3:38pm | Get ready to ride, because registration is open and ready for the second annual Tour of Long Beach this May 14th, a huge bicycling event to raise money for Miller Children’s Hospital with a 31-mile ride around the city as the main event. You can also ride in a 4-mile family fun course, or a 62-mile Metric Century course (if you’re a little crazy).
The course is designed by former pro cyclist and Long Beach Biking Ambassador Tony Cruz, once an Olympian and teammate of Lance Armstrong. Click here for our 2009 interview and profile of Cruz back when he began to lay out his plans for the city.
Fees are $20 for the Family Ride, $45 for the Tour and the Metric Century. Last year, I participated in the inaugural Tour with my father and girlfriend and we posted a photo gallery of the ride taken throughout the 31-mile course. Click here to check it out.
The ride begins downtown at Marina Green Park and travels up the Los Angeles River into North Long Beach, then east along Heartwell Park and south along the San Gabriel River. A few miles of scenic ocean riding later and you’ve reached the finish at the Pine Avenue Circle, where a medal awaits each cyclist. Stick around for exhibitions, demonstrations and welcome refreshments.