POLAND — The Maine Cycling Club is hosting a series of training bicycle rides for people preparing for this year’s Dempsey Challenge. The second of seven “Get Ready Rides” will be leave at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, from Range Ponds State Park. The ride will be 28 miles.

The 2010 Dempsey Challenge will be held the weekend of Oct. 2-3, with the cycling portion held on that Sunday. Cycling routes range from 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles; Patrick Dempsey and other celebrities, including professional cyclist George Hincapie, will participate in the 50-mile event.

According to MCC, the Get Ready Rides are intended to prepare riders for building toward the 100-mile route, but riders are invited to join in any of the training rides. According to the club, these organized rides are not enough to adequately train for the Challenge, but should be considered part of a more comprehensive training program.

In addition to Saturday’s ride, the club will host rides on:

Sunday, July 11, leaving Harriman Associates, 46 Harriman Drive in the Auburn Business Park, at 9 a.m.; 39 miles.

Sunday, July 25, leaving Harriman at 8 a.m.; 47 miles.

Sunday, Aug. 8, leaving Harriman at 8 a.m.; 62 miles.

Sunday, Aug. 22, leaving Harriman at 8 a.m.; 77 miles

Sunday, Sept. 12, leaving Harriman at 8 a.m.; 84 miles.

Each of these training rides represents a section of the 100-mile Dempsey Challenge route.

Please RSVP for each ride to [email protected], or call 240-9139. Rides may be canceled because of weather. Each participate will be given a route map so they can ride at their own pace, and there are no planned rest stops or other support for the rides so participants should provide their own food and water.

For more information on the Maine Cycling Club, to go mainecyclingclub.com. For more information on the Dempsey Challenge, including participant, volunteer and fundraising information, go to www.dempseychallenge.org.