Cycle Bucks County Charity Ride Coming in June

Explore the Bucks County countryside by bicycle during a charity ride to raise money for Doylestown Hospital and Girls on the Run.

The second annual Cycle Bucks County charity bike ride is rolling through the area on June 23, 2012, and organizers are execting a good turnout.

Last year's inaugural race attracted about 160 cyclists, member Janine Caroll said Tuesday. This year, they are expecting more than 300.

Judging by the enthusiasm of last year's riders, this year's event is bound to be just as much fun.

"The ride was a blast," said Cory D. Scott, who rode the 60-mile course last year. "The course offered some challenges, but the rest stops made sure we were well supplied. My favorite part was pacelining along the Delaware River!"

"Cycle Bucks County has a beautiful and challenging course, with well marked roads and friendly rest stops," said another 60-mile participant, Jennifer Artur.

The ride is open to all levels of cyclists, from beginner to serious. Participants choose from three routes ranging in length from 10 to 60 miles, winding through the scenic roadways of Bucks County. Rest stops and support are provided on all routes, organizers said.

Proceeds from the one-day bicycle tour will benefit The Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital and Girls on the Run, whose respective missions involve improving heart health and empowering girls' self-esteem through running.

The ride is presented by the New Hope-Solebury Community Association and the Tara L. Riedley Foundation, which began in 2009 after the death of Tara Riedley, a Bucks County native who valued education, voluntarism and community.

Her love of adventure and physical fitness makes the Foundation’s involvement in Cycle Bucks County an ideal match, organizers said.

"She worked hard for charities she cared about and had a love for this wonderful community in which she grew up," said her mother, Ginny Riedley, the director of the Foundation. "Partnering with the New Hope-Solebury Community Association through a fun, healthy and adventurous activity is something that Tara would have thoroughly supported."

Choosing The Heart Institute to benefit from the race's fundraising seemed a natural fit, supporters said.

"Cardiologists at Doylestown Hospital’s Heart Institute have stressed the importance of preventing heart disease," said Dr. James Kmetzo in a statement released Tuesday. "Cycling through picturesque Bucks County is a rewarding way to honor Tara and promote a heart-healthy lifestyle."

Girls on the Run was chosen as a second beneficiary in recognition of its work providing pre-teens with training, education and support to utilize running to gain confidence and self-respect.

Adult registration is $50; register before June 1 to receive a free t-shirt. Registration after that date is $55 per cyclist.

Special family pricing is available for $50 for two adults and two children for the 10 mile ride only. Junior riders (ages 12-17) are $25, and children under 12, (who must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older or have a waiver signed by a guardian 18 or older) are $5.

For more information or to register, visit www.cyclebuckscounty.org.

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