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The SMART Challenge Ride is a three-day charity bike ride that raises funds to support tuition costs for those most in need at Bethlehem Academy, a Catholic school in Faribault, MN. Since the first ride in 2012, this event has raised over $500,000!
The acronym SMART stands for Southern Minnesota Alternating Route Tour. Each year, the route changes to ride across different areas of Southern Minnesota. A Challenge Ride, by definition, is a ride where we are not racing against other riders but rather challenging ourselves to complete the route.
For 2025, the ride will take place Thursday, July 24th through Saturday, July 26th. Departing on Thursday morning from Bethlehem Academy at 8:30am on Day 1 and ending at Mire Big Island State Part, Albert Lea, MN. Day 2 depart from Myre Big Island State Park at 9am and ride back to Bethlehem Academy, Faribault, MN. Day 3 depart Bethlehem Academy / Faribault at 9am and ride The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. Day 3 is a "ride out and back" day, you may ride out to selected sites along the trail with the group and return when you reach your half way mark for total miles you wish to ride. The total distance for all 3 days will be somewhere between 160 and 200 miles.
Aside from your entry fee of $125 for the 3 day ride or $50 for a Single Day ticket (Thur, Fri, or Sat), we encourage each rider to raise a minimum fundraising amount of $500 by the day of the ride. We provide you with a personal online fundraising page to make this process as convenient as possible.
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The rider pool for the 14th Annual SMART Challenge Ride (2025) will be limited to the first 20 riders/per day.
Registration Deadline is Friday July 4, 2025.
The rider pool for the 14th Annual SMART Challenge Ride (2025) will be limited to the first 20 riders/per day.
Registration Deadline is Friday July 4, 2025.
