Mountain Bike Race to Raise Funds for Lake Orion After School Programs

With bicycling being the second most popular outdoor sport in the United States, it’s no wonder that the Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association is rapidly gaining popularity.

Steve Kinley, a business consultant for Chrysler and director of MiSCA, is passionate about both cycling and sharing his biking enthusiasm with children everywhere. Working with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Kinley founded MiSCA with the determination to make mountain biking a common high school and middle school activity.

This Saturday, Sept. 22, Lake Orion High School will host the LOHS Dragon GAP/MiSCA mountain bike relay for teams of two. The race will start with the first team member riding a lap, then their team mate will go out, then both riders will finish the race by doing another lap together. Both riders must finish together to be scored. Total lowest elapsed time will win.

There will be divisions for school-age male, female and coed riders, as well as the same categories for adults. The course is about 7.5 miles a lap through the woods and hills behind the school. The hilly course may be modified if event holders feel as if weather or terrain conditions will be a dangerous factor.

Schools currently involved in MiSCA are Brighton High School, Clarkston High School, Detroit Country Day, Holly High School, North Country Cycle Sports Scholastic Cycling Club (Composite), Lake Orion’s Oakview Middle School, The Motion Initiative, Cycletherapy Cycling Club (Composite), Rochester Bike Shop (RBS) Cycling Club (Composite), Brandon High School, Lake Orion High School, Utica Eisenhower High School, and Walled Lake Northern High School.

The race will begin at 10:00 a.m. and registration opens at 8:30 a.m. in the lower Natatorium Lobby located behind Lake Orion High School. Lake Orion High School located at 495 East Scripps Rd. in Lake Orion. Racers must sign a liability waiver during registration. Parents must sign for participants under 18 years old. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each class/division.

Early registration will cost $20 per racer and there will be a $10 fee added day of race for adult teams. Riders can register online at www.bikereg.com.

Other Notes:

• All Bikers are required to wear a helmet.
• Races may be cancelled due to weather and/or trail conditions. Participant safety comes first!
• For more information contact race directors Steve Kinley at (248) 672-0985 or Ben Gerdeman at (248)693-5436 ext. 1.