Jonna Ebel, Director with the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation and Gran Fondo Committee member, put the finishing touches of Rocky Mountain Sky to a few donated bikes to celebrate the August 19 Gran Fondo.

Hub Staff

Blue bicycles will be popping up in Southampton and along the upcoming Gran Fondo routes after Rotarians spent some time August 1 painting 19 donated bikes to gear up for the August 19 Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) fundraiser.

The #BlueBruce initiative, a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Southampton and SMHF, challenges home owners and businesses to decorate their properties and window displays in blue to help welcome the riders and celebrate SMHF's first Gran Fondo cycling event.

The event kicks off in Southampton with riders taking part in either a 30 kilometre, 70 kilometre, 110 kilometre or 160 kilometre (100 mile) ride.

Businesses and home owners who go blue and upload a photo to social media using the hashtag #BlueBruce will be entered for a chance to win. The business prize is a $250 marketing coupon from Progressive Results Group while home owners could win a locally sourced prize basket.

The donated bicycles were painted by volunteers in the colour Rocky Mountain Sky and be seen in a few locations including in Paisley, at the Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton and at Outlaw Brew Co.

Rotarians Tony Sheard and Neil Reid worked as a team to coat this bike in blue for #BlueBruce.

Colin Macdonald of Paisley Rotary brought his paint sprayer to get the job done. Pretty in Paisley is the name of the Gran Fondo's 110 kilometre route and riders may just spot a blue bicycle as they pass through.

Jonna Ebel getting at every angle on her bicycle.

Bike Clings are available at the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation office or Hills Insurance in Southampton for a $20 donation.