[News Release] – Residents of all ages are invited to grab their bikes and gear up for the City of Santa Clarita’s Hit the Trail community bike ride, presented by Total Financial Solutions. The free, family-friendly event kicks off Bike Safety Month and will be held on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Bridgeport Park, located at 23521 Bridgeport Lane.

The Hit the Trail community bike ride will depart from Bridgeport Park at 10 a.m. on a guided, non-competitive bicycle ride exploring the City’s trail system. The ride will conclude back at Bridgeport Park with a fun family fair featuring giveaways, tricycle races, healthy food including free sandwiches provided by Jersey Mikes, a bike clinic hosted by Performance Cyclery, and more.

The Amgen Tour of California Street Team will also be on hand with giveaways at Hit the Trail to get residents into the spirit of America’s greatest cycling race, which rolls through Santa Clarita on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 for the Stage 6 and Stage 7 Starts.

The City Santa Clarita’s community cycling events continue with Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 15. Held during LA Metro’s Bike to Work Week and the biggest bicycle commute in California, the community competition challenges businesses located in Santa Clarita to see who can get the most employees to bike to work. For more information or to register a business to participate, visit GreenSantaClarita.com.

As the Amgen Tour of California makes its way to Santa Clarita, residents can join fellow cycling enthusiasts for the Amgen Tour of California Viewing Party on Wednesday, May 14 at 8 p.m.* at Salt Creek Grille, located at 24415 Town Center Drive, Suite 115. The FREE event will feature a live recap of Stage 4 of the race, plus giveaways and items to be raffled off, including official signed riders jerseys. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

*Viewing party will coincide with live NBC Sports telecast. Time subject to change. For updates, check Santa-Clarita.com/TourofCA.

The cycling excitement ramps up with the arrival of the Amgen Tour of California on Friday, May 16 in Old Town Newhall and Sunday, May 17 at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Santa Clarita is the only city in race history to host two Stage Starts, providing a duo of opportunities for local residents to get up close and personal with some of the world’s best cyclists.

The Stage 6 Start will take place on Friday, May 16 at the corner of Market and Main Street in newly revitalized Old Town Newhall. The world’s top cyclists will leave at the crack of the starter’s pistol at 11:35 a.m., racing 94 miles toward Mountain High for the race’s second mountaintop finish of 2014. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early for autographs and to watch as riders are interviewed live on stage prior to their departure.

Cycling fans can gather once again to watch as the Amgen Tour of California returns to Santa Clarita for the Stage 7 Start on Saturday, May 17 at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Riders will depart Town Center Drive at 11:40 a.m., before racing 90 miles toward Pasadena. Spectators can arrive early for the race’s Start ceremonies, including interviews with riders and autograph opportunities.

In conjunction with the Amgen Tour of California’s arrival in Santa Clarita, international cycling publication Road Magazine will present “Celebrating Cycling in Santa Clarita” on Friday, May 16, and Saturday May 17th. The event is free and open to the public and will include cycling safety demonstrations, trick rider exhibitions, group bike rides and a raffle to benefit Circle of Hope, Family Promise of Santa Clarita and the SCV Senior Center.  For more information, visit the “Celebrate Cycling in Santa Clarita” event page on Facebook.

Rounding out the series of great local cycling events is the Santa Clarita Century Ride and Expo, happening June 14 at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. For details or to register, visit SantaClaritaCentury.com.

For further details on the City of Santa Clarita’s Hit the Trail community bike ride and all local events related to the Amgen Tour of California, visit SantaClaritaTourofCA.com or “like” Santa Clarita Tour of CA on Facebook.