The Ausable River Association (AsRA) will hold its second Ride for the River bike ride and invites residents and visitors to join in on Sunday, July 21. The Ride for the River celebrates the scenic and recreational resources of the Ausable River as well as the communities and businesses of the Ausable Valley. Cyclists of all ages and skill level can register for one of three scenic routes alongside the Ausable River and across its hills and valleys.

Following the Ride, enjoy a picnic and live music with fellow riders as well as friends and family at Jay Covered Bridge in Jay, NY. All proceeds of the Ride benefit the Ausable River Association’s work to protect and restore the valued resources of the Ausable River for their benefit to the ecosystem and human communities. This year’s ride is in memory of Carol Rupprecht, a dedicated steward of the Ausable River.

Ride for the River registration is open at www.ridefortheriver.org, where you can also learn about Ride routes and scheduling as well as business sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Participants can choose from three routes designed by LeepOff Cycles in Keene Valley. Each route varies in length and difficulty – from the challenging “Ausable Eddy” which circles ~50 miles along back roads between East Branch Ausable lowlands and West Branch vistas and gains about 1,500 feet, to the “Braided Eight” which traverses ~25 miles through scenic hills and valleys, gaining about 1,000 feet in a large figure eight, or “Carol’s Meander” which follows the gentle path of the Ausable East Branch along wide, paved road shoulders for ~10 miles and gaining 100 feet. All routes will start and end at the Jay Village Green in Jay on Route 9N.

“We’re so lucky to get to live and play in this beautiful river valley spanning high mountains and river lowlands,” said AsRA Director, Corrie Miller. “This Ride is a chance to honor all that the River provides – clean water, exceptional recreational opportunities, a healthy ecosystem, an aesthetic beauty unrivaled, and the strong ties between our valley communities.”

The Ausable River Association seeks local business sponsors for the Ride for the River. Last year’s inaugural Ride was supported by 27 businesses from Lake Placid, Keene, Jay, Wilmington, Keeseville, and beyond. AsRA hopes to build involvement in 2013 and encourages supporters to patronize local businesses and express appreciation for their sponsorship support. For more information about business sponsorship, visit www.ridefortheriver.org or call AsRA.

Ride for the River was inaugurated in 2012 to rally continued support for local communities and businesses along the path of local flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. The devastation of Tropical Storm Irene of August 2011 is still evident in the watershed communities and ecosystems along the River. The proceeds from last year’s ride directly funded the Ausable River Association’s work with local municipalities, businesses, and residents to build community and ecological resilience in the face of future flood events. This year’s proceeds will support this ongoing effort.

The Ausable River Association is a non-profit, community-supported organization that works cooperatively with landowners, municipalities, other organizations, and government agencies to protect the wild, scenic, and recreational resources of the Ausable Watershed, nationally known for its trout fishery. AsRA has been stewarding the river and its watershed since 1998. A small professional staff, board of directors, and numerous volunteers work to address threats to water quality and river ecology through community education, collaboration, and by implementing restoration, monitoring, and stewardship projects.

Photo courtesy Don Wickman.