Cyclists begin, continue Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed ride in Mattapoisett
Bikers begin their ride from Red Brick Farm on Sunday, Oct. 4. Photos by Grace Roche
Corner Cycle, a Falmouth bike shop, offered repairs. 
A rider grabs supplies. 
Cyclists listen to safety precautions before heading onto the 41-mile route. 
Cyclists wait to leave Red Brick Farm. 
The ride ended in Falmouth. 
A biker grabs his ride from a bike rack.
Bikers begin their ride from Red Brick Farm on Sunday, Oct. 4. Photos by Grace Roche
Corner Cycle, a Falmouth bike shop, offered repairs.
A rider grabs supplies.
Cyclists listen to safety precautions before heading onto the 41-mile route.
Cyclists wait to leave Red Brick Farm.
The ride ended in Falmouth.
A biker grabs his ride from a bike rack.
MATTAPOISETT — Bikers of all ages flocked to Red Brick Farm on Sunday, Oct. 4 for lunch and rest along their way to Falmouth as part of the Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed ride.
Riders pedaled through Mattapoisett and Rochester in support of the coalition’s work to protect and restore clean water in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding lands, and the 428 participants in this year’s ride have raised $226,000 so far.
Volunteers checked people in for the 41-mile route that began in Mattapoisett, served lunch and provided first aid for those who needed it. The farm was a lunch stop for those who chose the 100-mile route and the starting line for those riding 41 miles.
Kate Reilly, the coalition’s events manager, helped welcome riders. She’s worked at the ride for the past three years, and said it has a special place in her heart.
“The ride is such a great way for people to find out about the coalition,” she said. “That's how I found out about the coalition — I did the ride a few years ago.”
She said this year’s event was particularly special because it is the 20th anniversary.
“It's bigger than it has been the last few years, I think there's a lot more excitement,” Reilly said. “We have added out a few more fun things, like musicians and adding water stops not just at the start, so there's a lot more camaraderie.”
She said it was also cool to see 12 people who participated in the first return this year, along with two people who have done all 20 rides.
