Rail Ride rolls in this July

MILLERTON — Come July, cyclists from the Harlem Valley and beyond are invited to take a ride on what’s been dubbed by many as the summer’s most beautiful ride: the eighth annual Harlem Valley Rail Ride.

While the day of the ride has been scheduled for Sunday, July 28, Harlem Valley Rail Ride organizer Beth Katz and Bob Bagomolny have invited participating cyclists to pitch a tent at Eddie Collins Memorial Field starting Friday, July 26, at noon. Beginning at noon on Friday until 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, Katz and Bagomolny will provide a shuttle for registered riders from the Wassaic Metro-North Train Station to Millerton. As an added bonus, they will ensure that all bags and gear are brought to the field; should cyclists decide to stay overnight at a local hotel, their bags will be transported to the hotel of their choice. A full list of available hotels in the area can be found on the Harlem Valley Rail Ride website at www.harlemvalleyrailride.com.

Cyclists who decide to spend the weekend camping at Eddie Collins Memorial Field will enjoy the return of the shower truck as well as a hot breakfast on the day of the ride. By offering weekend camping and hot showers, Katz said she hopes to encourage people from outside New York state to camp the night before the ride. To further recruit people to come out and explore Millerton, she announced there won’t be any fees for camping in the park.

“It’s great for the village and hopefully it’ll encourage more people from farther way to advertise the area,” she said.

On the day of the ride, cyclists will be asked to honor the start time of their chosen route. As a safety measure, registration and start-times will depend on distance with the longer cycling routes leaving first followed by the shorter routes. For the 100-mile routes, including the 100-Mile Hill Challenge and 100-Mile Leg Saver, check-in will run from 7 to 8:15 a.m. Riders participating on the 72- to 80-mile routes will check in between 8 and 9:15 a.m., followed by riders for the 45- to 57-mile routes from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and riders on the 23- to 33-mile routes from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Helmets are required for participation.

After checking in, riders are invited to enjoy a hot breakfast cooked by members of the American Legion Post 178 at the park pavilion. Along with receiving a free T-shirt for their participation, cyclists can unwind with a free therapeutic massage. Once they’ve finished their ride, they’re invited to the pavilion for a lunch cooked by Legion members. The Harlem Valley Rail Ride organizers will also donate beer to be sold at the ride for $3 a beverage. Proceeds will go to the American Legion Post 178, which will, in turn, use the funds to make a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project.

For more information on this year’s Harlem Valley Rail Ride, go to www.harlemvalleyrailride.com or contact Beth Katz at 917-847-2150.