Tour de Menlo rolls out May 22 Tour de Menlo rolls out May 22 (March 24, 2004)

Midpeninsula cyclists and walkers are invited to ride a bike or stroll around Atherton's Lindenwood neighborhood or cruise the rolling hills to Highway 92 and back during the first annual Tour de Menlo on Saturday, May 22, an event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Menlo Park and the Almanac.

The Lindenwood ride is especially recommended for younger cyclists accompanied by parents, or early teens who can ride six miles on their own. It begins at Menlo-Atherton High School and is open to all local residents. Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Trees for Menlo campaign in Menlo Park and the installation of trees in Atherton.

In addition to the 10-k bike ride and 5-k walk, serious cyclists will enjoy the 37-mile loop to Highway 92 on Canada Road with a return trip through Portola Valley.

The course opens for both bike rides at 8 a.m., although riders may check in until 9. The scenic Lindenwood route includes two laps around a flat course. The 5-k walk, which opens at 9:30 a.m., makes one loop around the same circuit.

The quiet 10-k bike ride will begin on Oak Grove Avenue and continue to Greenoaks Drive and on around the perimeter of Lindenwood. Atherton and Menlo Park police on bicycles will be available to offer safety tips during the ride and will also patrol the course.

There will be plenty of activities for children at the Menlo-Atherton High start/finish line, including face-painting and clowns with balloons. High school service clubs will be offering breakfast and hot lunch items to walkers and cyclists from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. By April 1, registration forms for the ride and walk will be available to download at www.almanacnews.com, and on paper at local bike shops, Menlo Park and Atherton city halls, and at the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park. Entry fees for riders and walkers are $25 for adults, $15 for students and $50 for families of any size. Commemorative T-shirts are included, with two shirts going to family entries. Additional shirts will be available for $15 on the day of the event while supplies last. For more information call Tom at 854-2626 or Dick at 365-6144.

Starting Location (make a note to arrange use of restrooms or portapotties.)

All rides and the walk start at Menlo-Atherton High School, 550 Middlefield Road. Ride headquarters will be located at the school's main entrance. To reach the school from the Bayshore Freeway (Hwy. 101) take the Willow Road exit and head west to Middlefield Road. Turn right and turn right again at the next stoplight at Ringwood. Take the first left into the Menlo-Atherton parking lot.

Route Description

10K (6.2 miles)

This flat ride makes two loops around the beautiful Lindenwood neighborhood of Atherton, a route that is perfect for families with children who are just beginning to ride. The Atherton Tree Committee plans to staff an information booth at the start that will exhibit posters of the various trees to look for on ride.

37-mile ride

This route heads west on Oak Grove Avenue to Sand Hill Road, and then to Woodside's Canada Road, an easy route of rolling hills. Make a U-Turn at Highway 92 and return via the Portola Valley Loop.

5K Walk (3.1 miles)

Walkers will make one circuit around the perimeter of scenic Lindenwood and return to Menlo-Atherton High School.

Starting Times

Check-in starts at 8 a.m. and the courses will close at noon. Riders must start and finish during this time period. Here are the starting times:

10K Bike Ride...................8 to 9 a.m.

37-Mile Bike Ride...............8 to 9 a.m.

5K Walk...........................9:30 to 10 a.m.

Fees

Adult Registration..........$25

Students with valid ID.....$15

Families.....................$50

Adult and student entry fee includes one T-Shirt, and Family entrants receive two. A family is one or two adults and their minor children. Please submit a separate entry form for each person.

Pre-registration Preferred

Riders and walkers are urged to pre-register to avoid delays at the start. However, entrants will be accepted on the day of the event for $30 for adults, $20 students and $60 for families. T-shirts may not be available at that time. Pre-registration ends on Monday, May 3, so please mark your calendars.

Rules of the Road

Bike riders and walkers using the Lindenwood route must remember to be courteous and that these residential streets are not closed to traffic. All bicycle riders should ride single file on the right side of the street, and all walkers should walk single file on the left, facing traffic. Please exercise caution when approaching any motorized vehicle, and remember:

1. Cyclists ride right at all times.

2. Pass only when it is safe.

3. Stop at all Stop signs.

4. Walkers stay left at all times.

5. Riders and walkers use extra care at driveway entrances, and defer to residents who may be leaving or entering their home.

Bicycle policemen

Officers riding bicycles from the Menlo Park and Atherton police department will take part in the ride. All participants are encouraged to ask the policemen questions about any aspect of cycling.

Balloons and facepainting

Volunteer students from Menlo-Atherton High School will offer facepainting for younger participants. Free balloons from the Almanac will be available while supplies last.

Parking

Parking is available at several locations on the Menlo-Atherton campus. Attendants will direct participants to the available parking spaces on the campus.

Food and Drink

Service clubs from Menlo-Atherton High will provide breakfast lunch items from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. near the start and finish line, at a nominal charge.

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