Brett Dickerson at the KCV meeting showing the group his travel route across America on a map (Photo by Michelle Reed)

WINONA LAKE — Kosciusko County Velo is gearing up for the upcoming cycling season.

The season and other news for the organization was discussed Tuesday evening, Feb. 23, at the club’s monthly meeting, in Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse. The group meets every last Tuesday of the month, with the exception of December.

A special guest for the meeting was Brett Dickerson, Warsaw, an avid cyclist, who talked about how he loved to explore the world and just enjoy life. In 2015 Dickerson cycled over 9,000 miles internationally, riding through Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Mongolia before coming back to the United States to spend the holidays with his family.

As difficult as it is to believe, with the first major snowfall of the year, spring is right around the corner and KCV Cycling President, Greg Demopoulos, announced during the meeting KCV usually kicks off  in March or April. The group will continue to  do so with group rides from the Trailhouse a couple of evenings a week, as long as the weather holds consistently and daylight lasts longer.

Demopoulos mentioned the infrastructure projects for this year include side paths and bike lanes being put in near Harrison school, 1300 Husky Trail. This will be a connection between the YMCA, Harrison, and down toward Martin’s at 1150 Husky Trail.

Demopoulos told those at the meeting more bicycle friendly businesses are needed to help out because KCV can’t always be the only one putting money up for the infrastructure projects and there is only so much grant money to go around.

The committee that oversees Tracey’s Trails and the Memorial Day 5K contacted KCV to do a mobile bicycle skill center called Tracey’s Trailer. With the purchase of 30 bikes and new helmets they hope to work with Warsaw schools, at the third grade level, and have a curriculum so every student would have a chance to learn skills to understand how to ride bikes in their neighborhood, how to ride out in the community and how to check the bike before riding.

Demopoulos said, “In my lifetime, I want to see every kid in Kosciusko County, specifically Warsaw schools, to at least be able to safely ride their bikes to school again.”

In other business:

• Matt Livengood is moving to Florida. There will be a going away party for him at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Green Earth in Winona Lake Village
• KVC is Looking for volunteers to help with bike-fest and the trails as spring is near.
• KVC needs ride leaders for group rides come spring. Volunteering doesn’t have to be for every ride, but a commitment for once a week or once a month would suffice. Call Trailhouse Village Outdoor Store to get information on volunteering.
• Bicycle friendly community status needs submitted as it expires end of this year.
• Spring work days will be March 12, April 2, 16, and the 30 (weather permitting), to clean up the trails, fix ruts, remove limbs and downed trees, update signage, place new Trailheads, fencing and landscaping.

The next KCV meeting will be 8 p.m. March 29, at Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse.