Like many other events, the global novel coronavirus pandemic shut down Sandpoint Rotary's annual CHAFE 150 Gran Fondo bike ride.

That's the bad news. The good news? This year's ride is on and it's only about 170 days and change away. The even better news? Registration is open and you can sign up starting today.

Funds raised by the annual ride go toward literacy and after school programs in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Even though the 2020 ride was canceled, donations allowed Sandpoint Rotary to give $50,000 to LPOSD for the programs.

The ride features several options: a 150-mile route — a grand loop around the Cabinet Mountains — as well as 100-, 80-, 40-, and 25-mile routes.

On its website, Sandpoint Rotary said members are committed to make CHAFE 150 not only one of the best organized, but one of the safest.

"Our concerns related to the pandemic are why we delayed the 2021 ride from its usual June date until September 11," the group said on the website. "We don’t know what the impacts of COVID-19 will be as our ride date nears in the early fall but rest assured, we will be prepared to make the ride as safe as possible."

Among actions being taken to keep riders, organizers and volunteers safe:

• A cap of 400 riders to allow for greater social distancing in all aspects of the ride.

• Pre-packaged food and drink at rest stops and the after-ride party will feature prepackaged food or food served by volunteers.

• Additional hand-washing sanitation stations at all rest stops.

• Riders taking part will be asked to do a self-assessment to ensure they are healthy to take part.

• Additional buses will be used for the 80- and 100-mile rides that begin in Troy, Montana, to allow for more social distancing.

• Additional support and gear volunteers to minimize close contact for those riders needing SAG support

Sandpoint Rotary said the group is committed to staying on top of the latest COVID-19 guidance and will revise safety protocols as needed.

Information: chafe150.org