What are the benefits of riding a bike? How about a healthy dose of confidence, goal setting and personal growth? That's the mission of Lifecycles, a nonprofit Christ-centered mentoring program committed to building young people of character through bicycling.

The organization kicked off its ninth season on April 24. A girls' team meets on Monday evenings at Warwick Township Municipal Park, 315 Clay Road, Lititz. Boys' teams meet on Tuesdays at Riverfront Park, 551 Vinegar Ferry Road, Marietta; on Wednesdays at Warwick Township Municipal Park; and on Thursdays at Amos Herr Park, 1700 Nissley Road, Landisville. Groups ride from 6 to 8 p.m.

"This is a positive and encouraging environment to learn how to set your goals and grow with other teenagers," said Lee DeRemer, who founded the organization with his wife, Marcie. "There's no bullying, and everybody works together. Everyone is in a group for their skill level. We are open for boys or girls between the ages of 12 and 18, and everything we provide is 100% free - the bikes, the meals, the equipment, helmets, everything."

Along with meeting once a week for their season, which runs through August, Lifecycles teens also participate in special challenge rides. Five teams will be riding during the last week in July and the first week in August, Lee said. One team will travel from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Two boys' teams and one girls' team will each ride a loop around Lake Champlain on the border of New York and Vermont, covering 380 miles in seven days. "Our 15 most advanced riders will be riding from Portland, Maine, 530 miles all the way to Valley Forge, Pa.," Lee noted.

In addition to the challenge rides and the weeknight rides, teens are also invited to participate in Saturday rides throughout Lancaster County. "These are opportunities to try something new and be out all day or almost all day long," Lee said. "They are opportunities for mentoring and more confidence building."

He emphasized that although this season has already begun, teens can join Lifecycles at any time. "We have a lot of kids who are involved in spring sports, and we tell them, 'Hey, just wait until school is over and come on out that first week in June and start right up with us,'" he shared. "They haven't missed anything by missing the first few weeks."

Lee said the success of Lifecycles has relied heavily on volunteers, and the organization is always looking for more people to help.

"After nine years of doing this, it's really wonderful to be part of the community where there's so many people pitching in and so many different ways to help one another," he remarked. "We are really thrilled to be a part of that."

For more information on Lifecycles, visit http://www.lifecyclesteam.org.