Extreme cycling champion Rebecca Rusch headlines the 2nd annual Great Falls Fitness Seminar on Wednesday, April 3.

Central Maine Orthopaedics (CMO), Select Physical Therapy and Central Maine Sports Medicine will host their second annual Great Falls Fitness Seminar, “Get Psyched on Cycling,” on Wednesday, April 3 at the Green Ladle in Lewiston. This year’s event will feature world champion cyclist Rebecca Rusch.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. The formal program, featuring Rusch, Dr. Jay T. Kearney and Dr. Patrick Fallon, will take place from 6 to 8:00. The event is appropriate for cyclists of all experience levels and abilities, from seasoned veterans looking to improve their performance to those just thinking about cycling.

Representatives from the Dempsey Challenge, the Maine Cycling Club, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, and the Greater L/A Triple Crown will be on hand to present information. Rainbow Bicycle will demonstrate proper bike fit and will hold a door-prize raffle. Donations will be accepted for The Peloton Project, a full-length feature film about cycling and living with cancer set to premiere two days later on the opening night of the Lewiston-Auburn Film Festival.

Earlier in the day, Rusch and Dr. Paul Cain of CMO will lead a public bike ride that will depart at 11 a.m. from CMO at 690 Minot Avenue in Auburn.

The seminar is free, but seating is limited; advance reservation is required. To reserve, email rsvp@cmogroup.org. The 11 a.m. bike ride is also free, but those wishing to participate must register in advance at the same address. The Green Ladle is located at Lewiston High School, 156 East Avenue in Lewiston. For more information, call 783-1328 or see www.cmogroup.org.

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Rebecca to Maine for our second Great Falls Fitness Seminar,” said Michael H. Cox, Ph.D., CEO of Central Maine Orthopaedics. “We were very pleased with the success of the first Great Falls Fitness Seminar featuring Joan Benoit, and we believe Rebecca’s passion for cycling and general health and wellness will help build on that success.”

Rusch has an impressive cycling resume. One of the world’s top endurance athletes, she cemented her position as a leader in the world of extreme cycling in August of 2012 by winning her fourth straight Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, setting a course record in 7 hours, 28 minutes, and 6 seconds. Most recently, she took first place in the Trans Andes Challenge Women’s Solo.

Dr. Jay T. Kearney has spent over thirty years working with athletes of all abilities as an educator, scientist and NCAA coach. A former Olympian and a ten-time Leadville finisher, Kearney served for seventeen years as the Director and Senior Sports Physiologist for the United States Olympic Committee. His most recent USOC experience was leading a team that worked to establish and coordinate the presence and well-being of the U.S. Olympic Team in China.

Dr. Patrick Fallon of CMO is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in sports medicine. At the conclusion of the presentations, Rusch, Kearney and Fallon will be joined by Master of Ceremonies Dr. Paul Cain, John Grenier of Rainbow Bicycle and Eric Gosselin of Select Physical Therapy for a question and answer session.

“Whether an individual is trying to get into shape, preparing for their very first ride, or is an experienced cyclist trying to beat their best performance, there will be something for everyone,” said Dr. Cox. “Guests will learn from the FitnessTrainer about training techniques, both mental and physical, and the best way to deal with and prevent common injuries associated with cycling.”