DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. – Jim Martin started riding a bike several years ago as a way to lose weight.

But that endeavor has grown into a passion Martin hopes to share.

Martin is the organizer of the first Piedmont Triad Omnium road race, which took place this weekend in Thomasville, Lexington and other parts of Davidson County.

"It started out as a one-day race -- a road race -- that was going to be held out at Davidson Community College,” Martin said. “With some help from the tourism boards of both Thomasville and Lexington -- a lot of help from them -- we've turned this into a three-day event."

Martin and friends first came up with the idea as a way to bring the sport to an area not as familiar with cycling as other cities around the Triad, such as Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

"There's no big races right here in this area," Martin said of Davidson County.

His idea seems to be catching on with area cyclists. About 600 riders registered for the race.

"We've got people from Carteret County. We've got people from Athens, Ga., here. I noticed someone on the registration someone from Florida,” Martin said. “We're getting people from all over the place.”

Sponsors are covering major costs, including the $8,000 purse. That means the full amount of every $25 registration fee is going to two charities: the central North Carolina chapter of the national Multiple Sclerosis Society and an organization in Davidson County called TRIP.

"The purpose of TRIP is to build greenways and bike trails to promote a healthy lifestyle," Martin said.

Martin said he’s hoping to raise $15,000 for the two organizations this weekend.