Fairfield chamber’s Harvest Rush draws 150 cyclists to explore area’s gravel roads

FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce is making Fairfield a destination for cyclists, and that was evident this past weekend when it hosted the Harvest Rush, a series of bicycle competitions that ranged from 10 kilometers to 100 miles on the area’s gravel roads.

The event began Friday, Sept. 27 with the 10 kilometer race at Fishback & Stephenson Cider House just north of Fairfield, which also hosted the 50 kilometer, 100 kilometer and 100 mile races the following day. This was the fourth year the chamber has hosted the event, and the first time that Harvest Rush was included as part of the Iowa Gravel Series, which was previously a five-town series until this year when it added Fairfield and Kalona.

Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mendy McAdams said she was proud that Fairfield hosted the Championship Race in the Iowa Gravel Series, and was the only town on the series to have a purse for the winners, which paid $500 to first place, $300 to second place and $200 to third place on both the men’s and women’s side. The two-day event attracted about 150 cyclists, a number that McAdams was pleased with.

“We were hoping for 200, but the wind on Saturday was crazy,” McAdams said. “We had a big blow-up thing at the finish line, and the wind was making it lie flat. All the riders talked about the wind being a hindrance, but we heard nothing but great things about Fairfield.”

McAdams said they were fortunate to have Freeman Kevenides Law Firm as the sponsor, and to have Fishback & Stephenson Cider House host the event, which she said offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. She said the chamber plans to host the event again next year and to keep growing it.

  Buy Photo

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

  Buy Photo