Once again, the popular and challenging Wednesday Night Hill Ride will be forced to re-route.
The current version of this popular ride now goes North through downtown Shawnee. Recent attendence has been over 50 riders and is expected to double as weather warms.
Even after reshuffling the route due to extensive road construction on Renner Blvd and 87th St in Lenexa, the ride will once again be forced to reroute.
The City of Shawnee (sister city of Pittem, Belgium) has announced that beginning on Friday of this week, the asphalt will be stripped from Nieman Road starting at Shawnee Mission Parkway to West Flanders Park at 55th Street. This delay will effectively close Nieman to cyclists while the improvements are made. Shawnee officials assure area riders that the ‘bike friendly’ improvements will be well worth the temporary inconvenience. Spokesperson Bryan Kidney, of the Shawnee Aesthetic Works Department, explains that the project entails creating a cobble by cobble replica of the famous Koppenberg climb in Oudenaarde, Belgium.
Mr. Kidney notes, “While technically we’re not a sister city of Oudenaarde, the country of Belgium is a pretty small place.” Work is expected to be completed by Spring 2012. Watch this site for information on the new route for the Hill Ride.
UPDATE: Is this a coincidence?