Teens go media free for 500-mile bike ride

Fifteen at-risk teens bicycling their way from Loveland to Niagara Falls encountered their first big challenge before the journey began.

They had to surrender their cellphones.

“They are media free for a week,” said Gary Loomans.

He’s the youth leader for City Gospel Mission, the ride sponsor. And yes, there’s a little withdrawal, he said, but it’s necessary if the teens are going to be in the moment.

The teens are certain to face more challenges as they, along with 20 City Gospel Mission volunteers and staff members, ride between 55 to 72 miles each day on their eight-day, 500-plus-mile route to Niagara Falls. The journey began at 9 a.m. Saturday in Loveland on the bike trail.

They are scheduled to arrive at Niagara Falls this Saturday, riding close enough to the falls to feel the spray, City Gospel Mission President Roger Howell said.

City Gospel Mission has held rides for about 25 years, but not always to Niagara.

De’Shannon McBride is on the trip. It’s the third for the 18-yearold graduate. For this ride, McBride is a youth leader who will encourage other riders not to give up.

A multisport athlete, McBride said that during his first Niagara trip he pushed to be the fastest rider. Along the way, he enjoyed the breaks, the scenery, food and the evening campfires.

The experience made him realize the importance of setting and achieving goals.

“You don’t know what you can do or can’t do until you try it,” McBride said.

This is the very lesson organizers want the teens to learn during the journey.

“I call these stress trips,” Howell said. “They are intended to stress you out and teach you that you can do it.”

“It truly is a life-changing adventure,” he said.

The journey offers many firsttime experiences for some of the teens, Loomans said.

“For most, it’s the first time out of Cincinnati and out of the state. It’s the first time camping out; the first time to cycle 60 miles,” he said. “It’s 540 miles to the falls. And so it’s a first time they’ve accomplished a big goal.”

The trip costs $500 per rider. The teens each work to raise $100 of the cost.

The group’s daily experiences will be shared on the City Gospel Mission Facebook page.

Teen ride 55-72 miles of day during the Tour de Falls. CITY GOSPEL MISSION