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Ride for the Child launches Saturday

Staff report

There is still room to join the Ride for the Child supported bicycle fundraiser that features the Sopris Century, organizers said Tuesday.

The inaugural Ride for the Child will be held Saturday with various road rides launching from Carbondale. There are 100-mile, 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer options on the scenic back roads of the Roaring Fork Valley.

“We’ve created this ride to showcase the quiet country roads and spectacular views of the Roaring Fork Valley, all to support a critically important organization in the community,” said event organizer Melissa McPherron. “We firmly believe this event will quickly grow to be a must-do for riders across the country.”



The event will raise money for Court Appointed Special Advocates in Colorado’s Ninth Judicial District, which includes Pitkin, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. The organization was founded in 1977 to provide well-trained, court-appointed volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children across the country. The organization’s goal is to provide a safe, permanent and nurturing home for every child it serves.

From Carbondale, the ride heads east up the valley with miles of riverfront riding on the Rio Grande recreation path. Riders eventually depart from the path, riding along gently rolling terrain, meandering through farm and ranchland with outstanding views of the Elk Mountain Range. All three courses provide various amounts of elevation gain, with climbs of four to eight percent grade, punctuated by bursts of 10 percent.




The ride will include several fully stocked aid stations as well as support vehicles circulating the course. A post-ride party with live music, food and a prize giveaway will take place at the Roaring Fork High School. Registration is limited to 350 participants.

The entry fee for individuals is $95 for the Sopris Century, $85 for the 100-kilometer and $75 for the 50-kilometer.

Go to http://www.active.com/ carbondale-co/cycling/races/ casa-ride-for-the-child-sopris-century-2015 to register and learn more about the routes.