Sanford Bicycle Club invites you to the strangest safari on two wheels: The Great Tardigrade Trek Ride. Forget lions, forget tigers — we’re hunting water bears, moss piglets, tart greens, and every other bizarre nickname science has ever thrown at the mighty tardigrade.
🌊 The Quest for the Water Bear
We’ll roll out from Dees Brothers Brewery at 6 PM sharp, pedaling into the twilight in search of Sanford’s secret aquatic kingdoms. Along the way:
• Ponds tucked behind neighborhoods, dripping with mystery.
• Lake Monroe, shimmering along the Riverwalk, where moss piglets may be plotting their next microscopic takeover.
• Every damp patch of moss, lichen, and leaf litter we can find.
Rules of the Trek:
If you spot a tardigrade (or think you do, or just feel the vibe), shout out: “Water bear! Water bear! Water bear!” three times, as loud as possible. Echoes across Lake Monroe are encouraged.
🚴 The Ride
• Distance: ~10 miles of weirdness.
• Pace: Leisurely, with frequent stops to peer at puddles and whisper “moss piglet” into the night.
• Attire: Anything that screams cryptobiosis chic. (Bonus points for distressed vintage gear or safari hats.)
🧪 Specimen Collection
On this trek, we’ll attempt to collect a few specimens of tardigrades from Sanford’s watery corners. These tiny beasts will be escorted back to Dees Brothers Brewery, where legend has it they enjoy beer as much as SBC members. (Science hasn’t confirmed this, but Sanford lore has — and that’s good enough for us.)
🧬 The Tardigrade Truth
At the end of the ride, we’ll gather to celebrate the legend of the tardigrade:
• Habitats: From mossy sidewalks to glaciers, deserts, and even hot springs.
• Lifestyle: Masters of cryptobiosis — drying out, freezing, and reviving like tiny immortals.
• Nicknames: Water bear, moss piglet, tart green, and more.
• Superpowers: Survive radiation, crushing pressure, and even outer space.
These microscopic beasts remind us that Sanford weirdness is eternal, indestructible, and always ready for a ride.
📢 Final Call
So saddle up, shout loud, and embrace the chaos. The Great Tardigrade Trek Ride isn’t just a bike ride — it’s a pilgrimage to the strangest corners of nature, right here in Sanford. And if we’re lucky, we’ll toast with our new tardigrade friends back at Dees Brothers.
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