By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Finally the Kansas winds have calmed some, but cyclists in this year's Bike Across Kansas will have to endure some of that famous Kansas heat. This year's 512-mile trek across the state will include a planned overnight stop in St. John Monday evening.
"It's exciting to have a group of 600 people visit our town," said Carolyn Dunn, strategic projects manager for Stafford County Economic Development. "We only have 1,200 people in the town, so to have a group of 600 come visit is a big deal, and we're excited to have them here."
Early riders opened the 2022 BAK at the Colorado border Friday evening. The full ride kicked off Saturday with a 50-plus mile ride to Garden City. The cyclists will work their way across the lower third of the state before arriving in St. John Monday. The bikers can enjoy the community before staying the night at St. John High School.
"We'll have a handful of special things to showcase, from our museum and Gray Studio to a couple of businesses that are going to be giving tours, like 4 Star Hydroponics," Dunn said. "We're going to be providing some meals that were prepared by some local civic groups."
Following St. John, the cyclists will make the 57-mile trip to Hutchinson Tuesday. The final stop on this year's tour will be Ottawa on June 17. The bikers will face temperatures in the upper-90s Saturday, and forecasts for Sunday and Monday show highs of 100.