Cleveland's Habitat for Humanity readies Bike to Build

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BIKE TO BUILD

Registration fees*Standard: $40 (ends April 19)VIP: $55 (ends April 19)Day of event: $75 (April 20)* Contact Habitat if entering a teamHabitat for Humanity, ClevelandPhone: 423-476-6947Website: http://www.habitatofcleveland.org/Source: Habitat for Humanity

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Cleveland's Habitat for Humanity will bring in celebrity cyclists and offer new twists on old routes for the fourth annual Bike to Build event scheduled for April 20.

The event will be attended by two life-affirming cyclists -- Saul Raisin and Hector Picard -- who have had to overcome major challenges in their own lives, said Annie Kinworthy, community development coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

Raisin, of Dalton, Ga., is a professional cyclist and traumatic brain injury survivor whose biography "Tour de Life" recounts the turn his life took after a coma-inducing bicycle crash in the 2006 Tour of Italy.

Picard, a bilateral amputee and triathlete, lost his arms after an occupational accident. He heads Don't Stop Living, a group dedicated to helping others conquer obstacles and make their best lives.

Not only will Raisin and Picard ride in the race, they will appear at the early check-in event hosted by Toyota of Cleveland on April 19.

As for the bike routes, organizers plan to give them a subtle makeover.

"They are reversing the routes this year," said David Coulter, owner of Scott's Bikes in Cleveland. David and his brother Doug have been involved with Bike to Build since it began, creating and tweaking routes for cyclists of different skill levels.

Bike to Build 2013 will feature three routes: 20k (12.4 miles), 50k (31.07 miles) and 100k (62 miles). The 20k route will take riders into the Black Fox community in southern Bradley County. The 50k route will take cyclists on a western tour of the county, as far north as Candies Creek and as far south as McDonald. The 100k ride will use the county's southeastern rural roads.

"You might not think that reversing the routes is a big change, but you get a whole new canopy and canvas," Kinworthy said.

Bike to Build has simplified its registration pricing in 2013. The standard entry fee is less than previous years' at $40. The base entry fee comes with a cotton T-shirt, free lunch, a goody bag, water bottle and full support-and-gear service stops where riders can take short breaks. The $55 VIP package upgrades to a Dri-FIT T-shirt and includes a Habitat carabiner and a zippered tote bag in addition to the standard package items. Registration on the day of the event will cost $75.

Habitat for Humanity also has a bigger goal for this year's event, with organizers hoping to fund two Habitat houses instead of just one, as in previous years.

The homes, each requiring $50,000 for full sponsorship, will be dedicated at the new Habitat neighborhood of Victory Cove off of South Lee Highway on June 27, Kinworthy said.

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