Bicycle rides offered along Central Lakes Trail

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Bicyclists are encouraged to explore the Central Lakes Trail with special bike rides this Saturday, May 21.

The Central Lakes Tour will take advantage of the gorgeous Central Lakes Trail, beginning in Fergus Falls and continuing to Osakis.

The ride will depart between 8 and 9 a.m. from Adams Park in Fergus Falls (the one with the big otter).

Each year the ride begins in a different city on the trail (Alexandria was featured in 2009).

The ride offers two options:

• Fergus Falls round-trip to any community on the trail (see below for distances).

• Fergus Falls to Osakis with a pre-arranged ride back to Fergus Falls.

The registration cost is $15 for adults, $5 for children 10 and younger, and $35 for families.

Tour organizers will provide ride support, rest stops (complete with complimentary water and snacks), first aid and the other amenities that they say will make this a perfect event for the entire family.

The registration form is available online at www.CentralLakesTrail.com.

If riders are unable to pre-register, they are encouraged to be spontaneous and join the start of the ride in Adams Park.

“We know an event like this can be very weather-dependent,” said Sara Stadtherr, chairperson of CentralLakesTrail.com. “We didn’t have a tour in 2010 since our communities hosted the MS TRAM. This year we hope to rekindle a passion for riding on the Central Lakes Trail.”

Riders are already registered from Minneapolis, Bemidji and Brainerd.

“We have a gem here and are working hard to introduce other riders to the Central Lakes Trail,” said Stadtherr.

Ride distances, round-trip, with planned rest stops are: Fergus Falls to Dalton – 16.2 miles, Fergus Falls to Ashby – 31.2 miles, Fergus Falls to Evansville – 48.8 miles and Fergus Falls to Alexandria – 81.4 miles.

Riders who want to have transportation provided from Osakis need to pre-arrange that when they register.

The group is hoping for 100 riders this year.

The Central Lakes Tour is the creation of a group, CentralLakesTrail.com.

Volunteers representing each community along the Central Lakes Trail from Fergus Falls to Osakis united four years ago for the sole purpose of promoting and improving the trail.

Funds raised help provide funding for the Central Lakes Trail group to continue to promote the trail and the communities along the trail.

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