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“HIT THE TRAIL” COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE/RALLY SET TO KICK OFF COUNTDOWN TO AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
Mayor Kellar to Lead Ride Along City Bike Trail System

Mayor Bob Kellar is inviting the community to “Hit the Trail” with him on Saturday, February 2nd, at 10 a.m. as he leads a leisurely bike ride from the trail head at Camp Plenty Road and Soledad Canyon en route to Bridgeport Park for a community rally. The rally will officially kick off the countdown to the Amgen Tour of California professional bicycle race.

There will be three starting points in Santa Clarita for the public to choose from including: Camp Plenty Road and Soledad Canyon, Placerita Junior High School, and Valencia High. The starting points were chosen specifically to utilize City trails and keep riders off of public streets. To ensure safe crossing, the Sheriff’s Department will be providing traffic breaks where necessary.

The lengths of each predetermined route vary in length. The Canyon Country Route is 7 miles, the route from Placerita Junior High is 4.3 miles and the route from Valencia High School is 6.1 miles.

The free event is open to the public. There is no age restriction to participate but parents are advised to consider the cycling skill and age of their child in relation to the route they choose.

Anyone representing a Santa Clarita school will earn their school “spirit points” towards the spirit competition that will culminate at the end of the Amgen Tour of California.

Although, the public is welcome to attend the rally at Bridgeport Park no matter how they arrive, “Hit the Trail,” is unique in that residents are being encouraged to leave their automobiles at home. Mayor Kellar explains, “The purpose of ‘Hit the Trail’ is to have one day where we as a community get together and enjoy a leisurely bike ride utilizing the City’s 30 mile trail system and embrace the healthy lifestyle that is so important to us here in Santa Clarita. ”

Riders are expected to arrive at Bridgeport Park between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. where a community rally will be held. At the rally, the public will have the chance to race each other on stationary bikes at the “Cycle Showdown” challenge and win prizes. The “parkmobile” will provide arts and crafts for younger riders. Hometown station KHTS AM 1220 will be on hand to call all of the action and there will be other fun and giveaways. The rally will conclude at 1:00 p.m.

A large component of the Amgen Tour of California is to raise funds and promote awareness in the fight against cancer. “Road to the Cure” raffle tickets will also be available for purchase at the rally. The “Road to the Cure” raffle provides the opportunity for ticket holders to win top of the line sporting equipment and memorabilia. All proceeds from ticket sales will be split evenly between the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative as well as the Santa Clarita based Michael Hoefflin Foundation.

Details on the event, including “Road to the Cure,” can be found on the City’s website at www.santa-clarita.com/tourofca.


Release Date: 1/25/2008