It's the end of an era.

A small group of riders gathered at the Onset Pier on Saturday for the 12th and final Foundation 55 bike ride, hosted by the Dick Melloni Youth Foundation.

Next year, there will be one shorter ride and it will be an event kids can participate in too.

"It was getting harder and harder to find people who want to ride 55 miles," Rich Melloni Jr. explained.

The Wareham-based foundation focuses on the health and education of children.

Melloni addressed the bicyclists before they took off from the pier, telling them to just enjoy the ride and stay hydrated. He also talked about how much the ride has done over the course of its life.

"Over the course of twelve years this ride has made over $150,000," said Melloni, adding that 100% of the money went toward helping kids in the community.

"Sadly, but happily, let's start this thing."

Riders could choose a 20-mile ride over the 55-mile trek. Those who did the full 55 miles rode alongside the Cape Cod Canal, through Miles Standish State Forest, and back to Onset.