By Blake Haas
LEXINGTON – Bike riders in Lexington and McLean County can get a work out and help out a good cause at the same time.
Riders in Lexington and McLean County can ride through scenic Mackinaw River Watershed in McLean and Woodford Counties through a 20 and 50 mile noncompetitive bike rides on July 28 starting at Keller Park Pavilion in Lexington.
The second annual half Century Bike Ride ParkLands Foundation was formed in 1967 to preserve, protect and ecologically restore historic natural lands in the middle and upper Mackinaw Valley watershed.
“A lot of people in this area don’t realize that we have so much nature so close to town,” said Erin Herbez, Administrative Director for the ParkLands Foundation. “I think they [bike riders] might be surprised that there is a lot of natural areas on this route. One of our rest stops is in the parking lots of our biggest preserve which is the maroon preserve.”
Last years ride featured over 200 riders, and the ParkLands Foundation expects a larger number this year.
“Last year we had 220 riders so we are hoping to get at least that many this year,” added Herbez. ‘We’re hoping to get 300 if possible. That is our goal.”
Herbez said riders can experience different scenery through either the 20 or 50-mile rides.
“It is a bike ride through the Mackinaw River Valley and we have two different rides the 50 mile ride and the 20-mile ride,” said Herbez. “We started this last year to highlight some of ParkLands properties that we own in the area. We mapped a route that takes riders through those properties.”
The 50 mile ride begins at 7 a.m. while the 20 mile ride begins at 8 a.m.
Cost to register for the two bike rides is $45 ($50 after July 14) and includes a commemorative t-shirt and water bottle. To register for the Half Century Bike Ride visit www.parklandsfoundation.org.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
