Six cyclists are preparing for the biggest ride of their lives.
For the second year in a row Hardy Bullock, Carey Thrasher, and Ken Bossung — all members of the TahoeStaff Cycling Team — will attempt to ride non-stop together for 300 miles to raise funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County and North Lake Tahoe’s mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
Joining them this year will be new riders Chris Barry, Scott Hanson, and Mark Hockridge, who will join the veterans on a new route that starts and finishes in Truckee with breaks in Sacramento, Grass Valley, and Nevada City along the way. The ride will begin on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 a.m. from the parking lot of Smokey’s Kitchen in Truckee, and the riders expect to be back at Smokey’s between noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, where the public is invited to welcome the riders home and celebrate their epic journey.
According to ride organizer Bullock, the team is excited about this year’s event because, ‘We get to visit communities that are important to us. We live, work, and play in the Sierra, so I’m excited to be riding the route we’ve chosen.’ This year’s ride follows on the heels of last year’s 300 Miles for Mentoring ride, which saw the original three cyclists cover 300 miles from Fort Bragg to Truckee.
‘This year’s route should be very challenging,’ said Bullock. ‘Last year we crossed the Sacramento Valley; this year we pretty much ride rolling hills and long continuous climbs all day and night. The toughest part of the ride will be the 15,000 foot climb at night from Nevada City to Truckee.’
Asked what motivates him to keep pushing his limits year after year, Bullock said it’s all about the kids:
‘I feel a deep connection to kids who need guidance and support. I feel that as a community we can affect their lives in a positive way now and create a better society in the long run. It is also important that my children understand the value of helping others. They inspire me in a profound way; I want to be their hero. My favorite quote is by Winston Churchill: ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’’
This year’s ride is sponsored by Tahoe Staff, Hanson McClain Independent Investment Advice, and local radio station KTKE 101.5 FM, which will broadcast live progress updates during the ride. In addition, the six team members will collect pledges in person and online, with a goal of raising at least $15,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Last year, the athletes raised over $10,000 for the local non-profit.
To sponsor the riders and help bring Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring programs to more local youth, visit firstgiving.org/fundraiser/300miles. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County, go to bigsofnc.org or call (530) 273-2227.
