Thursday's Internet Edition, December 04, 2008.
set for third Saturday in May
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| Residents of Dove Hill enjoy baseball. |
Lee Ann Lee, the ride director, said, “There are routes for everyone from youngest to oldest, slowest to fastest, with 10K, 20-mile, 30-mile, 46-mile, 61-mile and a new 79-mile route for those training for a 100 miler, with terrain ranging from fairly flat to challenging ‘rollers’ on the 61 and 79 mile course.”
Lee went on to say that the routes have been chosen for their beauty, good road surfaces and lack of traffic to provide a safe, pleasant and enjoyable ride. The first 150 entrants will get a T-shirt, water bottle or other ride memento and other goodies donated by area merchants and cycling suppliers.
Once again, the ride start and finish will be at the north end of the Hamilton Airport, with the first riders going out at 8 a.m. The separate 10K children’s ride will begin immediately after all the other riders depart. For out-of-town riders, there will be signs on the square in Hamilton and on US Highway 281; the airport GPS coordinates are also printed on the registration form (N31 40.425 W98 08.674).
Rest stops will be placed at 10-mile intervals and at the start-finish area. Porta-potties will be available at each of the rest stops, sag wagons will patrol all routes to assist riders as needed and District 3 Amateur Radio Emergency Services personnel will provide a communications safety net, which is especially important in areas where there is no cell phone service.
In addition, there will be hydration stops between major rest stops on the longer routes for riders wanting to take a break, stretch and have a drink of water or sports drink.
Ride packet pickup will be the day of the ride from 6:30 a.m. through 8 a.m. Registration is geared toward children under 12, families and group riders, with the special 10K children’s ride $10 per child 12 years and younger, two or more family members $20 each, cycling club members or riding groups who sign up three or more riders before May 10 at $5 off each registration and tandem riders team registration $30. Standard registration is $25 per rider up to May 12; after that there’s a $5 additional charge for all registrants.
In addition to mail-in and walk-in registration, riders can sign up on-line at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1527269
All proceeds from the ride will benefit the Hamilton Hospital Wellness Center. More information and the registration forms are available at http://www.hamiltonhospital.org/biketour. Those interested in riding or volunteering to help may contact Lee or Jon Lengefeld at the Hamilton Healthcare Fitness Center 254-386-9933 or 254-386-1651 or call Tom Adams at 254-386-8754.