The New Belgium Urban Assault Ride, the largest bicycle scavenger hunt series in the world, hits the streets of Chicago on September 20 and Minneapolis on September 27. Cyclists will be ripping through both cities to reach five checkpoints and several mystery landmarks before racing to the finish line.

This pedal-powered urban adventure is intended to promote cycling, health and sustainability in an unusual way. It encourages cyclists to find safe and efficient routes through town and to discover that cycling is often easier than driving to work and to run errands.

Teams of two will take to the streets on a citywide bike adventure, plotting their own course to checkpoints around town where they will take on physical and mental obstacle courses. The event, which started in Austin, Texas, in 2003, is known for its funky obstacle courses that may include bike jousting, a keg walk, slipping on inflatable slides and riding modified Big Wheels. Obstacles change every year and at every event, so riders never know what to expect.

The first team to hit all the checkpoints and cross the finish line will take home a pair of New Belgium Brewing cruiser bikes.

Street savvy is just as important as bike smarts in this event, which is designed to show recreational cyclists that bicycles are a safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transportation for commuting and running errands.

As a green event, the Urban Assault Ride is powered by a solar generator, a biodiesel truck delivers gear to the race, and nearly all waste is compostable or recyclable.

“With New Belgium as our title sponsor, we have been able to create an off-the-grid event that shows people that it is a good thing – and an easy thing – to engage in a sustainable lifestyle,” event dfounder Josh Kravetz said. “This event gives us the chance to promote cycling for transportation and to show people some of the opportunities for sustainable living available in their community.”

Visit www.urbanassaultride.com for more information.

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