Some 500 cyclists are expected to take off from Menlo-Atherton High School on Saturday, Aug. 18, for the Tour de Menlo bike ride, an annual community event since 2006.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Menlo Park and the Almanac, the Tour features three routes of 65, 45 and 35 miles and attracts many riders, some of whom return every summer. As in prior years, the ride will start and finish at M-A. The $50 entry fee includes a T-shirt and lunch prepared by Lutticken's Deli at the Picchetti Open Space Reserve in Cupertino, as well as fully stocked rest stops and a water stop along the way.

The Rotary Club provides emergency and technical support (SAG) over all three routes that is accessible by phone.

Proceeds from the ride support various Rotary projects, including tutoring English-language learners and providing need-based scholarships to local high school students. In addition, funds from the Tour support the Almanac's Holiday Fund, which makes donations to 10 local nonprofit agencies that help the hungry, homeless and youths who need counseling in southern San Mateo Country.

In last year's ride, the 65-mile route was by far the most popular, taking riders up to Belmont and the first rest stop on Polhemus Road. Then, after climbing up to the bike bridge, riders headed south to Canada Road in Woodside and then to the Portola Road firehouse near Alpine Road to the second rest stop.

Riders on the 45-mile route also stopped at the firehouse and then both routes circled around to Page Mill Road, with the longer route climbing up to Altamont Road and the others over to Arastradero Road and Los Altos. Those choosing the 35-mile route headed south on Junipero Serra and met all other riders in Los Altos before heading up a short climb on Montebello Road for lunch. All riders returned to M-A via the Foothill Expressway.

Go to tourdemenlo.com for more information and to find a link to sign up online, which is available until Aug. 17. Riders may also sign up at M-A until 9 a.m. on ride day. It is still possible to order this year's tour jersey, which will be delivered about eight weeks after the ride.

For more information, call Tom at 223-6507.

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