Some people might wonder why anyone would spend money to go for a bike ride.

Spend a little time at one of the Tour of the Valley Century Ride rest stops and it becomes evident. There’s snacks galore awaiting the hundreds of cyclists who trickle in to rest and recharge on a perfect late summer morning.

Or hang out the night before the tour with some of the cyclists while they talk biking, pack their snacks and tune up their bikes. You’ll feel the excitement and wish you were going.

Around 1,200 cyclists rode Grand Valley roads Sunday for Community Hospital’s 20th annual Tour of the Valley Century Ride. Cyclists come from throughout the United States to participate in the yearly event. Some haven’t missed a tour in 20 years.

Monies raised from the Valley Tour promote cycling in the Grand Valley and support Community Hospital outreach activities for youth promoting healthy eating and lifestyles. Costs were $40 for adults, and $15 for children under 12.

The cyclists received breakfast, lunch, and a party afterward at the Doubletree Hotel on Horizon Drive. They also received T-shirts, and a chance to win Powderhorn Resort ski passes and one of three custom cruiser bikes from Board and Buckle, a Grand Junction ski and bike shop.

Pat O’Meara, of Montrose, rode the 50-mile course Sunday with daughters Kelly, Caitlin and Shannon. They were riding a triple tandem bike with a tag-a-long attachment.

“They call it their caterpillar,” O’Meara said.

“On the downhill we pass everyone but we have to crawl uphill,” O’Meara said.

Volunteers were at the Palisade Park rest stop with sliced fresh peaches, Power bars, pretzels, cookies, bananas, water and Gatorade to replenish riders for the next leg of the journey and the first major uphill toward east Orchard Mesa.

“This is the best rest stop I’ve ever been on, on any ride ever,” O’Meara said. “You can’t beat the peaches.”

Paula Loucks and her husband Daniel Loucks, of Grand Junction, did the 75-mile route two years ago. This year they’re doing the 50-mile tour.

“The weather is fabulous, and it’s good company. We’re riding with my dad as well,” Paula Loucks said.

David and Kathan Hartle, and their 12-year-old daughter Mariah, and her friend Bailey Hilty — all of Grand Junction — ate peaches and Power bars during a break in their 50-mile route.

“So far it was pretty easy,” Mariah said. “It was mostly flat, a little downhill. We’ve passed a lot of people.”

“It’s fun to ride on roads you’ve never been on,” David Hartle said.

After leaving the hotel, and riding a stretch of Patterson to 30 Road, the route to Palisade turns off on quieter, country roads.

Cyclists had a choice of taking 15, 30, 50, 75, or 100-mile routes. Rides started and finished at the Doubletree Hotel. The shortest route went to Canyon View Park, the 30-mile tour took cyclists to Fruita and back, and the 50-mile route traveled to Palisade, then East Orchard Mesa, before returning back to the Doubletree Hotel. The 75-mile ride continued on to South Camp Road before returning to the hotel. The 100-mile ride traveled over Colorado National Monument.

Warren Hurley, Rob Waldman and Neil Hannum came from Durango to ride the 100 miles over the monument.

“The section on the monument is very special, especially with the reduced amount of traffic,” Hannum said.

“I like the social part of it,” Hurley said. “You ride along and find out where people are from. Everyone’s really friendly.”

Hurley and Hannum both did the tour last year.

“We call it the tour of the turns because there’s so many turns in this route,” Hurley said.

Deborah Korbel of Glenwood Springs rode the first Tour of the Valley 20 years ago, and said she has only missed four tours since. She and her husband Mark Miskowicz — who was doing his 18th tour Sunday — started doing the tour together when they started dating nine years ago.

“I just love to cycle,” Korbel said. “There’s always a good party afterward. A lot of people come from Glenwood.”

Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.