SYRACUSE – There is so much natural beauty in Kosciusko County, and the Tour des Lakes was one way to spotlight long paths of enjoyable visual, as well as physical, wellness.

Solution Action Sports rider Ben Eylander performs during the group’s BMX demo at the Tour des Lakes base at the Syracuse Community Center. (Photos by Mike Deak)

The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse Rotary and the Syracuse Parks Department again sponsored the Tour des Lakes, or also known as the Liberty Bike Ride, which began with an open start at 7 a.m. from the Syracuse Community Center and Lakeside Park.

Riders were allowed to leave straight from registration to take on either a 25, 50 or 100-kilometer course. There was also a five-mile Family Fun Ride around Syracuse Lake and a Tour des Parks that took riders past several area parks. Participants in the Tour des Lakes did not compete in any type of race, but were riding for the pure enjoyment of the course. Riders staggered starts between 7-9:30 a.m. for all of the courses based on arrival and registration needs.

Solution Action Sports rider Jordan Stark performs a trick during the BMX demo at the Tour des Lakes base at the Syracuse Community Center.

Overall, the Tour des Lakes had 105 riders pre-register and 69 sign up Saturday morning as of 9:30 a.m., giving the event a grand total of 174 unique riders.

The Tour des Lakes also featured several supporting events as part of the total experience. Several vendors were on hand during the morning and afternoon and JNB Smokers were barbecuing meats and dinners for the riders as well as for general sale.

Highlighting action at the SCC were the Solution Action Sports BMX demo team from outside Muncie. The group set up a ramp in between the SCC and Lakeside Park and performed for over 30 minutes, performing tricks for the crowd. The SAS team had scheduled performances at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with three riders performing each show. SAS, which also had a demo team performing Saturday in Indianapolis, had riders Chad Newman, Jordan Stark and Ben Eylander as well as emcee Rich Hoppe performing.

For more information on the Tour des Lakes, visit the Web site.

A group of riders including Leslie Wheat, Renee Wheat, Dave Elliott, Carolyn Elliott, Mike Wheat and Leslie Wheat hit the streets as part of the Tour des Lakes and Tour des Parks bike rides Saturday in greater Syracuse.