Friends of Carlyle Lake sponsoring two cycling events

    The Friends of Carlyle Lake organization will have two upcoming events to help the community get out and enjoy the outdoors.
    The Friends of Carlyle Lake is sponsoring The Great Bottlecap Bike Race and the Carlyle Lake Cycling Challenge.
    The Great Bottlecap Bike Race is 9 a.m. on June 6. The event is for ages 10 and above, and registration deadline is May 21.
    The bottlecap race is a hunt on bikes to find and collect 10 bottlecaps by accomplishing challenges. It will start and end at the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center.
    Participants are given clues to create their own course throughout Carlyle Lake and the city of Carlyle to get through 10 checkpoint challenges in a race and complete in under three hours.
    "It is a race against time, it is not a race against individuals," said Kim Hamil, Friends of Carlyle Lake president.
    Participants are given a sheet of addresses and they have to go to each of those addresses and do a fun challenge.
    Participants who get back in time with all 10 bottlecaps will receive a six pack of assorted Excel bottled soda, a shirt, and will have a chance to win more prizes.
    Electric bikes are allowed in both events.
    "It's just a fun little ride around town, and it benefits the Friends of Carlyle Lake," Hamil said.
    Hamil has ridden in a bottlecap race before in St. Louis to benefit a private college. They rode all over St. Louis from Broadway to The Muny.
    "It was so much fun, I just thought that we could do that here with Excel Bottling," Hamil said.
    During the cycling challenge, riders are encouraged to go at their own pace from now through Oct. 31, and can choose a goal of 250 miles, 500 miles or 500-plus miles.
    Riders can explore Carlyle Lake and the surrounding area during the journey. Participants from outside of Clinton County are welcome, but all are encouraged to enjoy and support local routes whenever possible.
    Riders will log their miles by downloading the Challenge Hound App.
    All proceeds from the challenge will support education programs and events funded by Friends of Carlyle Lake. Those participating will receive a shirt and sticker.
    Hamil got the idea for the bike challenge from Lake Shelbyville. She did the bike challenge at Lake Shelbyville last year.
    "It is non-competitive and you get to manually enter your mileage," Hamil said.
    Participants can ride anywhere.
    "This is just to get everybody outdoors, stay fit, and enjoy the summertime," Hamil said.
    Cost for both the Great Bottlecap Bike Race and the cycling challenge is $35. They are both individual events, but participants can ride with a group of friends.
    Registration information for both events is available on the Friends of Carlyle Lake Facebook page.
    Hamil said the Friends of Carlyle Lake organization has been going well. They had a booth at Enjoy the Outdoors at Carlyle Lake. They have another program coming up at Case-Halstead Public Library.
    The Friends of Carlyle Lake work in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project to foster environmental stewardship and enhance overall visitor experience through educational, interpretive services.
    They seek to develop educational materials and experiences for public enjoyment. An example of that is a new informative panel to be placed in the General Dean Recreation Area for the community to utilize during the height of bald eagle season.
    Also on the Friends of Carlyle Lake board with Hamil are vice president Cheri Mansfield, secretary Kris Lowe, treasurer Mike Hilmes, and directors Lori Jansen and Peggy Hilmes.
    The Great Bottlecap Race is sponsored by Excel, The Cyclery and Fitness Center, Constitution Bank, River Entertainment, The Sign Shop, Kingdom Financial, Oh So Sweet Bakery and Carlyle Animal Hospital.