![One of the youngest riders crosses the finish line, under a cheery balloon rainbow - Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved - Click image to view at full resolution](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Crossing-the-Finish-Line.jpg)
Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
Hundreds of cyclists left the John Glenn Middle School this morning, heading out to test their mettle, and to raise funds in the 2016 Pan Mass Challenge Bedford Kids Ride.
The youngest headed to Wally’s Way, an ‘obstacle course for tykes on trikes’ enclosed in the JGMS tennis court. Other young riders took Yawkey Way, a 1/2 mile loop around the school grounds using training wheels; and more experienced riders did the Green Monster, 3 miles through Bedford’s neighborhoods.
There were longer, more difficult rides: Big Papi, 5 miles and Big Papi Slam, a challenging 10-miler. Fenway, a 12-mile off-road route along the Reformatory Branch Trail, brought riders in grade 6 and above to a water stop at Concord’s Old Manse, before returning to Bedford along the same route.
![IMG_1498](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_1498.jpg)
Some 40 riders and a crew of adults chose the Fenway ride, arriving at the Old Manse just after the Team Hope Walk to End Huntington’s Disease left for a short trek around North Bridge. The walkers weren’t gone long, arriving back at the Old Manse just as the cyclists began their return ride to Bedford.
![Lexington Minuteman and Bedford resident Peter Ricci did yeoman service as a traffic officer, keeping order as the walkers arrived and the cyclists departed. Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved - Click image to view at full resolution](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Coming-and-going.jpg)
Images from the Old Manse water stop – Click each one to see a larger image
Back in Bedford
![Young-Riders](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Young-Riders.jpg)
By then, the after-party was underway – Click each photo to see it at full size