Sign up now for a scenic bicycle tour

The fourth annual Tour de Mansfield: Village to Village bike tour will be held on July 18. (Rain date is July 25)

The event - which runs from 7 a.m. to noon - is meant to bring local residents together around a social and recreational activity, encourage exercise through cycling and bring awareness to the scenic beauty of  Mansfield’s villages (of which, there are 12).

The Tour de Mansfield routes are designed to appeal to riders of all levels, including:

• a 5-mile Family Fun Ride, which begins at 11 a.m., around the UConn campus and surrounding roads, accompanied by police officers

• and 20-mile or 40-mile Challenge Rides, which include rest stops with snacks and water (To follow these routes, you must be experienced with cycling in traffic.)

Maps of the routes will be provided.

The rides start and end at the Mansfield Community Center - and conclude with a barbecue.

All riders must wear helmets.

The entry fees are:

• $10 for riders age 12 and over, payable by July 17

• $25 for family registration, payable by July 17

Or register on the day of the bike tour, but there is an additional $5 charge.

There’s no fee for children under age 12, but they must be accompanied on the ride by an adult.

The first 100 riders at the event will receive a free commemorative T-shirt.

To register online, visit the town Website at www.mansfieldct.org and click on the bike tour logo.

Or you can register in person at the Mansfield Downtown Partnership offices (on Route 195, lower level behind Starbucks), at Town Hall/Audrey Beck Municipal Building at 4 South Eagleville Road (next to E.O. Smith High School) and at the Community Center (behind Town Hall).

You can also download a copy of the registration form (in PDF format) at this link: http://www.mansfieldct.org/town/current/events/2009_bike_tour.pdf

If you would like to volunteer to help on the day of the bike tour, or for more information about the event, please call Sara-Ann Chainé at the Mansfield Town Manager’s Office at 429-3336.

Posted July 5, 2009