The Rotary Club of Rochester Southwest welcomed approximately 52 riders for this year’s ROC River Ride on Saturday, September 26, 2026, bringing people together to explore Rochester by bicycle while discovering more about the neighborhoods, people, art, and organizations that make our community special.
Riders headed out in four groups, with routes designed to accommodate different interests and abilities. Traditional bicycles, e-bikes, and adaptive cycles were all represented, making the event about much more than how fast or how far someone could ride.
Along the way, riders stopped to hear from community speakers and experience Rochester from a perspective that can be easy to miss from inside a car.
One returning participant summed up the experience particularly well. This was her third ROC River Ride, but her first time riding it solo. Afterward, she talked enthusiastically about the speakers, the interactive activities, and the artwork she encountered along the route. She was already suggesting ideas for next year.
That kind of response gets to the heart of why Rochester Southwest Rotary sponsors the ROC River Ride. The ride itself lasts only a few hours. But when people travel through our neighborhoods together, hear their stories, meet people doing
important work, and make new connections with one another, the experience can continue long after the bicycles are put away.
For Rochester Southwest Rotary, that’s Creating Lasting Impact, one ride, one conversation, and one connection at a time.
Thank you to our riders, volunteers, speakers, community partners, and Rochester Southwest Rotarians who made this year’s ROC River Ride possible. We’ll see you on the trail next year!
