Prairie Pedal riders raise cash for fresh air

Why bike it when you can trike it? Brenda and Clifford Scott rode
more than 40 miles Sunday in their recumbent trike bikes.​

Prairie Pedal riders raise cash for fresh air
Herald & Review
Dozens of bicyclists enjoyed some sunny fresh air Sunday while lending financial assistance to those who safeguard the areas that help make the fresh air possible.

The “Prairie Pedal” event is an annual fundraiser for the Macon County Conservation Foundation, which watches over 3,300 acres of woodland, grassland and wetland, and was expected to raise more than $25,000 to help look after it all.

Some 250 cyclists set off from the Rock Springs Nature Center's parking lot as early as 7 a.m to test themselves on 20, 40 and 62-mile courses through the Macon County countryside. With the mercury pedaling way past 90 degrees, it was hot and thirsty work.

Marien said a lot of the riders come back to take part again and again, but he always sees a few new faces as well. Two of those belonged to Brenda and Clifford Scott, 68-year-old husband and wife riders who drove over from Lincoln, IL to ride more than 40 miles.

They say their fancy recumbent tricycles, together worth some $12,000, are the civilized way to exercise with no painful after effects. Their secret weapon are little on-board battery-powered motors they can fire up to help smooth out steep inclines or ...


Continue reading...