forced to climb a steep hill just past the starting line. The initial talks of moving the course to a different location were quickly squashed by race organizers.
"It's very hilly, which is why the riders love it," Holland said.
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