Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour

Hundreds of bicyclists from the across the U.S. are taking a scenic tour of upstate New York in a ride along the Erie Canal 
 The fourteenth annual "Cycling the Erie Canal" is a bike tour sponsored by the statewide advocacy group "Parks & Trails New York".
 The group hopes it will expose cyclists to great scenery, interesting history, and cities and towns they may have never visited before.
  The group of more then 500 cyclists began their 400 mile trip near Buffalo on Sunday, July 8. Monday we caught up with them in Genesee Valley Park.
 David LaMontagne is from Niskayuna, near Schnectady.
He estimated how far he'll have to ride on the tour. "About 50 miles a day average. Typically, I think we all add a few miles along the way doing sightseeing, so it amounts to a good trip."
 LaMontagne has cycled his entire life. He was looking for a challenge, and decided this tour was just the thing.
  He's impressed by what he's seen so far. "People who are out and seeing this can recognize this beauty. It's unrecognized I think."
 It's a sentiment shared by many we spoke with today.
 They came from places as far away as North Carolina and Vermont.
 Some were young, and others just young at heart.
 88 year old Stuart Levengood made the trip from Pennsylvania. He said "I enjoy riding. I ride like ten miles every day at home."
 It's Levengood's second tour along the Erie Canal. It's he kind he prefers, because is doesn't have any pesky hills.
 He's confident he'll be able to at least stay alongside his friends, until the tour is done.
 He said "The people I'm with are all strong, twice as strong as I am."
 Riders hope to end their 400 mile trip in Albany on Sunday.