Lancaster County sees a dozen or more charity rides in warmer months, raising funds for causes ranging from literacy to breast cancer.
Yet, there are few such rides off of paved roads. This year’s Tour de Cure changes that. In addition to the usual road ride, being held in Grantville on June 9, there will be a mountain bike ride at Camp Mack, just north of Brickerville, at the northern edge of Lancaster County, on Sunday, May 20.
Tour de Cure rides are held across the country as fund-raising events for the American Diabetes Association. The Central Pennsylvania ride has been a road ride held in Carlisle. The mountain bike ride is being added after off-road riders wanted to participate, said Tim Roden, the event organizer.
There will be two routes. A shorter, easier ride will appeal to the novice rider. A longer, more difficult route will be available for the advanced riders. The terrain will be mostly single-track. The harder route has much more climbing, with a summit at the Eagle Rock overlook. There will be a catered post-ride meal with music.
Registration is available on the Tour de Cure website. The registration fee is only $15, but the Tour de Cure requires a minimum $150 fund-raising for individual riders; and a suggested $750 goal for teams. Questions can be e-mailed to Roden, at troden@diabetes.org.
Note, Camp Mack is open to those that purchase an annual permit from Green Mountain Cyclery in Ephrata. Tour de Cure riders are asked not to preride the trails without obtaining the permit.
