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Washington Evening Journal
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Cyclists descend on Fairfield for pair of bike rides
FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce held bike rides that lasted from sun up to sun down on Saturday, Sept. 23.
One of the rides took cyclists throughout the Fairfield Loop Trail, and it was called Bike Around the Fairfield Loop Trail Annual Fun Ride, or BAFLTAFR. Riders couldn’t do the full loop this year because of construction, so they went from Chautauqua Park to Cedar Creek and back for a total of 18 miles.
The other bike ride that also began from Chautauqua Park was the Harvest Rush Gravel Grinder, and that one gave cyclists the option of embarking on a 30, 60 or 120-mile journey on the county’s gravel roads. This was the first year that the two bike rides were held on the same day, since chamber director Mendy McAdams thought that would be the most efficient use of her volunteers’ time. However, McAdams said after the event that the chamber probably won’t do that again next year.
“A lot of people who do the 30-mile ride also like doing the BAFLTAFR, but they had to choose which one they wanted to do,” McAdams said. “Plus, doing it this way meant there were a lot of coolers to find in the dark, on gravel roads and on the loop trail. We realized we barely have enough coolers to do this all on the same day.”
McAdams said she appreciated her team of volunteers, many of whom are members of Leadership Fairfield, who need to contribute a certain number of hours of volunteering toward their graduation from the program. Even still, McAdams said there were fewer volunteers than normal, so the aid stations along the loop trail were left unmanned.
Another change that McAdams foresees next year is reducing the longest ride from 120 miles to 90 miles.
“At this time of year, there’s barely enough sunlight for a person to complete 120 miles,” she said. “The sun came up at 6:56 a.m., and the sun was setting when we picked up the last rider. We were getting some lightning near the end of the day, so he was happy to get in a car.”
McAdams was pleased with the participation in the two rides, which saw about 20 families ride the BAFLTAFR and 30 cyclists participate in the Harvest Rush Gravel Grinder. The winner of the 120-mile race was Chris Hoenig of Fort Madison, and he took home the $1,000 grand prize after completing the race in just over eight hours. Eric Main of Pella came in second place.
Chris McQueen of the Iowa Gravel Series brought an inflatable arch that served as the starting line and finish line. McAdams said it was unusually warm for late September, with a high around 85.
“We went through a ton more water than we have in the past,” she said.
McAdams said she expects the Harvest Rush Gravel Grinder will remain a September event next year, but the BAFLTAFR will be moved to either August or October.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
