PENN TWP — Cyclists will converge on Butler County July 12 when the Renfrew Rás, a bike race featuring five levels of competition, hits the roads surrounding Butler County Airport.

Ed Johnson, a resident of Penn Township and the race's promoter, gives two reasons for the race's unique name, which includes rás, the Irish word for race.

"First, it has to do with the history of this area," he said. "The first 10 or 12 families to settle in Penn Township were Irish.

"And the Irish Milk Rás, which I believe is the oldest continuing bike race in the world, has been around for 120 years. Matt Eaton won that race (in 1983), and he lived here in Penn Township for a while."

The Renfrew Rás' five levels will include an 8Z\x-mile challenge, 25 miles for USA Cycling category four and five cyclists, 33 miles for women only, 42 miles for men age 40 and over, and an 85-mile test for elite, non-professional male cyclists.

"This will be the first race of this type in Butler County," said Johnson, who began to organize the event in January. "There have been some off-road events in Butler County, but this is the first on-road event we will have had."

The course will take the cyclists on five rural roads within Penn Township:

Meridian, Renfrew, Brownsdale, Three Degree and West Airport.Ed Johnson and his 24-year-old son, Turner, began cycling about six years ago."I just enjoyed biking with my dad and never aspired to take it any further than that," said Turner Johnson, a 2004 Knoch High graduate. "But I was talked into racing a few events in Pittsburgh and then I started going to different cities to race."Turner Johnson has competed in New Jersey, Ohio and California, among other states.He will be competing in the Renfrew Rás 85-mile event and has news for cyclists looking for an easy win."The course is basically in my back yard," he said. "There's a hill on Meridian Road and it's pretty big."I only ride it about twice every year because it's a nasty climb." he added. "For the 85-mile event, that means 10 laps on the course and 10 times up that hill. I think it's really going to split the (cyclists) up."The one race open to everyone, including children, will be the 8Z\x-mile event."We don't have a minimum age for that race, but we do want every participant to finish their race," Johnson said. "The cyclists will be moving within the boundaries of about a mile-long police caravan. If a person cannot keep up with that caravan, he or she will be asked to exit the race."A cash reward will be given to the winner of the 85-mile race ($1,715), the 33-mile race ($930), the 42-mile race ($900) and the 25-mile race ($250).The winner of the 8Z\x-mile event will receive a medal."We are hoping for 150 cyclists total, and I would be ecstatic if there was 200," Ed Johnson said. "Right now, we know of cyclists coming in from New York, Virginia, Ohio and Washington, D.C."Butler County riders, including Center Township resident Sam Morrison, will be there as well.The 18-year-old just graduated from Butler High and is going on to race for the University of Colorado."I'm riding every day to prepare for this race," said Morrison, who also will tackle the 85-mile challenge. "I've ridden the course a few times. Other than that one pretty-good sized hill, it's a rolling course."Depending on the division, each cyclist will pay a fee between $25 and $35.After minimal operational costs, the proceeds will go to the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department."We are seeking donations from businesses and citizens from Butler County," said Ed Johnson. "We are going to have about 50 or 60 volunteers working about a 10-hour day for this event, and the donations will be used to make sure there is enough food and drink for them."The goal is for this to become an annual event and, hopefully in the future, be open to professional cyclists."

<B>What:</B> Renfrew Rás, a bicycle race that features five levels of competition<B>When:</B> July 12<B>Where:</B> Five roads surrounding the Butler County Airport in Penn Township<B>Levels:</B> 25 miles, starts at 8 a.m.; 8½ miles, open to all cyclists, starts at 8:15; 33 miles, open to all women, starts at 10; 42 miles, open to men ages 40 and over, starts at 10:10; 85 miles, for elite non-professional men, starts at 1:15 p.m.<B>Fee:</B> Between $25 to $35, depending on the level<B>Registration:</B> Forms available at bikereg.com, but will close July 10. Cyclists also can register the day of event 15 minutes before the race at the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department.<B>Contact:</B> Ed Johnson at 724-822-2895 or e-mail ejohn309@aol.com