A Fund Raiser and
Tribute to an FBI Agent

Join us for a bike ride through Pittsburgh and beyond to fund
playgrounds for children in the Pittsburgh area to honor Martha Dixon

Martha's Ride

Join us on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, for a thrilling bike ride through the heart of Pittsburgh. This extraordinary event, led in honor of the life and legacy of Martha Dixon, aims to raise funds for local playgrounds across the Pittsburgh area.

We're excited to have you join us for this special event in support of the Martha Fund. Whether you're an avid cyclist or a beginner looking for a fun challenge, this ride is for you! Together, we pedal for our community’s brighter future!

Click Here to learn more about The Martha Fund

Our Sponsors

Option 1

Join Us for 30 Miles
Departure Time: 11:00 AM

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Ride Plan: The ride will begin at Southside Riverfront Park (under the Birmingham Bridge), where free parking is available. Cyclists will follow the scenic Three Rivers Heritage Trail for approximately 15 Miles before turning around and retracing the route. A scheduled stop will take place at the Martha Dixon FBI Building, located at 3311 East Carson Street. At a designated time (to be announced), riders will regroup for a police-escorted parade through the City of Pittsburgh, led by the Pittsburgh Motorcycle Police. Please note: the motorcycle escort is subject to availability and may be affected by citywide emergency response needs.

Option 2

Join Us for 10 Miles
Departure Time: 12:30 PM

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Ride Plan: The ride will begin at Southside Riverfront Park (under the Birmingham Bridge), where free parking is available. Cyclists will follow the scenic Three Rivers Heritage Trail for approximately 5 miles before turning around and retracing the route. A scheduled stop will take place at the Martha Dixon FBI Building, located at 3311 East Carson Street. At a designated time (to be announced), riders will regroup for a police-escorted parade through the City of Pittsburgh, led by the Pittsburgh Motorcycle Police. Please note: the motorcycle escort is subject to availability and may be affected by citywide emergency response needs.

Endurance ride

From 29th September to 4th October

Use the link below to learn more about the endurance ride that is entering its 7th year.

For the last six years, endurance riders dedicated to honoring Martha Dixon's life and courageous heroism have made the entire trek from Washington DC to Pittsburgh via the C&O Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage trails connecting in spirit, Martha’s name on the Memorial Wall in DC to Martha's name on the monument sign in front of the FBI Building

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Contact info@marthasride.com for more details.

FAQ

What kind of services does your support vehicle offer?

Similar to most other endurance rides, the riders are expected to be self sufficient and prepared for anything. The trail is remote and no vehicles are permitted except in emergencies. Communication is sparse, cell signals intermittent, and mostly not available. There is a single trailer for support which can hold one bag per rider, hydration and snacks and simple lunches.

Does the support vehicle carry lunches in addition to snacks?

Yes

How much will we need in the way of hydration, Gatorade, water, etc?

Hydration will be provided on the trailer in the form of water and Gatorade. Riders are welcome to bring other beverages, absolutely no alcohol to be consumed while riding. Snacks and energy bars will be provided. Again, riders are encouraged to bring whatever they feel comfortable consuming along the trail. Due to the wide variety of options, the trailer will have a few select items that the riders are welcome to share in, but there is no guarantee we will have your favorite Honey Stinger Waffle, or chew or gel.

What happens in a thunderstorm?

Find shelter. You will most likely be somewhere not near the trailer and the nearest shelter is your best bet. The trail has shelters along the way.

Lightning?

See previous answer. Seek shelter along the trail.

What first aid supplies are available and what should we be expected to bring?

There is no paramedics or EMT’s on the ride. In the event of an emergency the nearest 911 responders should be called. The ride has a certain amount of risk, although thousands of people every year successfully complete the ride with no issues. The trail is flat and well maintained. However, injuries can and do occur. The support trailer has a basic first aid kit for mostly cuts and scrapes.

What kind of clothes should we wear/ bring?

Dress for rain, snow, cold or heat. We have had all of those. Wear lightweight synthetic layers that can be removed and carried when the day warms up. We have started days in the 20’s which ended in the 80’s. In 2018 it was 85 degrees and sunny every day. The following year it was in the 30’s every day except the last day when it was 80 degrees. Riders must prepare themselves for anything. Layers may be picked up or dropped in the trailer at designated stops. The stops are about 20 miles apart, depending on logistics and geography so any given leg of the ride should be tolerable if a change needs to be made at the next stop. .

Where do we meet on the first night?

The first night like all nights is up to the riders to make advance reservations for lodging and plan for meals. There is a very good trip planner at https://bikecando.com/
The stops are as follows:
Day One stop at Harpers Ferry WV
Day Two stop at Hancock MD
Day Three stop at Cumberland MD
Day Four stop at Ohiopyle and proceed by vehicle to Pittsburgh to begin and end the Day 5 ride entirely in the Pittsburgh Area along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail beginning at Southside Riverfront Park (under the Birmingham Bridge), and proceeding east along the trail and ending at the designated turnaround points for the 15 and 30 mile ride options for Day 5.

Do the lodging facilities take credit cards?

Consult https://bikecando.com/ to find out

Which of the lodging facilities offers breakfast?

Consult https://bikecando.com/ to find out

Bike repair support available?

Minimal spare supplies may be available in the trailer, but bike repair is definitely not offered. There are bike shops at various points along the trail and if a rider’s bike is injured, we will make every effort to get to a bike shop to assist in getting you back on the trail. But the bike is the rider’s responsibility and we cannot hold up the whole ride schedule if a bike is down. The rider is welcome to ride along in the vehicle if the bike is seriously injured. Usually a broken spoke or a flat tire can be fixed quickly at the trailer. However, riders must bring their own inner tubes. There are no bike supplies for riders on the trailer. The trailer is for personal support of the riders, not mechanical support. https://bikecando.com/ has bike shops listed all along the trail, for planning purposes.

Do I need insurance?

Riders will be asked to sign a declaratory form of release acknowledging that the riding a bicycle comes with the risk of injury, serious injury and in rare cases death.

Are battery powered bikes permitted ?

Yes, on both C&O and GAP trails, e-bikes are permitted, subject to rules which can be found at the following: https://bikecando.com/c-o-faq.aspx

For more information about the endurance ride please email your questions to info@marthasride.com

Join Us as a Volunteer.
Become Our Driving Force.

Volunteers indeed are our driving force behind Martha’s Ride, and play a core role in everything we do – from serving the board, to delivering our events, collecting data and connecting us with bike riders right across the country.

Volunteers are a vital part of everything we do, and we are always looking for enthusiastic people to join our team!

Click Here to Learn More and Join our Team

Your Support Helps Our Community

YOUR DONATION is tax-deductible and will help us to continue funding playground projects in the Pittsburgh area and host future events like Martha's Ride in support of this mission. To date, The Martha Fund has not spent any donations on salaries, administrative costs, or any other costs that did not directly further its charitable goals. All of the board members and assistants are volunteers. The Martha Fund accepts financial contributions through the website. If you would prefer to contribute your time and talents to support our mission, help us sponsor one of our events, or simply find out more information about The Martha Fund, please send us an email.

info@marthasride.com

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The Martha Fund in the Media

Become an Honorable Sponsor of Martha’s Ride

Partner with Purpose: Your sponsorship fuels dreams and memories. It will help build children's playgrounds in the Pittsburgh area. Join us in making a difference honoring a legacy of service and community development.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO