Big Bike Makes Final Ride Around The Village
Reprinted with permission
By Shannon Burns
Akwesasne’s participation in the yearly “Big Bike” ride came and went last week with dozens of community members taking part in the fun and worthy cause. The Big Bike – a bicycle built for 30 – is owned by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. It travels around the country where different towns form teams and gather pledges to the benefit the organization.
Photo: Shannon Burns Indian Time
Akwesasne has been taking part in the fundraiser for many years, but due to increasing border security, this year was likely to have been the last ride. Last Wednesday morning, one team after another boarded the big bike, which is comparable in size to a boat – and rode around the village, honking horns and waving at traffic. While each participant helps to peddle, only the driver, a Heart & Stroke representative, can steer.
Big Bike Fun Facts:
It’s 8 feet wide x 30 feet long (the size of a school bus!)
It’s over 1,950 pounds
It has over 150 feet of bicycle chain
Participants put over 12,000 km on the bikes each year (the Trans-Canada Highway is 7,821km in comparison).
