On Sunday, April 3, people in the Duluth community will have the chance to participate in the “Six Hour Spin for Food Shelf.” It’s a community-wide event being held at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) to raise money for a Duluth food shelf.
The Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness at UMD’s Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP), Rod Raymond, felt “an authentic desire to help” within the community so he came up with an idea to incorporate exercise with charity.
“I think the University and rec sports needs to tie in with more of these kinds of things in the community,” Raymond said. “Draw our line into the community where we are contributing a small little piece and it doesn’t have to be over the top.”
Participants can register solo or in teams of two, three, or four people. Each team is assigned an indoor cycling bike or they can bring their own bike with a stand-up trainer.
“Average two people per bike, that’s fifty bucks a bike, that’s two grand for the food shelf,” Raymond said.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to a local food shelf as a donation. The cost for each cyclist is $25. One team has the potential of raising $100.
“Some teams might do half-hour trades, some might do 15 minute trades, or some teams might come in and one guy will go for hours and the other three members do 15 minutes each,” Raymond said.
The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and it is up to the participants to decide how they want to divide up the six hours.
Forty-five bikes will be set up in the Sports Health Center Room 135 on the UMD campus where the “Six Hour Spin for Food Shelf” event will take place. There will be constant music to create a high-energy atmosphere and food offered to keep everyone moving.
Students, faculty and Duluth community members are encouraged to work together to keep this event “organic.”
“Let’s just let this be what it is. I don’t want them [the food shelf] to feel all wrapped up into it,” Raymond said.
The food shelf that will be receiving the donation currently doesn’t know that the event is taking place. It was created on a “goodwill basis” says Raymond.
As of March 7, there were 37 bikes still open. There will be 40 bikes total for participants to use plus the five bikes reserved for the cycling instructors.
“It’s meant to be a party.” Raymond said. “Have fun. Just come and be prepared to work out.”
The bikes have resistance levels zero to ten. Level ten was described by Raymond as “super hardcore like you’re going up a mountain” and level zero was described as “easy schmeasy.” Each cyclist can adjust the resistance at any time to make their work-out more enduring or more relaxed.
Indoor cycling bikes are stand-still, one-wheeled bikes so the competition is between you and yourself. “Going nowhere fast,” as Raymond put it.
Interested in outdoor cycling in Duluth?
All participants should bring water, a change of clothes for down time, and good tennis shoes. Registration is being held in the RSOP main office room 135 or by calling (218) 726-7128.