On the first crisp, fall weekend in New York, a local hero returned to his old stomping grounds to support a good cause. Two-time USPRO champion, Tour de France stage winner and all around good guy George Hincapie led a group of more than 60 excited cyclists on a benefit ride for I Challenge Myself, an organization promoting leadership and self esteem by challenging individuals through exercise active lifestyles.

I Challenge Myself supports youth from underserved communities of New York City to become physically active healthy adults and skilled active citizens and leaders. By using non-traditional sports and service learning to bolster youths’ attachment to school and improve their perception of themselves and what they can accomplish, ICM believes that high school students will develop the behaviors, knowledge, skills and experiences needed to achieve personal, academic and professional success. The program is currently working to create an intramural cycling league in New York public schools through its Cycling Smarts initiative.

Hincapie, in town along with his brother Rich, was more than happy to give back to the New York community that helped him reach the top of international cycling.

"I grew up in a family in New York that didn't have a lot of money and we had a lot of support from local bike clubs and teams," Hincapie told Road Bike Action before the ride. "Without that I'd never be where I am today."

The Hincapie brothers joined the I Challenge Myself cause at the request of the Cadence Cycling and Multisport Center, along with sponsors NYVelocity.com and Empire Hotel Group. Not surprisingly big George drew a big following, as a cross-section of NYC's cycling scene assembled downtown for an opportunity to ride with one of this country's biggest names in the sport.

After handshakes and photo ops with the man himself, riders headed uptown along the Hudson River bike path to the George Washington Bridge, where we found RBA contributor John Eustice waiting to join the group. Resplendent in his Team Columbia kit, Hincapie prompted more than a few double takes among cyclists along the city's popular training route up the Hudson Valley to Nyack.

For Hincapie, any chance to visit New York is still worth the time. With perfect fall weather and a good cause to support, Saturday's ride was all the more enjoyable.

"I haven't raced locally in a long time but I try to come back once or twice a year still and I love going out on fun rides," he said. "It brings back a lot of memories."

For more information on the program and to see how you can get involved, check out www.ichallengemyself.org.

(Road Bike Action thanks Alex Ostroy and NYVelocity for having us along for the ride.)