Tour de Kingston draws over 200 fans
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Over 200 cycling enthusiasts took part in the Tour de Kingston Sunday morning.
The event, which started in Forsyth Park near the Kingston Kinderland II playground, featured six different rides: A 50-mile and 25-mile road rides; and a 32-mile endurance trail ride for more seasoned riders; a 10 and an 18-mile trail ride on the Hurley Rail Trail; and a 5-mile family ride around Uptown and Midtown.
Standing under the Forsyth Park pavilion before the family ride, Tom Polk, the Tour de Kingston Committee’s co-chairman, emphasized how the Tour is a ride and not a race.
“There are no awards or trophies,” Polk said.
Polk was impressed with this year’s turnout.
“We had great weather so we had a lot of people who signed up today and we had a lot of people who pre-registered, so it’s all coming together to give us a nice group of riders on the roads and trails of Ulster County,” Polk said.
Allen Nace, who founded the Tour de Kingston with David Schleede 12 years ago, said in that time the event has grown beyond a core group of cycling enthusiasts to bring in a wider swath of the community.
He added a greater emphasis has been placed on cycling and the need for safety improvements in the last decade.
“People are riding for recreation or transportation and they’re developing more safe roadways.”
Schleede said he helped start the ride because people were becoming too dormant.
“We wanted to get people out to
ride and exercise,” Schleede said.
Peter and Sarah Omara, of Woodstock, brought their children Benji, 7, and Phoebe, 3, along for the 5-mile family ride.
“I’m glad Kingston has an opportunity for people to ride a bike,” Sarah Omara said. “I’m looking forward to the murals.
Peter Omara, a mountain biking fan, said he was looking forward to the barbecue after the ride.
Nanette Simione, Rondout Valley High’s field hockey coach, did the 25mile ride.
Simione, who’s ridden in the Tour de Kingston several times and is a fixture at the Bike for Cancer Care in September, said rides between 20 and 30 miles are just right for her.
Simione said she cycles
upwards of threefour times a week and she enjoys riding with others more than riding alone.
“Cyclists are a nice group of people, and it’s always nicer to ride with a group than ride alone,” Simione said.
Jason Ilgner, of Saugerties, enjoyed the 25mile ride.
“It’s a beautiful day, a long ride on beautiful country roads,” Ilgner said, adding that he doesn’t ride
regularly.
“It’s a challenge I can build off,” Ilgner said.
Angel Urena of Kingston, who’s done the Tour de Kingston four times, was preparing to ride with his kids Victoria, 6, Carina, 8, Xavier, 11, and their friend Gio Lazala.
Urena said he usually does one of the longer rides, but he decided to do this distance to be with the kids.
“I want to get them into biking,” Urena said.