The governor, who is just a few weeks shy of his 44th birthday, will hit the Upstate's dusty and hilly back roads on the Trek bike Saturday with throngs of cycling enthusiasts taking up Sanford's challenge to be more active.

He will kick off the ride at Croft State Park near Spartanburg, traveling 65.5 miles through Jonesville, Union and Whitmire before stopping at Little Mountain near Columbia.

Sanford will pick up the second leg of the trip by traveling 50 miles from Columbia to Elloree on May 15 and complete his journey May 16 when he arrives in North Charleston.

While the governor has been troubled by a sore knee recently and lingering pain in his lower back, he wants to set a good example by showing people how important exercise is to staying healthy.

Sanford said his bike ride is a simple approach to the larger task of cutting health care costs.

South Carolina ranks in the top 10 nationally for obesity, heart disease and diabetes, with obesity alone being responsible for more than $1 billion in health-related expenditures each year, he said.

South Carolinians have been inspired to tune up their bikes and join the governor on his tour of the state after Sanford first mentioned the ride in his State of the State address in January.

Bike tour organizers from the governor's office don't know how many people to expect to join Sanford, but they have been flooded with calls from bicycling groups and individuals for details.

"I think it's going to be a little bit of everybody. The people I've talked to, it's everybody from the shaved-leg racer guys to the, 'Hey, that sounds like a great idea; I think I'll go buy a $300 bike and go do it,' " said Brian Curran, owner of a Columbia bicycle shop.

Families are encouraged to bring their children on designated 2- and 3-mile fun routes instead of tackling the stretch of roadway between towns.

First lady Jenny Sanford and their four sons will join the governor during portions of his trip. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis, Sanford's ambassador for physical fitness, will participate on portions of the final legs.

The governor's Web site, www.scgovernor.com, includes details and maps about his bike route, as well as historical information about towns, cities and points of interest the route will pass through.

The governor's bike with Michelin tires was donated by Trek to the Historic Mansion Foundation, which will auction it off after Sanford completes his nearly 170-mile ride. Meanwhile, he has to master the high-tech $2,750 bike.

It still has two wheels and a chain, but it is far superior to his old "beach cruiser," Sanford said. "The only problem is, given the mechanics of this bike and given my limited horsepower in my legs, I can't turn the crank at the upper end of the gear." He also insisted on some serious adjustments to keep him from leaning too far forward and irritating his back.

"I think fitness-wise, the governor's going to be just fine," Curran said. "I think his biggest challenge is just going to be all these people around him."

Curran is thrilled with the governor's focus on his industry. "Cycling addresses a lot of today's biggest issues as far as the obesity epidemic, air pollution, suburban sprawl," he said. "If more people rode bikes, the world would be a better place."

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