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LAMBERTVILLE: A glorious ride for a worthy cause

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — Soon after 25-year-old Ryan Hartpence joined the Lambertville Elks Lodge this year, he offered a suggestion on how the Elks could help a worthy cause.
   It was to assemble a team of cyclists to ride in the Sept. 16 Hops to Hops ride to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
   The Lodge thought this was a great idea, and the six-member “Team Elks” band of cyclists raised over $1,655 on the 40-mile ride, which started and ended in Lambertville on Sept. 12.
   Making the arduous ride — which included a steep 1½mile hill in its first five miles — along with Mr. Hartpence were 23-year old Bill Hood, who joined the Elks a year ago, and Kyle Simonye, Lee Middleberg, Barry Middleberg and Bryan Galatro. They all finished the ride at Lambertville Station on Bridge Street and were met by a well-earned reception of cheers, medals and refreshments.
   ”After Ryan joined us, he stepped up and brought to our attention that he had been active in the ride to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We organized a team of Elks members and nonmembers and got overwhelming support.” Said Bill Hood.
   Mr. Hood, who became treasurer of the Lambertville Elks Lodge this year, is following a family tradition. His father Thomas Hood is the Exalted Ruler of the Lambertville Elks Lodge. His mother Monica Hood is a very active member of that Lodge, as well.
   ”This was the third year I’ve done the ride for MS. I thought it would be great for the Elks to do the ride for such a good cause. The weather was great for the ride this year. The ride was very well organized — the route was marked well. It’s a very scenic ride, through beautiful countryside. Passing through the towns where the route went was really enjoyable,” said Mr. Hartpence.
   From Lambertville, the ride went north on Route 29 to Kingwood and passed through Sergeantsville and West Amwell before returning to Lambertville via Route 518.
   Mr. Hartpence is a cyclist who rides regularly. For some of other Team Elks members, this was more of a new experience.
   ”I don’t even own a road bike,” Mr. Hood said. “Neither did two or three of the other guys on our team. But we all got bikes to ride, and we all finished the ride. None of us walked any of it. It was quite an experience. We had some thrills and spills.
   ”A pedal broke on Kyle Simonye’s bike on an uphill 30 miles into the ride. He was thrown head over heels off the bike and wound up with a nice raspberry. He traded his bike for another one and finished the ride, bleeding and all.”
   To reach the finish line brought a great feeling.
   ”You had a great feeling of personal victory when you finished,” Mr. Hood said. “We’re planning to do the ride again next year.”
   Messrs. Hood and Hartpence also are working to get more young people to join the Elks.
   ”Not a lot of people in our age group are members,” Mr. Hartpence said. “It’s a good thing to do. It’s nice to be pro-active and give something back to your community.
   ”With the Elks, we do a lot of things for youth and veterans. It seems like a lot of people in our younger generation just hang out and party every weekend. So we hope to get more of them involved with the Elks. That would be a good thing for everybody.”