Fairfield chamber to host bike rides Saturday

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a pair of bike rides this Saturday, Sept. 23.

Cyclists will have the option of choosing a variety of ride lengths that morning when they show up at Chautauqua Park. One of the rides takes cyclists on the Fairfield Loop Trail, which will be 18 miles this year since a portion of the trail is closed for construction, so riders will go to Cedar Creek and then turn around. This ride has been dubbed the Bike Around the Fairfield Loop Trail Annual Fun Ride, or BAFLTAFR for short.

The other option for riders is to do the Harvest Rush Gravel Grinder, which will take them onto the county’s gravel roads. The Gravel Grinder has three ride lengths, one of 30 miles, another for 60 miles, and for the truly ambitious cyclists, one of 120 miles.

Fairfield Chamber Director Mendy McAdams said the riders will be released in staggered fashion, with the 120-milers leaving Chautauqua Park at 7 a.m., then the 60-milers at 8 a.m., and finally the 30-milers and BAFLTAFRs at 9 a.m.

McAdams said the Harvest Rush Gravel Grinder and the BAFLTAFR used to be held on different days, but she decided that was an inefficient use of volunteers. By holding them on the same day, the chamber can make better use of its volunteers.

“Volunteers can sign up for as little as two hours, or spend the whole day with me,” McAdams said.

The chamber is always eager for more volunteers, and this year it will need three to four to run the registration desk, three to give out information and run the aid stations along the route such as at Lamson Woods and Waterworks Park, and a few more to help with clean up of the event. At each of the stations on the Loop Trail, a knowledgeable guide will tell riders about the local habitat or a story about local history.

Cyclists can summon a SAG wagon if they need help or can’t continue on the route. SAG wagon support ends at 5 p.m. that day.

Some of the aid stations along the route are unmanned because they’re so far from town, but they will have balloons making them easy to spot from the road. They will have water, soda, oranges, bananas, granola bars, and wet wipes.

Every rider will receive a swag bag, and the swag bags given out for the BAFLTAFR are family-oriented and have some items intended for children.

McAdams said that about 20 people participated in the BAFLTAFR last year, and about 50 did the Gravel Grinder. She’s expecting about 50 riders to come out again this year.

“We’ve not had as many registrations yet this year, but some people have told me they’re waiting to see if the rain holds, because it’s no fun to ride in the rain,” McAdams said.

RSVP for the ride by emailing Info@FairfieldIowa.com or calling 641-472-2111. There is a $20 registration fee for each rider over 12 with children under 12 free with a paid adult. There is a $30 max for families.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com