Richard Beattie said the 15th annual Bikes, Blues & Bayous ride on Saturday went “extremely well.”
At the ride’s start, he said 905 riders were registered. The total number of riders was likely under that amount, he said.
Part of that was due to the heat. It was a hot day on Saturday, and Beattie said the heat had an effect on rider turnout.
“By anecdotal information, we know that it was the heat wave that depressed it,” he said.
He added that registration, beginning back in February, was initially exceeding last year but started to slow down when temperatures shot up.
Still, Beattie said he is happy with the turnout and the reception. Post-ride surveys, which have so far received hundreds of responses, have a satisfaction rate of 95%.
Danny Smith joined the Major Taylor Memphis Bicycle Club seeking people to ride with and said the hospitality of Bikes, Blues & Bayous keeps him coming back to Greenwood every year. (By Kevin Edwards)
One rider, Danny Smith of Memphis, brought his bike up to the starting area on Main Street in downtown Greenwood to participate in his third Bikes, Blues & Bayous ride shortly before 7 a.m. on Saturday.
“The hospitality down here, it’s awesome,” he said. “You can’t beat it.”
Smith, 46, was sporting a Major Taylor of Memphis cycling club jersey. He said he joined the club when he was seeking out others with whom to ride.
“Riding on the street is dangerous alone,” he said. “Riding with a group has made it a lot easier.”
At just after 7 a.m., the bike riders were off. Smith was among several who were taking on the ride’s most challenging route of 62 miles.
The BBB ride takes cyclists on their choice of four routes in Leflore County.
The longest route, 62 miles, takes riders on a tour of the county through Itta Bena, Schlater, Minter City, Money and back to downtown Greenwood.
Other routes included 46 miles, 20 miles and 10 miles.
William Tucker of Jackson said he only started cycling last fall. He finished BBB’s 10-mile route and said he is inspired to keep improving year after year. (By Kevin Edwards)
William Tucker, 60, a rider from Jackson, chose the 10-mile route.
“I’m not a frequent rider, but after today, I’m going to stay consistent,” he said.
He said his wife and sister-in-law got him into cycling last fall.
“I feel fantastic,” he said. “It made a believer out of me, and I’m inspired. I’m so inspired by my age group and people above my age that they’re doing 20 miles, 46 miles. That just encourages me to put more practice in and come up to speed. I find it very exhilarating.”
The ride did not go without incident. There was at least one accident between cyclists somewhere near Minter City. No cars or vehicles were involved. One cyclist was taken by ambulance to Greenwood Leflore Hospital to be evaluated for a possible concussion. Beattie said he could not confirm any other accidents.
This year’s ride featured a focus on Major Taylor, the first Black American world champion in any sport. Beattie said he is “extremely happy” with the decision to incorporate Major Taylor into this year’s ride.
Taylor’s heyday was at the turn of the 20th century. In cycling circles, he remains an icon. Numerous cycling clubs take their inspiration from his story. This year’s ride saw Major Taylor clubs from Alabama, Little Rock, San Antonio and Memphis take part.
Major Taylor clubs “are some of the fastest-growing cycling clubs in all of the cycling world,” Beattie said. “Their membership is growing faster than most any other club, and they’re bringing more diversity. They’re bringing more people into the sport. That’s a growing base of cyclists that we want to appeal to.”
After years of hands-on involvement with Bikes, Blues & Bayous, Beattie will be taking a step back for future races, taking on more of an advisory role.
“My role is trying to shift more into the planning part of it instead of the actual weekend event,” he said.
The event falls under the auspices of the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce. Beth Stevens, the chamber’s executive director, has worked with Beattie on the ride’s planning for years and said the “brain power” he brings to BBB will still be present.
“Richard has been one of the main faces of BBB for the entire 15 years it’s been happening,” she said. “People have come to know him and recognize him and he just does a phenomenal job with connecting with the cyclists from all over.”
Numerous riders took a break at the rest stop on Money Road at the Money Volunteer Fire Department.
Greg Sparks, 65, of Vicksburg says he enjoys biking for exercise. (By Kevin Edwards)
One of them was Greg Sparks, 66, of Vicksburg. He said he started riding again about three or four years ago after taking a nearly 25-year break. He said he bikes for the exercise benefit.
This year he said he was doing the 20-mile ride. It’s a step down from his attempt at the 46-mile route last year.
“Almost made it back before heat exhaustion,” he said of last year’s ride. “I got to know that I can’t do at 65 what I did at 35.”
The end of the ride for all routes was on Front Street between the Keesler and Veterans bridges.
Fletcher Harges of Grenada took up cycling to supplement his walking habit that he picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was his first time riding in Bikes, Blues & Bayous and he plans on being back next year. (By Kevin Edwards)
Fletcher Harges, a 49-year-participant from Grenada, also did the 20-mile ride as he was used to riding that distance. This was his first time participating in Bikes, Blues & Bayous.
He said he started riding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describing himself as an avid walker, he added biking to his exercise repertoire.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s addicting, and I will be back.”
Several riders were quick to point out that BBB is a ride, not a race. There are no winners and losers, and each finishing participant is awarded a medal and the feeling of gratification for finishing.
Finishing the ride wasn’t the only goal of Daniala Cook and Gwen Gardner.
Cook, 60, is originally from Germany, but she and Gardner, 55, now live in Texas. Both took part in last year’s BBB and said they loved it.
Cook said they loved it so much that they sent a thank-you card to the Minter City United Methodist Church, the site of one of the rest stops. “(The card) came back,” Cook said. “Undeliverable.”
“This time, we said, ‘OK, we hand-deliver it.’”
“That’s how much we enjoyed (the ride),” added Gardner. “We brought (the card) today to give it to them.”
Two other first-time BBB riders were friends Dexter Morton, 53, and Patricia Mack, 54, both of Jackson.
“(My) first ride was last weekend,” said Morton. “We rode in Ridgeland for 10 miles, and today I did 20. I’m going up.”
Morton was vocal, energetic and enthusiastic with his performance after crossing the finish line.
He said he loves being around people during the rides and that it reminds him of his work in ministry. “I’m just drawn to people and I love people because that’s what God calls us to do. He wants unity. Togetherness. And we can get healthy. If we get healthy, we don’t have to worry about wealth because health is wealth.”
Mack said she rode with Morton in the same ride in Ridgeland last week. A deputy with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, she also took the 20-mile route.
“I feel great,” she said. “I’m a little sore. Got a little injury but I made it.”
She said she doesn’t ride as often as her friends due to her work schedule.
“I was scared because there was so many people,” she said. “I thought I was going to run into somebody or not handle my bike.”
The consensus among everyone seemed to be the same: They would be back next year.
Stevens said planning has already begun for next year’s ride and that the organizers stay in planning mode year-round.
“We want to do it while it’s still fresh on our minds,” she said.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
