WKNC hosts Radio Ride

WKNC 88.1 FM will host an alleycat-style bike ride and scavenger hunt on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Raleigh Arts Collective, 500 Royal St.

“WKNC hosts lots of music events, so we wanted to do something that would introduce the station to a community who might not already know about us,” said John Kovalchik, WKNC’s former (2014-2015) general manager and principal organizer of the event. “Some of our staff has done other alleycats and Bike and Build cross-country bike trips, so having a Radio Ride seemed like the perfect choice.”

WKNC’s Radio Ride is modeled after similar bike ride hosted in the Triangle, including the HepCat and WESAcat, and expects to draw between 50 and 100 participants. Riders will receive a set of clues pointing them to various checkpoints around the NC State campus and downtown Raleigh and should expect to bike between 15 and 20 miles. Prizes for the top finishers include donated items from Fyxation, Raleigh Denim and Negative Fun Records.

Check-in for WKNC’s Radio Ride starts at 12 p.m. at the Raleigh Arts Collective and the ride begins at 1 p.m. Registration is $10 in advance and $15 the day of the event. Those unable to participate can sign up as “virtual riders” for a $10 donation. Pre-registration is available online at wknc.org/swag.

Proceeds from WKNC’s Radio Ride will benefit the student-run non-commercial radio station. About 13 percent of the station’s budget comes from North Carolina State University student fees, with the rest raised through a combination of underwriting, event promotions, sports broadcasts, merchandise sales and fundraisers like the Radio Ride and Double Barrel Benefit concert.