Riders in the Old Howard 100 Bike Ride will make a pit stop Saturday in the Queen City, as they travel through the Black Belt.

Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences will host the charity ride, which will benefit healthcare programs of the Sowing Seeds of Hope organization in Perry County.

Riders can bike up to 100 miles in the tour, which begins at Judson College in Marion.

Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. Century or 100-mile riders will begin cycling at 8:30 a.m., and a mass start for other riders will begin at 9 a.m. The event is in its 11th year.

Three counties will be crossed by the time bikers get back to Marion. Through their rides, they will have an option of stopping by the Selma-Dallas County Public Library to catch their breaths and some refreshments.

“They’ll have Gatorade, fiber bars, bananas and peanut butter and protein to help them continue,” said Director of the Downtown Selma Association Shebra Kidd.

In case of stormy weather, she said the rest stop will move inside the library’s Vaughn Room.

As a part of the anniversary year for the Selma to Montgomery March, coordinators gave all participants to have the option of riding a 57-mile Selma loop, which is usually provided for century riders.

It’s exciting to see all of the cyclists pedal through the city, but even more exhilarating is the feeling of Selma being a part of the tour, she said.

“I am so glad Selma is one of the big rest stops,” Kidd said. “It’s good for our city, the environment of our town and for business downtown. I know they won’t be doing a lot of shopping and stuff, but there will be people following them who may be able to stop and eat.”