Century Challenge Cyclists Roll through Fleming County

Two hundred thirty one cyclist’s stopped by the rest stop set up at Ringos Mill Covered Bridge before heading back out across Rawlings Road in rural Fleming County for the last 25 miles of the Bike Morehead ride. Photos by K.L. Hawkins King

The Ringos Mill Covered Bridge was a welcome sight for 231 cyclists that peddled their way across the scenic back roads of Morehead and into Fleming County.

Tables laden with water, protein drinks, pickles, trail mix, fresh fruit, homemade sandwiches as well as a restroom and wash station, awaited those who hit the 75 mile mark during last Saturdays Bike Morehead Century Challenge.

Rodney Hendrickson, executive director of the London-Laurel County Tourist Commission and director of the Redbud Ride in London, enjoyed the rest stop before hitting the last 25 miles of the route.

“The Ringo Bridge SAG stop was the best on the Bike Morehead Ride. The comfortable chairs lined up in the shade was just what cyclists need at 75 miles. The food and drink were great and the volunteers were so happy and all had broad smiles. One nice volunteer even delivered an icy drink to my chair,” Hendrickson said.

Kentucky Century Challenge, started with the Red Bud ride in Londo. Horsey One Hundred in Georgetown, Morehead and ends in Elizabeth town with the Hub City tour that will take place Sept. 10 .

“Most excellent rest stop! I appreciated the PB&J sandwiches made on squishy white bread! A proper PB&J should be on squishy white bread! Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Great location. We really did not want to get up and leave,” David Elkow, said.

“Thanks to all the volunteers that made this a great rest stop with ice! I was surprised to see it was on the corner of Rawlings Rd. My dad told me that my great grandfather was from Fleming County. I wonder if he was born near that rest stop on Rawlings Road,” Paul Rawlings, a cyclists from Midway, said.

The rest stop for the bikers was organized by members of the Fleming County Tourism Committee and sponsored by Mayor Marty Voiers, Fleming Mason Energy, the City of Flemingsburg and the Fleming County Extension Office.

Crystal Ruark, executive director of the Fleming County Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Committee members Woody and Ginny Reeves and Brenda Plummer, Carol and Charlie Hunt from Paradox Farms along with Tisha Emmons and Kym King, editors of Around Town Newspaper, volunteered to set up the SAG station and to greet the cyclists.

This is the first year for Bike Morehead to participate in the Kentucky Century Challenge and was coordinated by Switchback Cycling and Outdoors Shop in Morehead.

The Kentucky Century Challenge was created four years ago by Pam Thomas and is a four part event that starts in the spring with the Redbud Ride, the Horsey Hundred and this year Bike Morehead and will end with the Hub City Tour in September.

Brad Winkleman fixes a flat tire for on one the cyclists at the Ringos Mill Covered Bridge rest stop last Saturday afternoon.

One of the 231 cyclists who stopped for some quick refreshments during the Bike Morehead Ride.

A cyclists decides between an apple or a slice of orange for a quick “pick me up” before heading out Rawlings Road to complete the last 25 miles of the route.

The Ringos Mill Covered Bridge rest stop was a welcome sight for these tired and thirsty cyclist’s who had already peddled 75 miles of twists and turns across the scenic back roads into Fleming County.