For the 16th year, area bicyclists will take part in the Shooting Star Trail Bike Ride. Rain or shine, participants will bring their bikes and helmets to LeRoy this Saturday to ride through wild flowers, prairies, and small towns.

The first and longest distance event of the day, the Century Ride, will kick off at 7 a.m., with the rest of the rides set to start at 8:30 a.m.

There will be multiple rides for all ages and fitness levels. The ride options include a four-mile Fun Ride, 20, 40, 50, 62, and the 100-mile century ride. The Fun Ride is geared toward riders 12 and under or 70 and older, while the Century Ride is a bigger challenge. Volunteer Becky Hartwig thinks these rides are a good opportunity for riders to prepare for upcoming races, like the RAGBRAI bike race in Iowa.

“It’s a good trainer ride,” Hartwig said.

One change from previous years is a new starting and end point. Instead of Rose Creek, the ride will begin at the LeRoy trailhead.

Hartwig sees this ride as a chance for riders to view the progress the trail has made over the years.

“People can see how far we’ve come [with the trail],” said Hartwig.

Registration will begin at 6 a.m. in LeRoy. The cost is $20 per rider with a t-shirt, $50 per family (up to four t-shirts), or $10 per rider with no t-shirts. The Fun Ride is free.

Helmets and registration are required for every rider. Maps of the bike routes are available at shootingstartrail.org/bikeride.

“It’ll be a great day,” said Hartwig.