Riverwest 24 returns after 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It’s the 24-hour party that requires only one thing -- a bike.

"Riverwest 24" is back with more than a thousand bikers cycling in the Riverwest neighborhood for 24 straight hours.

The fifteen-year tradition took a pause for the last two years due to Covid-19.

But tonight, on July 29, bikers are back in full force and ready to hit the streets for the next 24 hours.

"We are having a little bit of a bike ride," said organizer Julie Krawczyk.

"A bit is putting it lightly".

"It’s the greatest day in Milwaukee, said Krawczyk.

1,100 bikers slated to hit the streets of Riverwest after a 2-year hiatus -- biking in teams for 24 hours straight -- for no particular grand prize.

"Wild, exhausting and exciting," said Megan Laveth of Oklahoma.

Bringing people in from all across the country.

"I heard about the Riverwest race and was like what is this about," said Laveth.

Meet Megan -- she's from Oklahoma. But it's her bike she calls home.

"My first bike was 50 dollars, put some new rims on it and I was on her until two summers ago," she said.

"The 24" has various stops or bonus rounds along the route -- where riders can socialize with other racers. We're told that's where the real parties happen.

"The bonus checkpoints those are really where the fun is at and the cool thing is anyone can do them this year," said team captain Mitch Horin.

Still, safety is top of mind for organizers, especially with construction on Humboldt Boulevard -- a potential danger zone for bikers.

"We are advising and strongly strongly strongly begging people to stay off of Humboldt, it's very unsafe for bikes, there's not enough room for bikes and cars to coexist," said Krawczyk.

But bikers say it’s the journey and building community that defines this event.

"Don’t know where I'll end up and I know that I am supposed to land in the Bronx's but for how long I don’t know but I do know that I'll be on my bike for quite some time," said Laveth.

The event runs until 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night, July 30.

And as for the prize -- the winner gets a case of beer.