By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
While promoting health and wellness, bicyclists have a great chance to take in the sites across Kansas with the 50th year of Biking Across Kansas. Spread out through eight days (June 8-15), participants will make their way from the Colorado border to the Missouri border, making overnight stays in towns throughout the state.
Biking Across Kansas Executive Director Bryan Toben said this year’s event will include an overnight stay in Hoisington.
"We started with idea that we wanted to start where it all began," said Toben. "Tribune was the first host city in 1975. Then we just start working our way east, looking at what the state has planned and construction. We also look at where we want to end up, in terms of along the Missouri border."
The 2024 Biking Across Kansas route includes 489 miles, with the most miles traveled in one day being 78. Bicyclists will arrive in Hoisington on June 10 and then make their way to Lincoln the following day.
"We look at communities that are reasonably distanced apart that we have a good relationship with," said Toben. "Once we have a route down, we reach out to each of those communities and ask if they have an interest. Sometimes, when we need to stay in the high school, maybe the high school is getting a new gym floor."
Last year’s event had just over 400 bicyclists, and Toben said there will be a cap of 700 participants for this year’s ride. Registration for the ride is open Jan. 29 at bak.org.