CUMBERLAND — The 3M Challenge cycling fundraiser has been rescheduled for Sept. 20 due to the Maryland Railfest and increased train traffic on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
Cyclists will compete against the WMSR’s 1309 steam locomotive as it climbs the Allegheny mountains. The event, hosted by Mountain Maryland Trails, was originally scheduled for Sept. 13.
The 3M Challenge is a timed cycling competition where participants race against the train along a 15.3-mile stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage adjacent to the WMSR railroad tracks traveling from Cumberland to Frostburg. Competitors can choose to participate as individuals or form teams of up to six riders.
Funds raised from this event will support maintenance and development projects for the Maryland section of the Great Allegheny Passage, create new recreational trail development opportunities and ensure ongoing maintenance in the region.
Cyclists will begin their ride from the Western Maryland Railway Station, departing every five minutes starting at 9 a.m. The train is scheduled to leave the station at 11:30 a.m. and the challenge is to achieve a faster climb time than the train.
Participants who beat the train’s time will receive a prize, and all riders will receive a souvenir T-shirt. An awards ceremony will take place at the finish line in Frostburg, next to the Trails Inn and the Frostburg Depot following the arrival of the train.
For more information and to register individually or as a team for the challenge, visit www.bikereg.com/3m-bike-challenge or www.mountainmdtrails.org.