You can also get to know Rauna on a bike ride. Andris Abramovs organizes a bicycle ride “Drive freely!” together with his associates. PHOTO: Sarmīte Feldmane
On May 4, the bicycle ride “Ride Freely!” took place in Rauna for the 20th time. Its motto is “Run your tracks in the years of Latvian independence”, but Andris Abrāmovs has been responsible for organizing all these years.
“Before that, for ten years the bike ride took place on May 1. At first it was simple – we went around Rauna so that we have something to do on the day off. When we joined the European Union, we moved the trip to May 4,” says A. Abramovs and emphasizes that all the years there are interested people who are ready to get involved and help, because they like to do it. For many years, Mareks Dombrovskis created the tracks, last year Mārtiņš Ulāns, a cycling enthusiast, took it upon himself. There is the support of volunteers, national guards.
It is not easy to organize everything, admits Andris. The route must be coordinated with the land owners, so far no one has objected and contracts for the use of the territory are not being concluded, the parish manager said in a conversation. Similarly, the competition, although it is not a competition, must provide the necessary. Immediately after the trip, many want to see the result, serial numbers are needed. “If you have a free day, you like to be in the fresh air and ride a bike, then you can participate. There is no participation fee,” says the organizer and says that last year 154 people from the age of three took part in the trip. Children ride in the stadium, adults must measure the 14-kilometer circle twice.
But “Ride freely!” participants welcome those who continue the tradition of the community bike ride “From the Freedom Monument in Riga to the Freedom Monument in Raun” with a standing ovation. It started in 2017 and continued as an organized trip for two years. The number of participants was well over a hundred. Around ten enthusiasts still drive from Riga to Rauna every year on May 4. It is difficult to organize a community trip, because it leads along the Vidzeme highway, many coordinations are needed. Enthusiasts ride individually. Their welcome always evokes emotions for everyone,” says the resident of Raunen and emphasizes that playing sports together on national holidays always creates special feelings. Like hockey in May.
After the bike ride, Andris, together with four other people from Raunen, will go to the World Hockey Championship in Ostrava. It will be the 13th championship in which he has been in person, as he admits, every year in May he can afford and free up time to ride. “Being in another country, sympathizing with your own people, experiencing when you don’t succeed, screaming and not controlling your emotions when you hit a goal – it can’t be told. Be part of them, from Latvia. Sports can unite,” A. Abramovs shares his thoughts.
