Fueling the 24: Riverwest Co-op Cafe, volunteers feed 700 riders before Riverwest24

By 7 pm this Friday, more than 700 bicyclists will be hitting the streets of Riverwest, navigating through block parties, dodging sprinklers, and visiting checkpoints on a quest to complete as many – or as few – 1.4 mile laps as they can over the next 24 hours.

Before they set out, every Riverwest24 rider – all 700 of them – will be invited to sit down and fuel up with a nutritious, natural, vegan meal, prepared by the Riverwest Co-op Cafe and its crew of volunteers. Teams of volunteers have been working around the clock this week to peel and cut over 200 pounds of sweet potatoes, peppers and onions, as they prepare for the meal.

At 5 pm Friday evening, dining tables will replace cars along the 700 block of Clarke Street, and riders will begin filling their plates. On the menu: dry-rubbed, roasted jackfruit basted with the Co-op’s own tangy, sweet house barbecue sauce, served on a hoagie bun and topped with a creamy coleslaw; a hearty sweet potato salad with fresh green peppers and onions, tossed in a house dressing, and a few slices of fresh watermelon.

By 7 pm, the riders will be off to begin their laps, but the Co-op will just be getting warmed up. Both the store and cafe will remain open until 2 am for special late night hours, serving up cafe specials and offering plenty of fresh, tasty snacks for RW24 riders and revelers.

And come Saturday morning, the Co-op will be open for its usual hours, serving up its regular brunch menu from 9 am to 3 pm to keep fueling the community.

The Riverwest Co-op’s pre-ride meal is just one of the many community-powered events it hosts, organizes, and contributes to throughout the year, including the annual Spaghetti Dinner, Falcon Flea markets, Sidewalk Music Sessions, and more. Visit riverwestcoop.org to learn more and email info@riverwestcoop.org if you’d like to volunteer!

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.