Despite experiencing minor mechanical problems last year, Jennifer Alvarez said her 5-year-old daughter Meghan was excited for this year's Tour de Bill bicycle ride.
"She can't wait to get started," the mother said.
The pair were among the 167 riders who took part in the second annual Tour de Bill, held Saturday in the city. Alvarez said she and her daughter were impressed with the tour despite their small setback.
"It's a nice day, and it's a nice way to spend time with your child," she said. "It's also a nice way to start summer and be active."
Event organizer Louisa Stone called this year's ride "really successful" and said she was "very pleased" with the ride's 25 percent increase in participation from last year's inaugural tour.
Stone also said she was glad the weather was nice Saturday, after rain fell nearly all of last week.
"We lucked out on this weather," she said.
Money raised at the event goes toward the River Valley YMCA Strong Kids campaign, which provides activity scholarships to area youth. Although official numbers were still being calculated, Stone said she was certain this year's ride raised even more than last year's $3,000 total.
Stone said she received a lot of positive feedback from riders participating in the tour this year.
"Everybody had a great time," she said. "It's about just getting out and seeing different parts of the city."
Megan Hill, senior programming director of the Williamsport YMCA, decided to try the ride for this reason.
"I'm not from this area, so I've gotten to see different things I haven't seen before," she said.
Hill said the conditions for the ride were perfect.
"It's a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold," she said.
Sue Stackhouse of Montoursville completed the ride last year and was riding with Hill during her first Tour de Bill.
"It's been a nice ride," Stackhouse said. "I enjoy going in groups, and this supports the YMCA, which is nice."
Motorists in the city were very accommodating during the ride, according to Stackhouse.
"Where we felt we needed to stop, they stopped," she said.
Tim Fullmer, of Muncy, said the Tour de Bill volunteers worked hard to ensure the security of their riders.
"They keep you really safe," he said.
Tracy Brundeg, of Lock Haven, said the ride provided an opportunity to get outside and do something different for her and friend Peter Bellus, also of Lock Haven.
"We're always looking for things to do," she said. "It's a fundraiser, and it's a nice opportunity to get out for a nice cool ride."
Stone said getting people to explore the city and its people is exactly what her and husband David hoped people would do during the event.
"The ride provides so many easy ways to make conversation with others and meet different people," she said. "That was our main purpose in organizing this."
Stone said she hopes even more people participate in the ride next year.
