This week, over 200 cyclists and volunteers from 29 U.S. states and Canada will arrive in Saranac Lake for Wildlife Conservation Society’s inaugural Cycle Adirondacks, the first fully supported road cycling tour of the Adirondack Park and surrounding region.

For many, it will be their first visit to the Adirondacks.

As a resident of the village of Saranac Lake for 12 years, I couldn’t be more honored or proud to work on a project that has the potential to provide immeasurable positive impact on my hometown.

This is a cycling community already, but it has the potential to be the Cycling Capital of the Adirondacks. We’re already seeing the signs of something big.

The rural roads surrounding our village are absolute gems for road cycling. On any given weekend, you can sit outside the Blue Moon Cafe or Origin Coffee and watch dozens of cyclists zip by, smiling, on their way out for a ride or back from one.

Mount Pisgah and Dewey Mountain are world-class mountain bike destinations, and the passionate folks at the Barkeater Trails Alliance are constantly working to expand the entire regional mountain bike network.

The pieces are falling into place for a 34-mile recreation trail connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake.

The North Country Healthy Heart Network spearheaded the Saranac Lake Community Ride this summer, with incredible success from the start. The next ride is this Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. from the Berkeley Green, followed by a free concert presented by Downtown Saranac Lake. Join us.

In fact, join us for Cycle Adirondacks.

As the start and finish community for Cycle Adirondacks, we have a tremendous opportunity to show a new group of visitors why our village is the home of the oldest Winter Carnival in the eastern U.S. And invite them back to dress up like superheroes, or villains, with us in February.

The Cycle Adirondacks evening concerts in Riverside Park will feature national recording artist The Wiyos and our own Crackin’ Foxy at 7 p.m. on Aug. 22. The very next weekend, we’ll cap the tour at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 with EMEFE, a seven-piece, brass-infused, funk-pop act from Brooklyn. These shows are free and open to all. The beer and wine garden will be open, and we’ll have a number of local businesses and artisans showcasing their Adirondack work.

At 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, Cycle Adirondacks 2015 will begin with a ceremonial start at Riverside Park before pedaling up Main Street to Ampersand Avenue and then out of town via Forest Home Road.

Join us at the park to wish the riders well, or cheer from your front porch. After 468.5 miles and seven days later, they’ll be pedaling back into town and we’ll have another chance to remind them why Saranac Lake is so special.

Let’s make our hometown the Cycling Capital of the Adirondacks.

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Doug Haney lives in Saranac Lake and is Cycle Adirondacks’ event manager.