Tour the Montour 2020 fundraising bicycle ride goes virtual

The 18th annual Tour the Montour bicycle ride, customarily held in September with hundreds of riders on the Montour Trail, will this year be a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Sept. 30, cyclists are encouraged to ride the mileage that they would have ridden in the Tour the Montour. Tour distances are six miles (the family fun ride), 12 miles, 15-24 miles, 44 miles and 62 miles (a “metric century,” 100 kilometers).
“Any mileage, any time,” tour director Patricia Friedsam said. “As many stages as you want, or all in one bike ride, anywhere. This year’s Tour is not restricted to just the Montour Trail. Ride alone, or ride with friends, six feet apart. Use a stationary bike if you choose. Just celebrate the fact that in the midst of a pandemic, we can still be outdoors.”
Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and chance to win a premium prize, including a two-night stay at Seven Springs Mountain Resort and a cycling kit from Aero Tech Designs of Coraopolis.
After completing their tours, participants are encouraged to post photos and ride descriptions on the Montour Trail Enthusiasts Facebook group.
Since the tour is virtual, registration is available online only at bikereg.com/tour-the-montour-trail-ride.
Friedsam, who is also a Montour Trail Council board member, noted the week of the scheduled ride, Sept. 13-19, out-and-back turnaround signs will be posted along the trail to mark official distances.
The Tour the Montour is the 31-year-old Montour Trail’s signature fundraising ride, attracting about 500 participants in 2019. This year’s title sponsor is FedEx Ground.
The Montour Trail is a multi-use, nonmotorized recreational pathway around Pittsburgh, extending 60-plus miles in Allegheny and Washington counties. It is the nation’s longest suburban rail-trail, and was named by the commonwealth as Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year in 2017.