Family Pedal to Plate 'ride in the rain'
RIDERS DURING the Mission Mountain Family Pedal to Plate were offered a bicycle driver license.
WHITNEY CANTLAN assists her 5-year-old daughter Elise at the Pedal to Plate while dad David watches.
YULIYANAH REED of Ronan fits a new helmet before embarking upon the Mission Mountain Family Pedal to Plate on Saturday, May 18 in Ronan.
THE 3-MILE course for the Pedal to Plate took riders and walkers through the park in the middle of Ronan. (Joe Sova photos/Lake County Leader)
NEARLY 40 riders and a handful of walkers did not let a little rain stop them from enjoying the Mission Mountain Family Pedal to Plate last Saturday in Ronan.
JANET SUCHA shows the placards that rides wore during the fun-day ride.
KENA SUTTON, 9, is geared up and ready to ride.
Come rain or shine, many Lake County people are primed to support a good cause. Such as the Mission Mountain Family Pedal to Plate.
The popular event was revived this year after a four-year hiatus. The bicycle ride in the rain began and ended at the Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County on Highway 93 in Ronan.
The cruise courses headed south from the Boys & Girls Club. There were 1-mile and 3-mile courses to traverse — at a leisurely pace. From ages toddler to elderly, there were nearly 40 bike riders, and even some walkers, for the Pedal to Plate. Those who did not have a bike were given a pre-owened one — free — to take home, along with a protective helmet and reflective gear. Everyone who completed one of the courses got a free lunch, complements of Pedal to Plate and generous local event sponsors.
“People really enjoyed it,” said organizer Janet Sucha. “It was the right crowd for the day. They were going home with a bike they needed. We gave away eight bikes.”
Well-cared-for pre-owned bikes and the new helmets were donated by community members, businesses and organizations. Some of them came from grants received by other organizations.
“We had a lot of help from the community,” Sucha said. “This is our gift back to the community ... It was a health day as well as a bike day.”