Tour de Edina Rolls Through Southdale Area on Sunday

Edina's annual community bike ride—appropriately named the Tour de Edina—is set to kick off at noon this Sunday, Oct. 14, in the Southdale Center parking lot.

The Tour de Edina is designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices through cycling and to encourage residents to use bicycles for transportation throughout the city.

Riders will gather in the southwest corner of the Southdale parking lot, near the intersection of 69th Street and France Avenue. The route winds around Lake Cornelia, then along the Edina Promenade for a total of seven miles. It's generally flat and much of it is off-road. 

Riders will also be treated to healthy snacks, fruit and water along the way, so no need to bring your own refreshments.

Online registration for the 2012 Tour de Edina runs through 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. It runs $5 per cyclist and $20 per family. Riders can also sign up the day of the event.

The event is sponsored by the following local organizations: City of Edina, Edina Community Education, Allina Health, FreeWheel Bicycle, Bike Edina Task Force, do.town Edina and Edina Morningside Rotary Club. All proceeds from the ride benefit Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) and will help fund the installation of bike racks in Edina parks.

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