Have you ever wanted to combine your love for being outdoors, meeting others, riding bikes, enjoying the beautiful Tucson scenery and fundraising? On Nov. 20, at El Tour de Tucson, you can accomplish it all!
El Tour de Tucson is now in its 38th year, and it provides cyclists of all levels—from kids to adults—the opportunity to get outside and get involved in a charitable ride around historic Tucson. The event welcomes riders of all types of manually driven bicycles to participate in various cycling related activities and to ride on one of its six courses, ranging from one mile to over 100 miles long.
While close to 7,000 cyclists participate in El Tour de Tucson, two events are scheduled specifically for kids 12 and under. The first is USA Cycling’s “Let’s Ride,” a free national bicycle safety camp. It is scheduled to occur from noon to 3 p.m. at Armory Park on Nov. 19, the day before El Tour. The camp provides bicycle safety training and will be led by many of the accomplished cyclists from Team24. It will feature both Rahsaan Bahati, founder of the Bahati Foundation, and Olympian Mari Holden. Let’s Ride offers a course where bike safety skills and proper bicycle equipment use can be tested in a safe and fun environment.
The Fun Ride is the second event for children 12 years old and below. It happens Nov. 20 and costs $15 per child. The ride begins at 8 a.m. at Armory Park. Participants are able to demonstrate everything they have learned at Let’s Ride camp and choose between four Fun Ride routes, which allow for children to be pedaled on bikes by adults, or a 1-, 5- or 10-mile course packed with beautiful views and fun for everyone. This particular event offers a contest for the best decorated bike and is sure to bring fun for all.
El Tour provides all registered participants with medals. Although some of the top cyclists in the country join El Tour and ride to achieve their best times, it is not a race. El Tour’s real purpose is to gather outside, promote healthy activities, teach bike safety, encourage cycling, provide family fun and raise money for charitable organizations.
For more information, visit www.eltourdetucson.org/fun-ride/ .
