A "World Class Cycling Summit" that was jointly held by the Missouri Bicycle Federation and the Westplex Sports and Entertainment Local Organizing Committee turned out to be a great success.
At meetings Tuesday and Saturday, leaders--including many MoBikeFed members and supporters--from the region and the state met to talk about what the area already has to offer to bicyclists, and what needs to happen next to really make the Westplex area a world-class place to bicycle.
One of the first steps was the cycling summit Tuesday at Holiday Inn in Wentzville. The group of about 30 who attended included park directors; representatives from local cycling shops; and officials from the Missouri Bicycling Federation, the Department of Natural Resources, the city of Wentzville and the St. Charles County Local Organizing Committee.
There, conversations revolved around one central theme: how to make the region a mecca for the sport of cycling."It has gone from bottom to top; we've got more support than we've ever seen, and right now is really the time to capitalize on it," said Brent Hugh of the Missouri Bicycling Federation.
Many would say the area is well on its way to doing so.
The local interest in cycling has skyrocketed in the past decade. Residents can bike on miles of the Katy Trail and compete for the Gateway Cup. They can take lessons from instructors, join dozens of clubs and ride on the hundreds of trails that each municipality has built.
In September, cycling got an even bigger boost in popularity. Nearly 500,000 people showed up to support competitors in the state's first Tour of Missouri, a portion of which ran through St. Charles County.
Now, advocates say, that momentum needs to build.
Regional support for cycling could be contingent on the latest idea from Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi: constructing an indoor cycling facility called a velodrome.
A "World Class Cycling Summit" that was jointly held by the Missouri Bicycle Federation and the Westplex Sports and Entertainment Local Organizing Committee turned out to be a great success.