Hit the Streets, Ride for Nature

On May 16, 136 elite athletes will hit to the streets in North America’s biggest cycling event, the Tour of California. Cyclists in Door County have a less daunting option on the horizon – The Ride for Nature to benefit The Ridges Sanctuary on June 19.

“Pro cyclists put between 20,000 – 25,000 training and racing miles into their legs per annum,” according to Rick Scott’s article, “The Life of a Pro Cyclist,” posted on the official Tour of California website (www.amgentourofcalifornia.com). Cyclists participating in the Ride for Nature will have fewer miles to log in preparation for the June event, as the more modest ride – rather than an eight-stage race – will offer distances ranging from 15 to 100 miles.

Each Ride for Nature route starts at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall and heads down County Road Q, past the pristine beauty of The Ridges Sanctuary, which the ride helps to promote, protect and preserve.

Participants in this year’s Ride for Nature will have the option of purchasing traditional T-shirts as well as a bike jersey designed by area artist Nik Garvoille. If you’re looking to take a reminder of the ride home with you, visit www.ridefornature.com for details.

The fairly-flat, family-friendly 15-mile route will traverse back towards Baileys Harbor on stretches of North Bay Drive and Sunset Drive, while the longer routes, measuring 25, 50 and 100 miles, travel farther along Door County’s picturesque back roads.

The century distance will take dedicated riders all the way to Gills Rock – passing vistas of Hedgehog Harbor along Garrett Bay Road as well as Northern Door orchards – before venturing into the farm country near Carlsville. Over the course of 100 miles, riders will ascend 1,611 feet.

Not to fret, each of the Ride for Nature routes will boast plentiful rest stops, providing ample opportunity to replenish calories and fluids along the way. And, while it’s not likely that the participants in the Ride for Nature will burn the 5,000 calories typical of a professional cyclist in a single stage of the Tour of California, the post-race lunch served at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall will be available to refuel anyone that might.

Funds raised from The Ride for Nature will benefit educational programming at The Ridges Sanctuary, Wisconsin’s oldest nonprofit nature preserve. Founded in 1937 by pioneers in Wisconsin’s conservation movement, the preserve protects over 1,600 acres of forests and wetlands and is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Wisconsin.

For more information or to register visit http://www.ridefornature.com or call 920.421.1509.