Redmond Derby Days

In July 1939 a twenty-five mile bicycle race went around Lake Sammamish, and the downtown business people who put it on wanted money for flags on the city sidewalks [1]. Back then it was called the Redmond Bike Derby, and the money was also meant for Christmas decorations and athletic gear for the schools [2]. A report from the time had everyone agreeing the thing should become an annual affair [2]. It has run since 1939, and no other bike race in the country has kept going as long [2]. The races were not held from 1942 to 1945 [2]. Later the whole affair took the shape of a summer festival for Redmond, Washington [2]. A former mayor, John Marchione, said it honours the small-town roots of the place and its spirit of innovation [2]. In 2020 it was initially cancelled, then held online as a 2020 Virtual Edition [2].