Come Out & Ride ~

Ride for the Children is a charity bicycle ride benefiting the over 15,000 homeless children who attend schools in Maricopa County. Funds raised from this event allow The Real Gift Foundation to provide everything from new playgrounds, school supplies and books, to clothes, hygiene items, holiday meals and toys. All donations are tax deductible.

The event is Saturday, May 5, 2012. Check-in starts at 6:30 a.m. and the Ride begins at 8:00 a.m. from Horizon High School at 56th Street and Greenway Road in Scottsdale. You can choose among three distances:

• Metric Century (65 miles): This metric century is a great course for those looking for a more challenging ride. The course starts along the same 25-mile loop through Paradise Valley and then continues for an additional 40 miles through the majestic hills of North Scottsdale. Riders must complete the first 25 miles within 2 hours to continue on the course.

• 25 miles: This course is well-marked and winds through some of the most beautiful back roads in Paradise Valley. It is mostly flat with only 2 miles of uphill.

• 10 miles: This is a great choice for families and first time riders. The out and back loop is completely flat and easy on dedicated bike lanes.

Police and water/food stations are placed throughout the route. Riders receive a T-shirt and a post-ride breakfast.

Ride for the Children Route Maps

• Download the route map in PDF format (route subject to change)
• View on Google maps
• View all the GPS information and download it to your GPS device
  • 10-mile route
  • 25-mile route
  • 65-mile route
    (This is the north 40 miles of the course, the first 25 miles is the same as above).

This is not a closed course and it is not a race. Please obey all traffic and safety rules at ALL times.

For all riders: 
On 56th Street traveling south from Greenway to Mt. View and traveling north from Mt. View to Greenway, the right lane will be closed to automobile traffic.

For riders on the 65-mile route:
The right-hand lane closure northbound on 56th Street will continue up to Mayo Boulevard. 

On Mayo Boulevard, eastbound riders will travel on the right-hand side of the eastbound lane.  On the return, westbound riders will travel on the left-hand side of the eastbound lane.  The eastbound lane will be divided down the middle and closed to automobile traffic.  As riders are traveling west on Mayo they will need to cross over to the westbound lane in order to get into the left turn lane to turn onto 56th Street going south.  There will be volunteers and police officers on Mayo to help direct riders.

At all other times, riders will be in open lanes along with automobile traffic and must use bike lanes where they are available. Please ride single file in bike lanes.