Health & Fitness
Riding for a Reason
Looking for a great way to help the hungry, exercise and have fun all at the same time? Consider the Brake the Hunger Cycle Tour this weekend at St. David's!
I’m sure by now you’ve seen the little yellow signs all around town advertising the
Charity Bike Tour on May 7th.
The first time I noticed them was around this time last year on Kinnelon Road and I had to pull over just to take in all the information. The one thing that makes me really proud to say I’m from Kinnelon is the way that this community pulls together for a good cause. We may not be a big town but we collectively sure have big hearts.
The Brake the Hunger Cycle Tour is now in its fourth year and apparently has become the largest charity bike event in northern New Jersey, raising over $120,000 for the needy. This year proceeds will be split between the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and to build clean water supplies in Asia…both really great causes. If you’ve never participated in this event before, or any cycling event for that matter, then this is the year to start.
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Seriously, when I rode last year I had to literally dust off my bike and dig it out of the basement because it had been that long! I opted for the “family friendly” 4-mile route but for the more avid cyclists there are the 12-mile, 25-mile, 40-mile and 62-mile routes. Being an inexperienced cyclist I was worried that I might fall in a ditch somewhere or get hit by a car but the routes are all clearly marked, there’s a (support and gear) SAG vehicle always nearby and police escorts assisting with traffic so I never once felt abandoned.
All the tours start and end at St. David’s Episcopal Church on 91 Kinnelon Road and whether you belong to that church or not, you will feel welcomed – the volunteers, coordinators and other riders are all so friendly that even though I came alone, I didn’t feel left out of any of the day’s events. Afterwards all the riders were treated to generous helpings of good food and live music.
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So again whether you’re a season cyclist or a weekend warrior, come out next weekend to support this great event – you’ll be helping charity, keeping fit and having fun all at the same time. Check in begins at 7:30AM but be sure to register online (www.hungercycletour.com) to take advantage of the early bird pricing. Let’s ride together to make a difference!