POWNAL
On Sunday, three members of a Pownal family will ride together across part of the state on a single bicycle. Fittingly, Maisy, 13, and Rosie, 11, will spend Father’s Day on a bike with their dad — Matt St. Cyr — as part of a fundraiser for the American Lung Association.
Trek Across Maine is a three-day, 180-mile cycling event from the mountains of Sunday River to the sea in Belfast, and is the largest fundraising event for the nonprofit.
“The experience is definitely all worth it with the cost of the big funny bicycle, and really the investment is more in the time and just going, ‘OK, we’re going to do it.’ And getting everyone in shape to do it,” Matt St. Cyr said. “It’s awfully easy to flop on the couch until summertime rolls around and wonder where springtime went, but we do a lot of work to get in shape.”
He said it’s not easy to coordinate everyone’s schedules in order to practice two hours a week, but they’ve managed. His oldest daughter, Bella, 16, has also come along on rides.
Riding the bike is all about rhythm and teamwork. A three-person bike is a little slower uphill and a little faster downhill than a traditional bike. If everyone is in synch, the bike can pick up extra speed on flat terrain.
With mileage on the bike clocked at a couple thousand, “we’re pretty good,” St. Cyr said, adding that they’ve never crashed.
“Really,” he said, “the person in the front is responsible for making sure the ride ends well for everybody.”
Riding also brings them closer together.
“It is a wonderful Father’s Day gift for sure,” he said, “that they’re just out there with me.”
And next year they won’t have to go far for their annual adventure.
The 35th annual bike ride to be held in June 2019 will start and finish at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, after organizers changed the route after hearing that many riders were seeking a change of scenery.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
Next year
• THE 35TH ANNUAL bike ride fundraiser for the American Lung Association — to be held in June 2019 — will start and finish at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.
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