Cyclists Kick Labor Day Weekend Into Gear

Cyclists relied on their pedals for the Labor Day weekend and took to the streets of northern Westchester on Sunday morning for the Golden Apple Bike Tour.

The event, now in its 29th year, is an annual bike ride organized by the Westchester Cycle Club that begins at the Golden's Bridge train station. Rather than the regular sight of commuters, the train station parking lot was flooded with a sea of various colored helmets, as cyclists registered and socialized before their trek.

This year the popular event had a 1,200 rider registration limit. Organizers expected to make the mark as they received over 1,000 online pre-registered riders. As the cycle club has gained members and the sport has grown in popularity throughout the county, the event has grown exponentially over the past couple of years.

Competition is de-emphasized, as the Golden Apple bike ride encourages riders to just enjoy themselves. Kate Marshell, Golden Apple Tour Director, has been the organizer for the past two years and sees  the event as a gift back from the Westchester Cycle Club to the bike riding community.

"It's really nice to ride a bike and not have to worry about the route and what you're going to eat and worrying that if you get a flat tire if there is going to be somebody to help you," explained Marshell. "It's sort of like a big bike riding party, it's a lot of fun."

The organized ride provides five different paces (25, 50, 75, 100, and 125-mile routes) so riders of all levels can participate. Marshell said the 50-mile and 100- mile rides were two of the more popular routes and attributes this to cycling's popularity, which has made people fitter and able to go longer distances.

"It's a fun ride and I don't think we could have asked for a more perfect day," said Maria Jacobsen of Bedford, as she prepared to take on the 50-mile challenge through hills and woods.

The cycle club provided riders with a lunch when they returned to Golden's Bridge. In the parking lot, vendors from around the area were on hand to lend their expertise, including Bicycle World of Mount Kisco and Danny's Cycles of Cortlandt Manor, who set up tents and talked shop with fellow enthusiasts during the morning.

Emphasis throughout the day was on making for a satisfying event for the riders. The Westchester Cycle Club hoped to improve the event from earlier years by adding more marshals and signs on the roads with police offers on traffic patrol.

"I'm here for the exercise and to ride with my daughter," said Kenny Hofmann, who traveled from the Bronx to participate. "I like this better than races, you get to go at your own pace and just enjoy the weather and the scenery. What more could you ask for?"