OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Saturday was a beautiful day for a bike ride, which was lucky for the 120 bicyclists with Climate Ride Northeast who made a pit stop that evening at Oceanwood Camp and Conference Center.

Climate Ride Northeast is a five-day bike-a-thon from Bar Harbor to Boston that began Sept. 17 and is scheduled to end Sept. 21. It’s an event organized by Climate Ride, a nonprofit organization based in Montana that raises awareness and funds for environmental sustainability and bike advocacy.

On Saturday evening, dozens of bicycles were lined up on the lawn in front of the camp dining hall, where bicyclists were gathering to eat dinner before listening to scheduled speakers.

“It’s been an incredible day,” said Climate Ride Cofounder and Executive Director Caeli Quinn, who despite having participating in the long ride appeared very energetic and enthusiastic.

Bicyclists hailed from about 25 different states, Washington D.C. and Canada, said Quinn. The cyclists as a group had raised more than $415,000, she said. Individual cyclists can choose to raise money for more than 100 sustainability, environmental and bicycle advocacy organizations, both local and national, she said.

The riders were a diverse group of different ages, with about 30 percent under the age of 30, said Quinn. Most were spending the night at cabins at Camp Oceanwood, while others had booked rooms at area hotels, said Quinn.

“It’s so inspiring,” to participate in an event that benefits others as well as yourself, said Valerie Craig, senior director of National Geographic Ocean Initiative, who came from Washington, D.C. to participate in the ride on her employer’s team.

Craig noted some of the scenery and stops along the way, including Bar Harbor, Freeport, and Portland Head Light.

“It was spectacular,” she said.

Craig said this was her first long bike trek, and she was impressed on how well-organized it was, with stops along the way to make sure riders are hydrated and well-fed.

“It makes all the difference,” she said.

Craig said she’s enjoyed meeting all the people on the ride, and because people could choose where their money went, they were all very passionate about supporting their selected cause.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].