A Diamond In The Rough

Once upon a time, there was a charming and scenic city nestled in a picturesque county on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Nearly every day, residents and tourists alike frolicked outside and enjoyed the area’s beautiful beaches, tropical tranquility and spectacular sunsets. Both the city and the county were true gems among gems – diamonds, if you will – on the Treasure Coast. But, alas, when it came to bicycle friendliness, the League of American Bicyclists decided that the community was not a diamond. Nor was it platinum, gold, or even silver. It was bronze. 

But wait a minute. That last part only sounds like a grim ending to an otherwise magical story. It’s actually a proud beginning, both for the growing number of cyclists in Vero Beach and the surrounding area and for Indian River County as a whole. Perhaps no one knows that better than the coalition of bicycle enthusiasts and civic and business leaders who have worked – and continue to work – to make the county an increasingly friendly place for cyclists.

In 2013, Hugh Aaron moved to Vero Beach from Richmond where he had been president of a more than 1,100-member bike club. Eager to connect with other area cyclists and begin enjoying group rides, Aaron soon met Giorgio Res who was already working on organizing Vero Cycling Inc., a club for cyclists of all levels. The two joined forces to get the group incorporated, and they began organizing more and more group rides as the club’s membership steadily grew.