For nearly three decades, cyclists have gathered at Harry Tappen Beach to ride through the winding, scenic roads of Long Island’s North Shore.
This year’s 29th annual Nassau Bicycle Challenge continues that tradition while raising money for children’s health programs supported by the Kiwanis Club of North Shore Long Island.
The charity ride on June 29 offers two scenic options: a 25-mile route with 1,060 feet of elevation and a 35-mile challenge with 1,600 feet of climbing.
The longer ride begins at 8 a.m., with the 25-mile option starting at 8:30 a.m.
Both routes pass through waterfront communities including Sea Cliff, Glen Cove, Bayville, Oyster Bay, Glen Head, and Locust Valley.
Tom DeStio of Sea Cliff, whose son was born prematurely and received care at the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, created the event in 1997.
DeStio, an avid long-distance cyclist, said the club gave him a way to turn personal gratitude into community action.
“I kind of put two and two together,” DeStio said. “Kiwanis was a community-minded organization, and they gave me a tool to possibly put together a bike ride to raise money to give to the hospital, to the trauma center.”
He began organizing the event with the help of a friend, who has since passed away.
“We had a 55-mile ride, a 65-mile ride and a 30-mile ride, which we did,” he said. “As we built the ride up, we got more clubs involved. We were raising anywhere between $8,000 and $20,000 with the event.”
Since its founding, the Nassau Bicycle Challenge has raised more than $300,000 to support the Kiwanis Club of North Shore Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Proceeds benefit the Pediatric Trauma Center, Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, Kamp Kiwanis, and other local children’s charities.
Sea Cliff resident Saul Schachter has participated in the ride nine times.
“I love the exercise, I love to ride and the money was going to good causes,” he said. “Our island is beautiful, going through so many nice towns. It was good, and I appreciated that it was a local ride, so you saw a lot of your friends riding. I went a few times with former students.”
Schachter said the ride offers more than exercise; it’s a chance to connect.
“You can ride with the community, and often I meet new people along the course. You get your own special tour of Long Island.” Organizers say the event draws riders of all levels, from families and beginners to avid cyclists.
“It’s not a race,” said Leslie Kle, the club treasurer and Glen Cove resident said. “We have all levels of riders. It’s all fun.” Kle noted that the event typically draws repeat participants.
“We’ve had riders that have come, if not all the 29 years, then very many of those years,” she said. “They would be upset to see it go. So, we have a lot of loyal riders who continue to come back year after year.”
Over 20 volunteers help make the event possible, managing registration, route support, and rider celebrations at the finish.
“We cheer every rider when they come in, and we celebrate them and congratulate them,” Kle said. “We have raffles. We try to make it a little bit more of a party atmosphere.”
DeStio emphasized the effort behind the scenes.
“It takes months to put that together,” he said. “I would work a full day, go in at nighttime and mark the course out — painting the streets with arrows and making signs. It was a monumental task.”
The ride is well supported with rest stops in Bayville and Locust Valley, complete with food, water and bathroom access.
“Even for the newer rider, we have a rest stop,” DeStio said. “They can take a little break, grab some food, recharge and go.”
Online registration is $50 and closes June 24. Walk-ins are welcome for $60. Riders who sign up before June 2 will receive a free T-shirt. Participants will be eligible for raffle prizes such as televisions and gift certificates for local restaurants.|
Sponsorships are still available, with recognition on social media, signage, and event T-shirts. Levels range from $100 to $1,000.
This is a good reach for someone to take a stab at doing something,” DeStio said. “It’s not a competitive thing, but just in your own head to see if you can do it. I think it’s a great challenge. That’s why we call it the Nassau Challenge.”
For more information or to register, visit NorthShoreKiwanisli.com.
