Last Saturday I participated in the Tour De Cookie cycling event in Rockville, Maryland. What is that you ask? Tour De Cookie is an annual fundraising bike event put on by The Tree House to benefit Child Abuse Prevention programs in Maryland. That alone would have been enough to get me out there but then, cookies were added to the mix! Along the bike route there are 11 cookie stops hosted by local businesses and organizations. All the riders are invited to stop and enjoy freshly baked cookies and water at each stop.
The Tour De Cookie aims to be a family biking event and offers distances at 12, 26 and 42 miles. We chose to do the 26 mile option. Knowing that my first tri race of the season is in 4 weeks and that I really could use some more bike time, I was really excited to get the mileage in. My tri buddy, Holly and I set out to tackle the hills and the cookies of course. Below our first cookie stop (looking like “Pink Ladies).
There was a wave start and we kind of just jumped in and took off. We tackled lots of hills the first few miles and I felt great on my bike. Holly had to remind me a few times that it was a ride not a race but hey I figured why not see what my bike legs were feeling like after so much running the last few months.
We stopped at most of the cookie stops along the way to check out the yummy eats. I may have eaten way more calories than I burned that day but it was for a good cause right?! It felt great to get some real miles in on my bike. Our weather has been less than stellar lately and I have not been on my bike as much as I usually am by this time of the year.
They had these cute little signs to let you know when a cookie stop was coming up. The cookie stops were baked and “manned” by local Girl Scout troups, Church groups and moms clubs which really added a nice friendly touch to the ride.
We felt very accomplished after finishing our 26 miles and countless cookies. I love these types of rides because no one cares about pace and we could actually enjoy the beautiful countryside we were biking through. I will definitely be back next year with more friends.
I did, however, realize when I tried to do a short run afterwards that I am woefully unprepared for my tri in a 4 weeks. Back to the bike/run bricks this week!
Have you done a charity bike ride? What do you think of the cookies?
Linking up with Anne Marie, Nicole, Michelle and AngelinaMarie
What a fun event and what a wonderful cause!!! Love it <3
Yes it really was a fun low key event
Whohooo!
My coworker was one of the support organizers and we got the left over cookies in Monday 🙂
Good job with those hills.
Run/bike brick…..I hear those are really important.
oh fun! You have to join us next year for sure. Yes the bike run bricks are tough but gotta do them
Well, that is one way to keep your energy up during a long bike ride! I love it. I have a charity bike ride this summer (also 26 miles) but there are no cookies as far as I know…
I love the charity bike rides. You will have to bring your own cookies 🙂
Omgee, how sweet is this!! Say no more, sign me up to bike for cookies! Brilliant idea for a fundraiser, great job!
It was a great idea and I am definitely in for next year
What a cool concept! I would have stopped every single time for those cookies! I’ve never done a charity bike ride since I don’t really have a quality bike…but hopefully one day!
It’s lots of fun and totally no pressure so a great place to start
Aw, I love this!! Cookies, a good cause, and cycling?? How awesome. Except I can’t cycle very well. I need to work on that. 🙂
It was a great day and these untimed rides are a great way to practice on your bike
What a fun event. You can feel a little less guilty having those yummy cookies while riding your bike that distance.
Definitely!
This sounds so amazing…. a family friendly bike even with cookie stops!! I wish they had this is LA…I’m pretty sure I’d be able to get my kids on board for this.
There were lots of kids doing the shorter route great family event for sure.
I’ve never done a charity bike ride. To be honest, I’m not so great on a bike. I have balance, but I don’t know what happens when I’m on 2 wheels! I love the idea of this charity! It is so creative and I think I would even get on a bike for a good cause with a side of cookies!
LOL it takes some practice but for me biking is all about confidence. I love the un timed charity rides they are a great way to get comfy on your bike
I couldn’t find a way to comment on your blog? Hope you will join us one week for meatless Monday linkup if you have a veg recipe.
I love this. A fabulous cause, a fabulously interactive and delicious way to do it!
definitely! I love events like this one
Eleven cookie stops?! That is amazing! And a bonus because the event is for such a great cause!
Yes a great cause and cookies!
What a great cause and what a fun race!! More races should have cookies. You’ll be ready for your tri – I have no doubt!
Yes more races should have cookies! I am not for the beer at the end of a race that lots of races have.
Oh my gosh, this event sounds amazing! I like cycling and I LOVE cookies, so this would be right up my alley. I’ve done a few charity bike rides in the past and always had a great time at them. I like that the rides typically have less pressure than traditional “races” so it can be more relaxing and focused on fun.
Exactly! No pressure at all and for a great cause and cookies
How fun and for a great cause, I love it! I just found out about a fun one here with froyo that I’m hoping to do with the girls and their friends.
Froyo sounds like a great motivation as well!
What a cute theme! I would definitely bike for cookies and take one at every station.
That was my plan! I just kind of tasted each one
Oh wow, Deborah, this sounds like something I would have so much fun participating in! I’m not an avid biker, in fact, I only have a Walmart special Mountian bike that I ride around the campgrounds but I would so do this!
It’s for Charity and Cookies, gosh it’s a toss-up as to which is better!
The great thing about a ride like this is that you really do not have to be a great biker to participate. I will def do again next year.
You had me at cookies!!
Ha ha yes me too!
That sounds amazing! I would absolutely run for cookies, they would just have to give them to me at the end, because I need coffee to eat cookies!
Way to go on your 26 mile bike race!
Maybe you could bike with coffee too!
What a fun pair! Can’t think of much better than cookies along a bike ride 🙂
They were perfect 🙂
What a wonderful initiative but I love cookies and would have eaten more than I burned !
Don’t tell anyone but I might have as well 🙂
what a wonderful cause…i dont even own a bike right now although my boyfriend has been insisting me to get one. i like the idea of bike riding but its so hot in dallas, i dont know how much i will be riding it..
Biking is great in the summer I love it-give it a try
Stop right there…you had me at cookies 😉 I’m quite the novice on a bike, but I did my first Du last summer (and LOVED it)….but yes, that final run after 20 miles of biking was humbling and pitifully slow LOL
Those brick runs are no joke I have one on the schedule for tomorrow. Wish me luck!
What a delicious and fun way to get some exercise and support a great cause!
You should join me next year!
I will have to watch for this next year! It didn’t fit my other family plans this year but looks like so much fun!
It was a nice morning I will remind you next year
Oh wow! This looks like so much fun! I would definitely be all in for a cookie bike ride. And so awesome that it supports local charity!
Yes yummy cookies and a great cause
I’ve never done a bike ride like this, but it sure looks like fun!!!
Charity rides are great hope you have the chance to do one some time
This is freaking brilliant! What a great way to encourage people to get out there! I love the idea of cookie stops.
I haven’t done a charity ride yet. It’s on my list, but I’m not 100% comfortable yet. Good luck with the rest of your training.
The great thing about charity rides like this is that they have lots of distances so great for all levels.
That sounds like my kind of ride!!! They do beer runs here, but I can’t imagine chugging a beer and running. I’d just stop and have another. LOL!
I am not really a chugging a beer and then running type either! Cookies yes 🙂
First, love the tour de cookie name, LOL so fun!
Second, love the cause! Charity events can be so much fun.
Third, cookies love it!!!!!!!!
Great job on the race, love the pictures and those cute pink jackets!!!
We do sort of look like pink ladies lol. Yes a great cause and a fun time for sure
I’ve never done a charity ride but I’m sure I would like doing one. Maybe I’ll look for one to join this spring/summer.
They are great bc they usually have multiple distance options and are so low key and fun.
How much fun! What a great event. Now I totally want some cookies. Good luck getting back into tri shape– you’ve got this!
Ha the cookies were great motivation to keep going for sure
What a fun event for such a great cause! I love that multiple community groups were involved this too!
It was a really nice event to participate in
this sounds like a fun event!
Yes it was!
What a wonderful fundraiser. I would love to do a charity bike ride at some point. There is a big one up here called the Prouty. The cookies would definitely motivate me to keep biking!
Cookies certainly motivate me 🙂