After a visit from Georgia Libbie, president of the Des Moines Cycle Club last week in Jefferson, a new fitness bicycling program will start soon.

Co-organizer Diane Wise says they wanted to start their own program that incorporates losing weight while having fun bicycling and she adds that last week’s meeting with Libbie gave them the inspiration that they needed.

“We’ve talked about doing this for several years, doing a peddle program of our own, and she (Libbie) just inspired us to get busy and quiet talking about it and just do it.  And our goal is to encourage people to get out on their bikes and exercise and possibly lose weight.”

The “Pedal Off The Pounds” program will have a free, information meeting scheduled for tonight at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 1st at the Greene County Community Center.

Chuck Offenburger with the Cyclists of Greene County says bicycling is a fun way to incorporate exercise, especially if its done with a group.

“Help focus on better nutrition and of course regular exercise and its a really effective way to lose weight, especially if you do it in a group where everybody can kind of support each other.”

Wise points out that if you sign up for the program, there will be a $25 fee that will go towards various prizes given out during the summer with regular weekly meeting taking place at 6pm on Tuesday nights with a short family-style bike ride to follow.

She invites people of all cycling abilities and those who haven’t ever ridden a bicycle to come out to the information meeting tonight to learn about the program.