HURRICANE – Nearly 700 bike-riding enthusiasts from 13 different states will gather in Hurricane on Saturday for a pre-spring bike ride to benefit the Intermountain Spina Bifida Support Group.

Bob Kinney of Bike2Bike.org said the event is highly anticipated by riders who yearn for a glimpse of Utah’s scenic countryside and a chance to stretch their legs.

“It’s a great route and the first organized ride of the season,” said Kinney, who added more than 22 percent of participants in this year’s Zion Country Early Spring Century bike ride are from out of state.

Proceeds of the ride will be used to provide education to the parents of children that suffer from Spinal Bifida and to provide fun activities for local children that suffer from the debilitating birth defect, Kinney said.

Riders will gather first at the Hurricane Intermediate School around 8 a.m. and leave on the first leg of the ride an hour later. The route takes riders north on 700 West until 400 South where they travel east until turning north again on Main Street. From there, riders will cross State Street and on to 600 North where they turn right, then left on 325 East and right on 800 north again. Riders then connect with SR-9 and take the highway on to LaVerkin and up to the entrance of Zion National Park. Riders return later in the afternoon and should be off the roads by 4:30 p.m.

Residents and motorists are encouraged to be alert and aware of the bike riders as they maneuver city streets and the highway. All bike riders are expected to observe traffic laws, wear a helmet and ride in single file, except when passing.

For more information about the bike ride visit bike2bike.biz.