Shoals MTB to host 3rd annual Shoals 3 State Ride

FLORENCE, Ala. (WAFF) - The Shoals MTB non-profit organization is inviting all bike riders to join in on its 3rd annual Shoals 3 State Ride at the end of September.

The Shoals three-state ride will start in McFarland Park for some and for others, it can begin in certain spots on the Natchez Trace. The bike ride is not just a joy ride for locals, but also one of the Shoals Mountain Bike organization’s main fundraiser.

The director of Shoals Mountain Bike Eero Wilson said it is not just for the professional riders but also for a family just looking for something to do.

Wilson said every year, the race is important because it’s a part of a fundraiser. Part of the money raised helps support its youth-group bike team. In the past, they bought new bikes to give children who cannot afford them. Wilson said biking can help teach children a lot of little life lessons.

“You fall down you get back up,” Wilson explained. “You keep going. You learn how to adapt on the fly. You’re learning mechanical skills as the bike needs to be adjusted or you have a flat tire and you learn how to fix it. There’s just a lot of small life lessons that can be carried through the rest of life.”

Riders may follow McFarland Park in Florence out to the Natchez Trace where they can ride to Mississippi, then to Tennessee, and then return to Florence for the full 3 State Ride.

Riders also have the option to park and ride from one of the checkpoints along the route giving riders the option to create their own custom route.

The event will be held on Sept. 30 and will begin at 7 a.m. To learn more about the ride and how to register, visit their website at shoals3stateride.com.

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