People around the country hop on their bikes for National Bike to Work Day on Friday. Our C.J. Spang got up bright and early to catch the commuters, and he has more from Saratoga Springs.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- With the rain gone for the moment and the sun coming out, a couple hundred people made a two-wheel trip to work and school Friday.

"It's easy. It's convenient. It's clean," said bicyclist Amanda Hanlon. "If you are within the city limits, you should probably do it."

Riders came out for National Bike to Work Day. In Saratoga Springs, organizers held their third annual Bike to Work Challenge, which aims to get organizations, as well as schools, to sign up and compete for prizes - like most riders or longest commute. They also had a breakfast to help send riders on their way.

"We're encouraging people to realize that you can do more than ride a bike for fun," said organizer Doug Haller. "You can ride a bike functionally. So riding to work or to school can be a functional way to use your bicycle."

"I love the work out. I think it's as close as you can get to flying, without actually being the air," said bicyclist Eric Thomas. "If everything was perfect, I think I'd be biking to work everyday. I wish I worked a job that I could bike everyday."

That's something organizers are hoping happens a little more often in the Capital Region.

"I think that we have a long ways to go, but I think we've made some progress in the last few years," Haller said. "I'm seeing more and more and people riding bicycles around town and that's good."

Organizers say for the 175 people registered, the average round-trip commute is about 10 miles with the longest, pushing 60 miles.