photo by: Richard Gwin

Riders, from left, Pat Peery, Larry Spray, Nate Robinson and Joe Robinson, cruise Douglas County Road 1057 Saturday morning, Oct. 3, 2009, on a Tour de County ride, part of the weekend’s Octoginta activities.

Lawrence will be the launching point for hundreds of cyclists this weekend as they set off on their annual two-wheeled tour of northeast Kansas.

The 47th annual Octoginta bicycle ride includes two main events and is expected to draw about 400 cyclists. The Lawrence Bicycle Club hosts the ride, and organizers say the event has become a tradition that brings both new and returning cyclists each year.

“It’s a great fall ride and we’re anticipating beautiful weather,” said Andrew Shoemaker, president of the club. “It’s really designed to promote cycling in general to the community.”

The ride will start at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and lead cyclists on an 80-mile tour through northeast Kansas that begins and ends in South Park. A 40-mile route is also an option, and both will have SAG (support and gear) pit stops with food and bike mechanics.

Shoemaker said that as usual, maps of the 80-mile and 40-mile route for Sunday will be posted on the club’s website soon, though many choose to wait to see the route the day of the ride.

“It changes every year,” Shoemaker said. “One of the reasons why we don’t post the route until late is we kind of like it to be a bit of a surprise each year. In year’s past we’ve gone south, we’ve gone east, we’ve gone west — and so that’s kind of the fun is figuring out what route we’re going to do for our annual ride.”

In addition to the 80-mile and 40-mile options on Sunday, there will be a shorter route on Saturday. The 30-mile Tour De County will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from South Park. Cyclists will be taken on a route around Douglas County, and there will be a SAG stop at the halfway point.

Registration fees for both rides — $5 for the Tour de County, $35 for the Octoginta — cover SAG and mechanical support stops along the routes, and the club will also serve a meal at South Park following the ride. SAG will be provided by Sunflower Bike Shop, and Cycle Works will provide mechanical support. Registration for all routes can be done online or the day of the rides. Cyclists can also pre-register for Sunday’s Octoginta on Saturday at South Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday also features a chance for cyclists to swap or sell their bike parts or accessories. The swap meet will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday at South Park.

Though the forecast for this weekend is clear, the rides are subject to postponement or cancellation in the event of bad weather. Shoemaker said because so much is involved with the ride, it won’t be rescheduled in the event of a cancellation. All announcements will be made at South Park, or riders can check the club’s website.

Questions regarding the event can be sent to ask@lbc-cycling.com.