A big assist from law enforcement ensured minimal problems. “Leesburg Bikefest is known for its police. I’ve had bikers tell me they prefer Leesburg over Daytona because of our police. You have to work hard to get arrested in Leesburg,” Shipes said. “The Leesburg Police Department is just great.” So is the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which provided personnel and communication equipment. “We’re fortunate the sheriff couples with us,” Radeski says. “They supply us with all the hand-held radios, about 120 of them.” The frenzied activity that takes place on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before Bikefest isn’t due to procrastination or lack of planning. In fact, the opposite is true. “There are months of prep time,” says
Radeski. “We always start working on the next Bikefest the day after Bikefest ends.” It has to be that way. The event has grown exponentially. At least 200,000 bikers and revelers attended this year’s event. Between 70 and 80 entertainers performed. Beer was served at 17 stations, some requiring 45 volunteer workers a day. And at least 10 food tents/trailers fed the ever-shifting crowds. “I really don’t think people understand how much of a huge undertaking this is,” says volunteer Joanie Smalley, who is also a Leesburg Partnership board member. “There are people pretty much here 24 hours a day for a week. I am amazed by the detail that goes into this. Everything is double- and triple-checked.” For Shipes, the days leading up to Bikefest
are filled with phone calls, conferences, questions, problems, and dashes downtown to eyeball stages and tents. And his hard-working staff try to duplicate his pace. There’s no down time during the final week of preparation. Yet somehow, every year, everything is ready on time. “It’s pretty amazing how it comes together,” Radeski says. It’s even more amazing how Bikefest comes apart. “The teardown is also amazing,” Radeski adds. “It takes us eight days to get all this set up, but we start teardown at 5 o’clock Sunday evening and by 8 a.m. Monday, it’s all gone until we do it again next year.”
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