Registrations, Donations Rolling In

Registrations for the 2014 Ride for Nature are rolling in at a record pace, and with them, more donations for the Ridges Sanctuary. Riders have donated more than $680 in extra donations to the Ridges so far this year.

These riders are part of a fast-growing century ride through the peninsula’s less-traveled back roads. Last year nearly 900 took on routes of 15, 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles. That’s almost triple the total from just three years ago.

“We’re proud to be helping support the great programs and conservation efforts of the Ridges Sanctuary,” said Ride Director Brian Fitzgerald. “We strive to put on a great ride that attracts serious cyclists, and the addition of the Door County Beer Festival at the finish line has opened up new places to market the ride and ways to raise money for the Ridges Sanctuary.”

In 2012, the first year of the Door County Beer Festival, registrations for the ride rose from 483 to 734 people. The ride and associated programs brought in more than $11,000 for the Ridges Sanctuary in 2013.

The 2014 Ride for Nature to benefit the Ridges Sanctuary takes place June 14. The ride leaves from the Baileys Harbor Town Hall with a mass rollout at 7 am and finishes back on the grounds of the Door County Beer Festival (tickets sold separately). The festival features 140 craft beers, live music and locally sourced food from Door County artisan chefs.

To register for the Ride for Nature or join the Bike to Benefit program, visit ridefornature.com. To buy tickets for the Door County Beer Festival visit DoorCountyBeer.com.