They’re yanking our chains: On the afternoon of Saturday, July 15, the “Anybody’s and Everybody’s Community Bike Festival” will take place at Asheville’s Aston Park, located at the intersection of French Broad and Hilliard streets south of downtown. The event, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m., is free and will include bike-repair workshops and free (minor) repairs while you wait. For more information, shoot an e-mail to ashevillebikefestival@yahoo.com or call 713-2111.
Leave the boys behind: Asheville Parks and Recreation is again offering outdoor experiences geared just for women. The “Women-in-the-Woods” program was launched last year as an opportunity for “the fairer sex” to get started in outdoor sports in a noncompetitive atmosphere (and one, we can surmise, that involves less belching, expectorating and scratching of “parts.”) On Sunday, July 23, whitewater rafting takes place on the Nantahala River, leaving Asheville at 10 a.m. The cost is $35 dollars for Asheville residents and $38 for nonresidents. On Monday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m., climbing will happen at the Montford climbing wall. The fee is $5 for city residents, $6 for nonresidents. Both activities require advance registration. Call Christen McNamara at 251-4029 or send an e-mail to outdoorprograms@ashevillenc.gov.
Lights, camera, action: “The Sharp End Tour,” a series of eight multimedia presentations put together by California gear-smiths Mountain Hardwear, will touch down in Asheville Thursday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Ski mountaineer Andrew McLean and big-wall climber Mike Libecki will emcee and star the event, which takes place at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company on Merrimon Avenue. Admission is $15. Tickets are on sale at the door, at Mast General Store and Diamond Brand Outdoors. For more information, call the theater at 254-5339. Send your outdoors news to outdoors@mountainx.com.
