Cyclists brave cold for Pantry Pedal on Greensburg Trail

Call them the few, the hardy, the Flat Tire Co. Fellows.

On Saturday morning, while much of the rest of the region might have been sipping hot chocolate, nursing a strong cup of coffee or reluctantly rolling out of a warm bed, Ashley Reefer was layering up, preparing to lead a small group of cyclists on their annual Pantry Pedal along Greensburg’s Five Star Trail.

An annual event, the Pantry Pedal is designed to gather donations for the food bank and bring friends and cycling enthusiasts together for a group ride around Thanksgiving.

Reefer is the owner of the Flat Tire Co. Bike Shop along East Pittsburgh Street, adjacent to Offutt Field. She typically leads cycling fans on group rides every Thursday from April through September in and around Greensburg. Occasionally, they venture up to Laurel Mountain for Sunday group rides on the trails there. Cold and snow are not necessarily a deterrent to hard-core cyclists.

On a cold November morning, the Pantry Pedal is proof positive cold weather can, indeed, be inviting to a certain kind of cyclist. The 13-mile, out-and-back ride on the Five Star Trail is a breeze for cyclists such as Reefer — they call themselves bike nerds — and the small group who gathered at the bike shop Saturday morning.

“We ride year ’round,” Reefer said, as she strapped on her bicycle helmet.

While fair weather cyclists might shun such activities, cold weather riding has become more common as more and more cyclists delve into cycling for fitness and transportation. The growing number of bike lanes and bike trails throughout the region has made it an easily accessible pastime for many.

The pandemic that closed down countless entertainment venues and forces many to work from home only added to what has become an increasingly popular activity.

Into year two of the pandemic, with demand for bicycles hitting record peaks, Reefer said she has been more than a little busy at the bike shop, which sells and repairs bicycles of all shapes and sizes.

On a dry, sunny, chilly morning, her crew hit the alley heading for the trail at 9 a.m.

The Pantry Pedal is a great way to give back, get out — and work up an appetite for that big dinner coming up Thursday.