• September 10, 2007

Audi doesn't make bicycles, but it is sponsoring an annual celebrity and power-player bike ride from Chateau Julien in Carmel, Calif., to the Hearst ranch in San Simeon.

The effort--"Audi Best Buddies Challenge," a charity bike tour benefiting NPO Best Buddies International--has Audi of America's Western Region director, Michael Cagle, and other senior executives joining Maria Shriver and her husband, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Rob Lowe and a raft of others on a 100-mile tour.

Actually, Lowe will ride in an Audi pace car, while others ride along the Pacific Coast Highway. Audi will also provide 35 cars to shuttle guests to and from the event.

Other Audi team riders include customers, executives, and members of Audi's ad agency Venables, Bell and Partners.

--Karl Greenberg