2008 Ride Results

Big Walker Charity Ride

(formerly Big Walker Century Ride)

A fundraising event to benefit Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence, Inc.

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5th Annual Big Walker Century Ride
2008 Ride Results

Ride Times
Door Prizes

Ninety two riders from as far away as Key Biscayne, Fla., Pennsylvania and Italy rode through the rain in the fifth annual Big Walker Century Ride last Saturday, a fundraiser for HOPE, Inc.

Registrations were down from last year’s high of 175 riders, ride director Andy Kegley noted, probably due to higher fuel costs, the 4^th of July weekend, and then the “forecast from Thursday through the weekend put a real damper on the event.”

“Our hats are off to those riders though, and to the dozen business sponsors, for making this another successful fundraiser for us,” Kegley added. Though the final bills aren’t in, he thought HOPE netted over $5,000.

“The overcast sky and rain probably contributed to a cooler ride,” and ride times were still very respectable, he observed. Though not a race, members of Team Morini capped off a week of serious performance training through Wythe and Bland counties under Italian professional cyclist Fred Morini, to post 100 mile times of under 5 hours, 15 minutes. The last century rider, from Chapel Hill, N.C., finished in 8 ½ hours for her first century.

The route remained unchanged from previous years, taking riders from the start/finish area at George Wythe High School out Rt. 11, through Black Lick, Stoney Fork, Little Creek, over Big Walker into Mechanicsburg, west along Rt. 42 in Bland to Ceres, Foglesong Valley, and then back over Big Walker up Rt. 621 to the Lookout, before finishing in Wytheville. Approximately half the riders did the full century route, with just under half doing a ‘metric century’ or 62 mile route.

Kegley said the volunteers manning the rest areas make all the difference. “We’ve had more compliments this year for the rest stops, the home made food, and the scenic route in spite of the rain, than in the past!” A survey will be distributed to riders to help determine when the ride will be scheduled for next year, “but we’ll definitely keep on hosting this event. It’s a great way to promote healthy eco-tourism, and at the same time, the mission of HOPE,” Kegley noted.