BIKES, BLUES & BAYOUS

The Money Road Cycling Club, in conjunction with Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, presents the 4th annual Bikes, Blues & Bayous bike tour. The rides (20, 46 and 58 miles) will be held Saturday, August 6th starting at 7:00am in historic downtown Greenwood, Mississippi, the home of Viking Range Corporation.

Save the date!

August 4th, Saturday

2012 Bikes, Blues & Bayous

2011 Final count - 442 Riders!

And, we were up by more than 50% over last year. Plus, I've been told by several reliable sources that this total makes us THE LARGEST RIDE in Mississippi! While most of our riders were from out of town, we had much more local participation than ever before, including 28 boy scouts and parents. The Jackson area had the most in-state cyclists, but we had folks from Corinth to Kosciusko, to Vicksburg and Hattiesburg. Tennessee and Arkansas had the most out of state, but Mike represented Florida for his third year!

Overall the ride went well, but we always, always see things that can be better. So, look for the email survey and give us your comments on the good stuff, plus what we can do to make the event better in 2012. It will help us.

Unfortunately, we ran out of event t-shirts. But, we want everyone to get theirs, so we're placing a reorder this week and will mail them to you. Likewise we'll mail packets this week to the folks that didn't pick theirs up, for whatever reason.

Speaking of things that went wrong, we have 1 bike, 1 helmet and 1 pair of shoes that were left behind. Please email me a description of your lost item and I'll get them back to you. I hope the bike has a local owner!

Photos of the ride will be up on our website later this month. Check back in a few days. The date for next year's ride will also be announced later this month. We will post it here and email it for those who want to mark the date on their calendar.

Concerning our local cycling club's 2011 Tour of Mississippi jersey. Originally, we thought it was something that would only appeal to our club, but I'm happy to order extra jerseys for those who want to buy one. I'll be back to you by email with the details.

Someone at the Welcome Party asked me, "What does it take to put on a ride like this?" Well...just a lot of sponsors who'll give you thousands of dollars in cash money, then a bunch more who'll give you thousands of dollars in FREE food, drinks and other supplies. Good support from vendors who do what they say they'll do and do it on time. The classy setting and great management of The Alluvian Hotel to lodge the riders and host your Welcome Party. A world champion cooking team like the one from Viking who provided outstanding pulled-port BBQ sandwiches in the finish area.

More than a hundred local volunteers who will work for nothing, enjoy going to long monthly meetings, handle dozens of preparatory details or get up at 4am and work till 2pm on Event Day. And, rest area folks who provide the cyclists with timely food, water and larges doses of Delta hospitality.

Local goverment officials and personnel who work WITH YOU to make our little town a good place to have a ride in the first. The Delta Riders motorcycle club who watch out for their 2-wheel compadres on the course. A local newspaper that gives your event great coverage, becomes a sponsor and has an editor who will drive a SAG vehicle. A bike mechanic who works miracles and save the day for many an anxious cyclist.

A Chamber of Commerce staff who supports you every step of the way in more ways than you can imagine. An employer that encourages its employees to be involved in the community and supports their projects. A guy who takes on the overall leadership role AND teaches the post-ride cooking class. Friends that say, "What can I do to help you?", and actually mean it sincerely. Oh how much you appreciate them and how hard it is to give proper thanks.

Lastly, a wife who happens to be the best massage therapist in the state and will bring 2 of her associates to work 4 or 5 hours standing in excess heat without break to untangle the muscles of sweaty cyclists. Umm... not much really. The hard part is trying to write a thank you note.

For me, Bikes Blues & Bayous is a chance to make hundreds of friends from all over the South and host them in Greenwood when they come to visit once a year and do what we all love, for a lot of different reasons - ride a bike. It's that simple.

Until next year, take care and ride safely.

Thanks,

Richard Beattie

Bikes, Blues & Bayous

bikesbluesbayous@hotmail.com