Photos: Cyclists flock to Wren's perch
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
With bright fall leaves as a backdrop to the Rensselaerville hamlet, local residents came out Sunday in colorful ways themselves, cheering on the cyclists who passed through on the town’s first Gran Fondo and cycling festival.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
Just before starting, organizer Tyler Wren waved at cyclists in a shorter “festival ride” that challenged new cyclists and amateurs,
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
In tow: A cyclist on the festival ride, a challenging loop without the long haul of dozens of miles, smiles as she is greeted by cheers in the hamlet. One of the festival's aims was to make cycling more accessible, despite the hilly roads of the Hilltowns.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
Cheers like sustenance: Local resident Juanita Eldridge cheered and encouraged the cyclists as they rode through the hamlet Sunday.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
A raucous way: When he wasn’t directing traffic, Stanton Shufelt, a volunteer for the festival, rang a cowbell, center left, as riders passed by. Volunteers worked in different teams, each with its own color. Shufelt was a member of the town library’s team, represented by the color orange, which won a cash prize, by votes riders cast as they grabbed a glass at the finish line to fill with water or beer.