 Well, with all the bike trails throughout Bemidji, what better way to put them to use than to do a loop around the lake? Haiti Clotter shows us how preparations are underway for the 17-mile Bike Bemidji Loop the Lake Festival. It doesn't matter if you finish first or last in the Bike Bemidji Loop the Lake Festival because this bike ride isn't a competition. The Bike Bemidji Loop the Lake Festival is a celebration. It's meant to celebrate what bicycling means to the Bemidji area. Before the 4th annual Festival bicyclists journey on a 17-mile bike route and most riders are family groups. The ride will begin at the Sanford Center at 7.30 on Saturday morning. It will go over to Paul Bunyan Drive by way of the Paul Bunyan Trail and it will follow the south shore of the lake and then it will go through Paul Bunyan Park, a library park on to Lake Boulevard. All you have to do is follow the signs. In its first year the Loop the Lake Festival had about 350 participants. Two days ago there were 790 registered riders. On average an additional 80-100 riders show up the morning of the ride. Event organizers are already setting up for the event where it takes more than 120 volunteers to pull it off. Loop the Lake is inclusive and also promotes a healthy lifestyle. We want to be advocates for biking in Bemidji as a way to get good physical activity. Riders have some things to look forward to along the way. We have food and we have local musicians in the Rutgers Lodge. The time it takes to complete the ride ranges between three to four hours but riders will have seven hours to finish. In Bemidji, Haley Clutter, Lakeland News. And the ride will go on if the weather permits and as a safety precaution first aid and course guides will be available. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.