Pedal Pittsburgh, a variety of fully supported rides geared for bicyclists of all abilities, will be held May 16.

The rain-or-shine rides, which begin and end at the SouthSide Works, cover distances as short as 6 miles and as long as 60 miles. In between are rides of 15, 25, 35 and 50 miles.

The event is organized by the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit group dedicated to improving "the quality of life through design of the built environment."

Center spokeswoman Jennifer Fox said the rides offer participants an opportunity to experience Pittsburgh from a new perspective -- the seat of a bicycle, a position from which to appreciate the city's "defining architecture, unique neighborhoods, parks and green spaces."

Fox said riders will be able to participate in something new this year -- interactive activities at some rest areas. Among other things, they will be invited to:

• Create a three-dimensional picture plan of their ideas for Pittsburgh.

• Appear in front of video cameras to talk about Pittsburgh parks.

• Create a "Wordle" -- a "cool collage of words" -- to describe Pittsburgh's trails and public spaces.

Riders must wear helmets and obey all traffic regulations because they'll be sharing the roads with automobile traffic. Marshals at key intersections, en-route support vans, medical support and links to emergency medical services will be available.

The courses will be marked with directional signs. Cue sheets describing course turns will be available at preregistration and packet pickup locations, at the start and at rest stops. If you get lost, shame on you.

The rest stops at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Riverview Park, Highland Park, Schenley Park and Station Square will have water and/or light snacks.

Fox said volunteers are needed to help register participants, serve as course marshals, distribute beverages and snacks at the rest stops and clean up afterward.

The registration fees are $30 for individuals and $60 for families of up to five members -- up to two adults and three children 17 or younger. You also can register as early as 6:30 a.m. the day of the ride. The fee includes lunch and entertainment after the ride. Proceeds benefit the center's various programs.

For more information, visit www.pedalpittsburgh.org or call 412-232-3545.

If you need a bike for the ride, Golden Triangle Bike Rental offers a variety of bicycles for adults and children. The cost includes a helmet and delivery and pickup at the SouthSide Works. It also has child trailers.

For more information, go to www.bikepittsburgh.com, call 412-600-0675 or e-mail tom@bikepittsburgh.com.

Scott Smith, owner of the East End Brewing Company, said the idea for the annual Pedal Pale Ale: Keg Ride began in 2005 as a way to deliver beer by bicycle and spread the word about operating "an environmentally sustainable brewery."

At 7 p.m. Friday, Smith and a few associates will set out with several 160-pound half barrels of Pedal Pale Ale to a "mystery" location in Pittsburgh. They will be followed by a number of bicyclists -- there were 500 last year -- who will help sample the brew.

This year the ride will be a fundraiser for Bike Pittsburgh, which has helped with the keg ride from the beginning, and In-Stride Therapeutic Riding, a local organization that uses horses to help children and adults recover from a variety of challenges.

Bike Pittsburgh plans the route and provides a bike trailer. It also helps with the logistics of safely moving hundreds of riders around town and provides parking for more than 500 bikes at the destination.

Ride and drink responsibly.

For more information, go to www.eastendbrewing.com or call 412-537-2337.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.