Press ReleaseETA ogo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (207) 284-9260
eta@EasternTrail.org


South Portland, Maine, August 14 — Those 1,200 riders fortunate enough to register in time for the 2015 Maine Lighthouse Ride will celebrate summer’s last hurrah on their bicycle seats, while supporting the Eastern Trail Alliance’s mission to complete construction of the ET’s off-road route.

Against a backdrop of historic lighthouses, rocky coast and sandy beaches, avid cyclists from all over North America will ride in support of the ETA on Saturday, September 12 for the 12th Annual Maine Lighthouse Ride. Participants will set out to cover 25, 40, 62 or 100 miles, beginning and ending at Southern Maine Community College.

“With the event full at 1,200 riders, the Maine Lighthouse Ride is clearly one of the most popular rides in New England,” said Bob Bowker, the ride’s founder and spokesperson. “The combination of scenic Maine coastline, plenty of good food, and dozens of friendly volunteers keeps ’em coming back for more!”

In recent years, MLR riders have hailed from more than two-dozen states, but this year Iowa will bring something special to our event. Team in Training Iowa (TNT), a sports training program that benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, brings a field of nearly 70 riders after deciding that they couldn’t go wrong with this ever more popular New England ride.

“As soon as we started to do this, so many people wanted to do the ride,” said Kelly Billings, TNT campaign manager for the Iowa chapter. “Many of them look forward to seeing the lighthouses, and many have never been to the East Coast, so they’re excited.”

All of our registered MLR riders are provided with maps, cue sheets, multiple rest stops, hot food, portable restrooms and a hand washing station, plus on-call support vehicles. Special offerings this year include Shipyard beer and Portland Pie pizza after the ride.

Riders can also expect a warm, encouraging greeting upon their return, from our troop of volunteers and their array of noisemakers and musical instruments! We warmly welcome — and can always use more — volunteers to spend the day with us. This page has the details and who to contact: http://easterntrail.org/index.php/join-us/volunteer-with-us.

While registration is closed for this year’s MLR, trail supporters and MLR enthusiasts alike can find information for the 2016 MLR in the coming weeks on our website, http://easterntrail.org. Photos from last year’s ride can be found at: //www.flickr.com/photos/53937668@N05/collections/72157647393518476/“>https://www.flickr.com/photos/53937668@N05/collections/72157647393518476/.