LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Cold and dripping from the rains that ravaged the area on Saturday morning, bicycle riding enthusiasts coasted into the parking lot of the Farmers Market throughout Saturday.

While some boasted smiles with lips nearly blue from the cold temperatures and hours of bicycling through some of Laurel County’s most isolated and rural areas, others raised their hands in victory as the race was completed.

Still others stripped off their rain-saturated socks and shoes to sit close to the two heaters stationed under the shelter of the Farmers Market.

Despite the 20-degree temperature drop between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, London Downtown Executive Director Chris Robinson said the event brought out hundreds of people.

“We had 800 registered this morning,” Robinson said as cyclists took off on their designated cycling route.

Cyclists chose from four routes — 23, 38, 68, or 100 miles.  And although some cyclists admitted changing their routes from a longer to a shorter due to the weather conditions on Saturday, all were dedicated to completing the race in spite of the cold, rainy weather.

With the first stop at the Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department on Ky. 490,cyclists were greeted by members of the London Women’s League who utilized the event for their “Babes on Bikes” theme. Dressed in leather and bandanas, the members welcomed riders stopping by for a quick energy burst before starting the next section of their ride by offering baked goods and fresh fruit.

McWhorter Christian Church was the centerpoint of all routes, serving as the lunch stop that served a variety of food and desserts to riders converging there from all sections of the county.

Two riders not only got a workout on their bikes, they cleared the road of a tree that had fallen across Ky. 638. Terry Miller and Val Loughran traveled from Wisconsin to participate in Saturday’s race, which is only one of many of their yearly bicycle ride ventures. The two Cedarsburg residents said they stopped to clear the road so other cyclists and motorists would have as safe a journey as possible.

“We’d hate for someone to get hurt,” said Loughran.

For others, the ride was a challenge, with one lady pushing her bike along a curvy section of  Ky. 638.

“I’m worn out,” she said, as sweat mingled with the rain that drizzled during the mid-morning hours of the ride.

This year’s event kicked off with a block party in the Reda parking lot between the Ryser Building and Weaver’s Hot Dogs. Friday’s warm weather brought out a large crowd to that event, although the continually dropping temperatures throughout Saturday netted only a small group gathered at the Farmer’s Market by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Robinson said the event went well, despite the weather, and plans will continue for next year’s Redbud Ride with hopes of warmer and drier weather for 2013.  



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com