Ludington to attempt third Guinness World Record attempt. 

Ludington to attempt third Guinness World Record attempt. 

LUDINGTON — Ludington will seek its third Guinness World Record attempt on Saturday, June 9 in the category of world’s longest consecutive line of bicycles, which is being called the Pure Ludington Guinness World Record Attempt for the Longest Line of Bicycles. The attempt will be the signature event for the city’s June 9-10 ““Love Ludington” weekend to kick off summer.

The weekend will also feature events like the 38^th Annual Ludington Lakestride, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum one-year anniversary, West Shore Pride Fest, and Historic Home Tour.

“Ludington has created this fun annual tradition of attempting a world record based on a special pastime of our region, and families make a point to come here and build memories while helping us win,” said Brandy Henderson, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Bicycling is a popular activity here as we add and connect more trails in our network. What better way to celebrate the start of summer than doing this activity while enjoying other special events during our Love Ludington weekend?

Pure Ludington Guinness World Record Attempt for Longest Line of Bicycles – Saturday, June 9

In 2016 Ludington achieved the status of being home of the world’s longest continuous frozen dessert, an event sponsored by House of Flavors Restaurants. The title was held short-term, as Nashville, Michigan, beat the record later in the year. In 2017, Ludington broke the record of most sand angels at one time, sponsored by Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.

Visitors can participate in two Guinness World Record attempts this year – the longest single line of bicycles (moving) where the current record was set in Dhaka, Bangladesh in December 2016 with 1,186 people; and the longest line of bicycles (static), where the record was set in Berlin, Germany in May 2015 with 1,448 bicyclists.

Participants in either or both events should pre-register online at EventBrite. Check-in and staging for both events begins at 7:30 a.m. at Oriole Field at 700 W. Tinkham Ave., with riders participating in the longest single line of moving bicycles departing Oriole Field starting at 9 a.m. (riders in the static line record attempt will stay at Oriole Field during that time and wait for the first group to return). Cyclists in the moving line will ride a closed course of approximately three miles on city streets. Riders should have a functional bicycle and helmet. The longest static line of bicycles record attempt, open to all ages and abilities, will begin soon after the moving line attempt is completed. Both record attempts should take a little over an hour total to complete.

Sponsored by the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the free event is organized by the Shoreline Cycling Club. Serving Oceana, Mason, Lake, Manistee and Benzie Counties, the club helps maintain and increase access to cycling opportunities as well as educate the public about cycling while hosting events and rides. The club has constructed a 10-mile urban single track trail system in Ludington using portions of the Ludington School Forest, Memorial Tree Park and Cartier Park. The group hopes to bring awareness of their trail-building efforts through the event.

“This world record attempt is especially significant since Ludington is a popular cycling community with many great trails in the region – from paved flat loops, to technical singletrack trails,” said Andy Klevorn, board member of the Shoreline Cycling Club. “Cycling can be a lifelong sport, mode of transportation and great way for families to spend time together – and we want to remind or introduce people in a visible way about the joy of going for a bike ride with friends or family.”

Other Love Ludington Weekend Events

The Love Ludington weekend will feature other community events, including:

• 38^th Annual Ludington Lakestride, June 9, 8 a.m. (with fun run June 8) – This 38-year race series provides runners a beautiful race near Lake Michigan with 5K, 10K and half marathon options, as well as a one-mile fun run. The free fun run departs Friday, June 8 at 6 p.m. from the west end of Ludington Avenue, and no pre-registration is necessary. The 5K, 10K and half marathon races begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 9 at 612 N. Lakeshore Dr. (by Nader’s Motel and Suites) and finish at Stearns Park Beach on Lake Michigan. The half marathon passes through Ludington State Park featuring a run down a sand dune plus return route with views of Lake Michigan. Registration fees vary, and participants can register online at runsignup.com. Packet pick-up and late registration is June 8, 5 to 8 p.m. at Lakestride Race Central at the center of Stearns Park Beach, and June 9, 7 to 8 a.m. ludingtonlakestride.com

• Port of Ludington Maritime Museum One-Year Anniversary, June 9-10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – The community is invited to help celebrate the first anniversary of this much-anticipated museum that opened in June 2017. Visitors receive $2 off admission tickets and 20 percent off gift shop merchandise Saturday and Sunday in honor of the second year of operation. On Saturday, June 9, special children’s activities start at 11:30 a.m. and will run several times throughout the day, including a ship knot-tying activity, sink-a-ship activity (focused on water displacement), and a Great Lakes floor map activity.  The public also is invited to the dedication of the museum’s new “Steaming into the Future” S.S. Badger exhibit Saturday at 3 p.m. that will include a ribbon cutting ceremony with officials from the Lake Michigan Car Ferry, plus free admission that afternoon following the dedication. www.ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org

• West Shore Pride Fest, June 10, 12 – 5 p.m. – West Shore Pride Fest celebrates LGBTQ pride with speakers, performers, community organizations, and vendors at free event at Rotary Park.

• Historic Home Tours hosted by the Ludington Bed & Breakfast Association, June 10, 1 – 3 p.m. – Explore the history of Ludington and see the beautiful craftsmanship of the lumber era by touring three historic homes that have been turned into bed and breakfasts. Visitors can tour the homes that are now The Ludington House, The Lamplighter and Candlelite Inn. Cost is $5 per person, with proceeds benefiting Lakeshore Resource Network (people also can bring canned goods to donate to the Lakeshore Food Club). Contact one of the inns to purchase a ticket, or purchase at the first house you visit.