Inaugural Patriot Ride brings in more than 1,000 cyclists for charity

Don’t let the training wheels fool you. Three-year old Samuel Paize isn’t new to cycling.

“He’s been riding since he was one year old. So now we just go and find different charity rides,” said Samuel’s dad, Carlos Paize.

Carlos is a veteran of the U.S. Navy who always loved the sport, but didn’t think he’d have a son to share it with.

“When my wife and I got married, for nine years doctors kept telling my wife and I we can’t have a child. And so when Samuel was born he just loves to ride. So we come to every charity event we can,” said Paize.

The first ride they did together was the annual Tour de Palm Springs, which attracts thousands of riders each February.

The tour’s organizers wanted to offer cyclists another chance to ride for a good cause.

“We wanted to bring the riders for a fall event. The Patriot Ride is an honor to the military, police and fire. All the money goes back to the organizations that participate,” said Bill Feist, who’s on the board of CVSpin, the organizer of Tour de Palm Springs and the Patriot Ride.

Casey Gini, a police officer from San Diego, drove up at the crack of dawn and geared up for a 50-mile ride through the east valley

“It’s important to help support our people overseas, our police, fire. And to show that we’re part of the community and we’re giving back to the community as well,” Gini said.

The event offered tours anywhere from 5 miles to 100, but for many it wasn’t about the distance.

“I rode a 5-mile bike ride. You get exercise and you can help the community,” said Leo Walt, a nine-year-old rider that biked alongside his father and grandfather at the event.

“It’s the best feeling in the world, short of being scared that he’s gonna run into traffic. But to see him cross the finish line, it’s an amazing feeling,” Paize said.