A Mankato man with New Ulm roots, Adam MartiRock, coordinated New Ulm stops at Hermann Heights, Schell’s Brewery and Bavarian Blast for Bike, Build, Home 500k participants. MartiRock, who works in construction in Mankato, is related to Eleanor Marti and Don and Myrtle Brand of New Ulm.

MartiRock is coordinating bike routes for riders that include his sister Erica Marti of Las Vegas, who are encouraged to raise $500 for an affordable housing organization such as Habitat for Humanity.

“I like biking, but I’m not biking in the event this year because of the route duties I have. As event coordinator, my intent was to show off the City of New Ulm to the cyclists,” said MartiRock. “This kind of fits with my day job of construction. I’ve done work for Habitat for Humanity, helping build a home 10 years ago. I found out about this ride through my sister Erica.”

He said New Ulm has been very supportive of the bike ride, supplying food and financial donations.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Habitat for Humanity Bike Build Home cyclists pause at Schell’s Brewery Friday, Pictured front row, left, Erica Marti, Las Vegas, Nv.; Larry Kirch, Winona. Back row, Steve O’Malley, La Crosse, Wi.; Griffin Martell, Comfrey; Lisa Bartels, Minneapolis; Adam MartiRock, Mankato; and Vicky Hildebrandt, Kiel, Wi.

“The bike ride is very enjoyable and supports a very good cause,” said Erica Marti.

Cyclists are lodging at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato while taking daily routes of up to 96 miles on the Sakatah Bike Trail, a lake route and home building site, New Ulm and waterfalls ride, St. Peter and Le Sueur ride and along Minnesota River tributaries.

Cyclists stopped and helped build a Habitat home alongside the Habitat for Humanity Construction team.

The Bike, Build Home 500k was organized in 2023 to continue the traditions of the Habitat 500 bike ride, formerly coordinated by Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota.

Over the past 33 years, bike riders raised more than $7 million to build affordable homes.

For more information, visit bikebuildhome500.org.