Tour de Lebanon Valley will be rolling through Lebanon County on Saturday, June 12. Each route, 62, 30 or 6-miles, winds through the scenic countryside of the Lebanon Valley, taking riders passed farmlands, forests and historical sites.
Tour de Lebanon Valley participants will have staggered start times, beginning at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center, 80 Rocherty Road. “We’re expecting more participants this year due to the increased popularity of biking,” shared Nikki Maurer, executive director of the Community Health Council of Lebanon County and chair of the event. “The safety of the participants is our highest priority. We’ll have rolling start times for each route to allow participants to physically distance, routes will be well marked and they’ll include rest stops and mechanical support.”
The popularity of cycling has increased significantly during the pandemic and the pattern continues, whether for outdoor exercise or commuting to work. Globally, cyclists logged 8.1 billion miles on Strava in 2020, according to their 2020 Sport Data Report. “Biking has been a great outlet for people to exercise or de-stress during the pandemic,” explained Laurie Crawford, executive director of the Lebanon Valley Conservancy and committee member for the event. “A lot of families found that it was something they could safely do together. This year, we’re partnering with Making a Difference for the family ride,” added Crawford. “They will have games and prizes for the kids, it is a great partnership!”
The Tour de Lebanon Valley family ride is a roundtrip route on the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail to the Historic Cornwall Furnace. Children 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult and helmets are required for all participants, regardless of route. The cost for the Tour De Lebanon family ride is $5 per person. The metric century and mid-distance rides are currently $40, but increase to $55 on May 30. Tour merchandise is available on the registration site and includes a new, limited-edition tour jersey, which is available for pre-sale until May 10.
Tour de Lebanon Valley is presented by The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition, The Lebanon Valley Conservancy and the Community Health Council of Lebanon County, with support from Visit Lebanon Valley. JBT is the presenting sponsor. Registration is currently open and the ride will take place, rain or shine. Visit www.TourdeLebanonValley.com for more information, including registration, start times, route maps and volunteer opportunities.
About the Lebanon Valley Conservancy
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy works to protect the cultural, historical and environmental resources of the region. The Conservancy is committed to collaborating with the community to ensure equitable access to all of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.TLVC.org.
About the Community Health Council of Lebanon County
The Community Health Council of Lebanon County was established in 1994, bringing together stakeholders from across the community to discuss common health goals and collaborative opportunities. The Community Health Council works together to develop and mobilize resources to enhance the health of Lebanon County. For additional information, call 717.270.7935 or visit www.communityhealthcouncil.com.
About The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition
The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition is a 501c-3 organization, founded in 2008, to make the Lebanon Valley region of Pennsylvania a better, safer place to bicycle. The Coalition works with elected officials and municipal, county and state governments, to make certain that new road projects or redesigns consider the needs of bicyclists. They want cyclists to have the necessary skills to be able to bicycle for their transportation, recreation and health. They offer bike rides because they enjoy cycling together. Details on membership and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.bikelebanon.org.
