Variety of routes designed to involve the whole family

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:01 AM CDT

If you plan to pedal the parkland in just about a month, Virginia Blaine has two words for you.

“Start pedaling!”

Blaine is a member of Parkland Cyclists who are co-sponsoring Pedal The Parkland on Sept. 20 to benefit the Leadbelt Alzheimer’s Memory Walk to be held in Bonne Terre the following weekend. Proceeds will also benefit the co-sponsor, the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce.

There are four rides available: a 62-mile endurance ride to Elephant Rock State Park and back; a 32-mile challenge; a 12-mile mosey and a 15-mile off-road scramble. The 32-mile, 12-mile and scramble courses will take riders into St. Joe State Park and back. That’s designed to give cyclists of all kinds the chance to pedal for the cause.

Blaine said those who wish to participate in the 12-mile mosey should start riding about three miles a week.

“If you just ride one time for three miles each week until the event, that should get you ready,” she said. “We call it a ‘mosey’ so people will know they have plenty of time to do it. It’s not a race.”

For all other rides, Blaine said participants need to be regular riders who can handle the course and the distance. She said the off-road scramble is different that most of the other rides and requires a mountain bike. All riders must wear helmets and will gather in front of the fieldhouse at MAC, rain or shine, and all will leave MAC riding together. She said if anyone needs help along the way or wants to turn back, there will be someone to take them.

“We think it’s a very family-friendly event,” said Blaine. “There will be supporting gear on the trails and medical support, as well as watering holes and rest areas for food and drink. Participants will also receive a T-shirt and bandana to wipe your face. We will have a barbecue for lunch.”

Registration begins at 7 a.m. at Mineral Area College with a mass start for all riders set for 8 a.m. Early bird registration is available until Sept. 1 at a cost of $25. It goes up $5 after that. To sign up, go to www.ParklandCyclists.com or contact the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce at 573-431-1051 where forms are available.

They’re hoping for 100 riders.

“We’re hoping this event only grows and grows each year,” said Glenda Straughn, an organizer for the Chamber. “Alzheimer’s is a really important cause. They say cases of Alzheimer’s Disease are only going to increase as Baby Boomers age.”

The Memory Walk benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, which researches a cure and funds services for families coping with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s the most common form of dementia and robs its victims of their memory, and eventually, the ability to care for themselves.

The Parkland Cyclists meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:45 p.m. and ride beginning at 6 p.m. through St. Joe Park.

Blaine and her husband Ted are avid cyclists. With the high cost of gas, they’ve set a goal to leave their cars at home four days a week.

“We figure if we can keep it up this summer, we can save $300 a year, just for our family of two.”

In the fall, Virginia Blaine plans to ride seven states in New England to push her to more than 40 in her efforts to ride all 50 states.

Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.

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