Organizers expect 250 or more participants in this year’s Tour, compared to 190 in the 2009 debut.

In the heart of the industrial Midwest, where smoke-belching steel and auto factories have put bread on the table for generations, one might not expect much fervor for ”green” initiatives.

But promoters of the Tour of the Valley, a three-day bicycle racing event opening July 9, are unabashedly leveraging messages about cleaner air and a greener planet as they seek participants and volunteers.

“Carbon Racing rides for purpose,” blared a recent Vindicator headline about the bicycling concern owned by Dan and Erin Quinlan of Greenford. The outfit is the promoter of the July event in the Youngstown area, and also a team of top-shelf cyclers who compete in similar events across the eastern United States.

Leaning green in Ohio

The Quinlans named their company “Carbon Racing” to draw attention to the concept that Americans can reduce carbon emissions by riding bikes instead of driving cars. One of the team’s members, Shawn Adams, an Akron firefighter, told The Vindicator he bikes eight miles to work and back instead of driving his car.

He also told the paper that he joined this particular team because of Dan Quinlan’s green leanings. ”I like his vision for the team, which is to develop younger riders and also push the environmental issue to make cycling a clean sport — to get people to stop driving so much and ride their bikes more; to get people involved in their community.”

Like the Carbon Racing website, the Quinlans talk a lot about being “carbon neutral,” or avoiding activities (like driving) that add carbon to the atmosphere.

Commuting to work by bike

Commuting by bike is almost impossible in the Mahoning Valley, where several excellent trails lack connections to the downtown area, and where bike-storage facilities are hard to find.

Still, some do it. Alan Wenger, a lawyer from North Lima, cycles to Harrington Hoppe & Mitchell in downtown Youngstown on weekends, when road traffic is lighter and the dress is more casual.

He and Quinlan think more Youngstowners would leave their cars at home if there were safer bike routes and secure places to store a bike and shower before walking into work.

“I would love to see it,” Quinlan said.

Added Wenger, “Many cities, particularly ones rediscovering themselves, make significant efforts to accommodate and encourage cyclists.”

Larger field of cyclists

The local cycling community may be larger than one would think. As of Monday, some 175 had signed up for the Tour, with 11 days before the deadline, compared to 145 pre-registrants at the deadline last year, Quinlan said. She expects 250 or more by race day, compared to 190 last year.

Entrants include cyclists from out of town who heard about last year’s Tour and want to be part of it, as well as local cyclists who would travel elsewhere to race if not for this event. Also new this year is a non-competitive community ride through scenic Mill Creek Park.

With the expansion in the field, Carbon Racing is looking for more volunteers — a lot more — for the event’s three days.

“Corner marshalls” are needed to stand at intersections with flags to keep pedestrians off the race course. Volunteers also set up, clean up, register riders and hand out water bottles and snacks, on all three days.

Volunteers can sign up here at the event’s website.