With the sun shining and a crisp autumn breeze, bicyclists rode through Sedona and the Verde Valley in the most ideal cycling weather, all for fun and fundraising.
Just under 80 cyclists turned out for the annual Sedona Metric Centuries ride on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21. This is the fourth year for the charity ride.
“We were happy with the turnout,” said Thomas McGoldrick, the event coordinator of the ride. “We had riders from Phoenix and even California. I mean, the beautiful weather and amazing scenery we have here in Sedona is a big draw.”
The Sedona Century Ride is a charity ride that benefitted three major organizations this year.
Big Park Community School, a kindergarten to eighth grade school in the Village of Oak Creek that focuses on providing instructional strategies to accommodate all types of learners, will use the funds for educational programs.
Village Park Recreation Inc., a committee formed by the All American Road Committee to manage the improvements of the Red Rock Scenic Byway for both tourists and locals, will use funds for bike riding facilities for the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona. Its main focus is on upgrading the visual appeal of the area and enhancing the recreational usage of the area by pedestrians and bicyclists. They are also currently spearheading the effort to have the Village of Oak Creek designated by the League of American Bicyclists as a “Bike Friendly Community.”
Finally, the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, whose mission is to improve the bicycling environment and the quality of life in the region by promoting bicycle safety, education and facilities as well as encourage use of the bicycle as an energy-efficient, economical and nonpolluting form of transportation will use funds for the road sweeping fund for the area.
This year’s ride featured a different 62-mile metric ride each day in addition to shorter, less strenuous 40-mile alternative routes.
“This allowed for all levels of riders to participate,” McGoldrick said. “Men, women and young kids were all riding.”
For the full story, please see the Friday, Oct. 26, issue of the Red Rock News.
