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Jeremy Gaston/Herald-Chronicle
A steady stream of bikers filled into Osage City Thursday as
part of Biking Across Kansas.
For more Biking Across Kansas photos, visit ochc.zenfolio.com/bak
Jeremy Gaston | Sports Editor
Osage City—Hundreds of bikers and accompanying personnel passed
through Osage City’s businesses and schools Thursday and Friday,
one of eight overnight stops along a 494-mile bicycle ride across
the state.
They were all part of Biking Across Kansas (BAK), a west-to-east
ride across the state, designed as a low-paced, two-wheel tour of
the state that has taken place every year since 1975. On Thursday,
that tour, and around 1,000 riders and accompanying drivers, made
its first stop in Osage City.
“The words are ‘phenomenal experience,’”
said William Orth, superintendent of Osage City schools. “We
enjoyed them immensely.”
The Osage City schools’ gyms, commons, halls and lawn hosted
the mass of riders Thursday evening after a week and 394 miles of
riding.
“There were 850 to 1,000 people here,” Orth said. “When
they left, you couldn’t tell anyone was here. I’ve never
experience that kind of an issue.”
The school was a conditional part of the experience. Without someplace
to stop, Osage City would have been little more than a sight on
the tour, if on the route at all.
BAK organizers contacted the schools last August. Their confirmation
paved the way for the ride to make Osage City one of its nine stops.
The benefit came to those along the ride and those who took time
to meet the out-of-town visitors, but most of all, to the businesses
that served the influx of customers.
“They started coming into town around 10, and I opened the
doors at 10:30,” said Cathy Evans, co-owner of Caffé
Thyme at 609 Market St. in downtown Osage City. “From then,
it was non-stop until after 9 that night. The place was packed,
the bar, the restaurant. They were all a great, wonderful group
of people, and real patient.”
Mike Capra, owner of the adjoining Sportsman’s Club at 611
Market St., spent the first week of the trip contacting riders on
Facebook and put up banners west of town.
“We really appreciated the business, it was great,”
Evans said. “It was quite a load, but I enjoyed every minute
of it.”
Osage City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathryn Houghton
helped plan for the arrival, and held the Santa Fe Depot open for
more than 70 riders Thursday afternoon.
“I met a lot of people from the Wichita, Kansas City and Manhattan
areas,” Houghton said. “There was one from Canada, and
some from New Mexico, California, Florida...”
Several non-profit groups also served meals through out the bikers
stay.
“From what I hear, they were all very successful,” Houghton
added.
Registered among the 800 riders were residents from at least 29
other states, including New York, Maryland, Vermont, New Mexico,
and California, along with representatives from all across the state.
The ride also included independent nominee for governor Ken Cannon,
who hopes to represent all of the state following the next election.
“It’s been a great opportunity to meet people across
the state,” said Cannon when he stopped into The Herald-Chronicle
office Thursday afternoon. “It’s been a great experience,
and it gives me a chance to campaign along the way.”
Cannon, a retired high school teacher, administrator and coach,
was fulfilling a long-time goal by making his first BAK ride last
week.
“I always told my wife, Connie, ‘I’m going to
do this,” he said.
The first worked out well for all.
“One of the (BAK) coordinators said they were real pleased
with Osage City,” said Houghton, who noted the next time the
tour could be back is in six years.
Many in the community would have them return much sooner.
“We’d love to have them back,” said Orth. “We
have an open invitation for them to come back at any time.”
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