Richard Beattie describes the initial idea for Greenwood’s first bike ride as a “self-defense” move.
He’s joking, kind of.
Beattie, Brian Waldrop and Bret Freeman, members of the Money Road Cycling Club, founded Bikes, Blues & Bayous.
“At first, Brian wanted to put on a triathlon,” Beattie said, “but Bret and I said that’s the last thing we wanted to do because of all the work it would take timing the event and also sanctioning it, so it really was out of self-defense that we came with the bike event.
“Brian is pretty persistent, but we were all soon on the same page and were ready to go to work on a bike race.”
The idea for the bike event started after the group had attended a small first-year race in Rolling Fork, which drew only about 30 cyclists.
“Heck, we said we could do better than that in Greenwood,” he said. “Brian suggested we partner with the Main Street Greenwood folks, and we began planning for an August 2008 event. That first year we had many, many conversations about what total number of entries to expect and prepare for. We started out expecting between 50 and 75 cyclists.”
Waldrop said Greenwood’s hospitality and flat roads along with the growth in biking as a great way of outdoor recreation and exercise gave them hope for a successful first-year event, but they had no idea that Bikes, Blues & Bayous would be come the largest bike ride in Mississippi.
The club members used RacesOnline to help create a website, and as preparation got more involved that summer, registration began to grow. The first annual Bikes, Blues & Bayous was a much bigger event than any of the organizers could have imagined. It drew 213 participants.
Organizers were left scrambling in the weeks leading up to the event.
“Let’s just say we needed lots of more bananas and water and volunteers than first determined,” Beattie said.
Two years later, Money Road Cycling Club, which continues to be the primary organizer, partnered with the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds from the ride going to the chamber.
By 2012, the number of riders more than tripled, reaching 647 — a 40 precent increase over 2011. Last year’s event drew a record 706 cyclists, and Beattie expects the upcoming ride to draw about the same number.
“We are so pleased with the growth of the event. That is a direct result of more than 150 volunteers and the work of the chamber,” Beattie said. “Our club set the standard by getting this event going, but the chamber has been vital to the growth of it.
“We take a lot of pride in having the state’s largest bike ride in Greenwood. It’s great bragging rights for a town with a population of about 19,000 to host Mississippi’s largest cycling event,” Beattie said.
He credits the race’s organization, the hospitality of Leflore County and setting of the event as three main reasons for the success of Bikes, Blues & Bayous.
“We get so much feedback on how well organized things always are, and we all know Greenwood loves a party and is very hospitable. Then you have flat, rural roads with light automobile traffic in the scenic Delta.”
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
