Every year the Fairbanks Cycle Club helps the Equinox Marathon by cleaning up signs and trash along the marathon route. You don’t have to get up real early and you don’t have to ride the whole route (but you can do both if you want to). You will need a mountain bike or at least a gravel bike. Besides helping the marathon, this is a fundraiser for the FCC, since the marathon donates to the FCC for our efforts! Here’s how it works:
- In 2026 the ride happens Sunday, September 20
- We meet at noon in the UAF Patty Center parking lot (over by Beluga Field, which is on the west side of the parking lot.)
- Usually we break up into at least three groups. Each group handles one Relay leg of the marathon. (The group doing Relay Leg #3 can shuttle to the top of Ester Dome to start.)
- The groups ride their Relay leg, collecting signs and trash along the way. Marathon volunteers clean things up pretty good, so all we usually have to do is collect the signs.
- Carrying signs while on bikes can be tricky, so bringing a backpack and/or panniers can help a lot. Bikepacking handlebar bags (like Revelate’s Sweetroll) also work. A sturdy back rack is useful. Bungee cords are helpful. (Also, bring a garbage sack in case we do find any garbage.)
- We don’t carry the signs for the whole length of the leg. We drop them at points along the way where they are easy to get to by car or truck. (We’ll have a list of good drop points.)
- One or more people drive the course picking up the piles of signs and trash bags.
That’s it! When you’re done with your leg, you can ride back to your car. (Or drive, if the group doing Relay Leg #3 shuttles to the top of Ester Dome.)
WHAT TO BRING (besides your bike)
- Bike bags, a backpack, and/or a rack to carry signs
- A garbage sack or two
- A couple of bungee cords to put on your rack, if you have one
- Gloves (so you don't get splinters pulling up the stakes)