The Sports Backers’ annual Anthem Moonlight Ride was yesterday. Here’s the SB’s Jackie Stoneburner with a report:

Despite a rainy forecast, 2,975 cyclists came to Sports Backers Stadium to participate in the fifth annual Anthem Moonlight Ride. The ride featured a “Full Moon” (17 miles) and a “Half Moon” (8 miles) route through Lakeside, Bryan Park and the near west end. Participants were invited to stick around for the Agee’s Post-Ride Party with Papa John’s pizza, ice cream, soda, Blue Moon beer, and a live concert by local rock/folk group The Good Birds.

Credit: Phil Riggan/Richmond.com

More than 80 riders entered the Blue Moon Costume & Tacky Light contest, which is a record number of participants. Prizes were awarded for the Best Costume and the Tackiest Lights. First place for best costume was awarded to Sue Cantrell who was dressed as a garden gnome (See left). Cantrell has won the contest for three consecutive years.

Other awards were given to the top three best costumes in the group category and the kid’s category as well as the top three tackiest lights in the group and individual categories.

The Bike Walk RVA advocacy program was the official event charity of the Anthem Moonlight Ride. The program is committed to making the Richmond area more bike and pedestrian friendly by encouraging the construction of more paved multi-use trails, sidewalks and bike lanes in the Richmond region and working to improve and expand the off-road trail systems as well. The 2014 Anthem Moonlight Ride will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014. More information can be found at www.sportsbackers.org.