Cycle: The San Tan Wheelie Jam Returning for Another Spin

By Jason Franz Wed., Mar. 7 2012 at 8:54 AM

Categories: Bicycle Culture

The San Tan Wheelie Jam Super Picnic, the two-wheeled parade that took over Steele Indian School Park last April, is coming back this spring for another round of bicycle-based festival fun.

Presented by local beer crafters San Tan Brewing Company and the Tempe Bicycle Action Group (a.k.a. TBAG), the event will once again provide a day of local bands, food, competitions, and other bike-awareness activities in an effort to promote and benefit "all non-profit cycling groups in the Phoenix metro area."

The 2012 edition will return to Steele Park on Saturday, April 28 from noon to 6 p.m.. Tickets are $5 per person, and pre-sales include a raffle ticket. The first 500 ticket-holders will also get a free t-shirt to sweat it out during the quickly approaching summer months.

The Jam will kick off with a parade around the park at 11 a.m. The event's showdowns include a return of the wheelie competition, bike polo matches, tall and small bike races and a bike build-off. If the late spring, throats get parched, but San Tan will bring their array of beers, and bike powered blenders will churn smoothies using local farm produce.

The new add-on for this year is the addition of a "Super Picnic" that will feature a sampling of the best sandwiches from various Valley bread-wrapped epicurean creators.

Some of the local organizations directly benefitting from the Wheelie Jam include downtown Phoenix's bike co-op The Rusty Spoke, WE-CYCLE USA, and Tempe-based bike station Bicycle Cellar.

For more information and to get tickets, visit santanwheeliejam.com.