NUMB

Greetings Bikers!!!

NUMB Ride participants take a group picture in Taylor, Neb. before the first leg of the ride

NUMB Ride 2005 exceeds $35,000

June 27, 2005

Donations keep coming in as the Nebraska United Methodist Bike Ride for Hunger (NUMB) now exceeds the $35,000 mark. Contributions go to support food pantry projects in Nebraska, Heifer International, hunger relief efforts in Nigeria, plus other projects of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. In 10 years the NUMB ride has contributed more than $300,000 to hunger projects.

This year 120-plus riders traveled the Nebraska Sandhills, starting and ending in Taylor. Days were warm, and evening and early mornings came with thunderstorms. No major injuries were reported. Our hosts in each community were United Methodist churches. The towns of Ainsworth, Valentine, Bassett, and Taylor were gracious in their hospitality and generous in their spirit. The food was good and plentiful as churches put on a dinner and breakfast at each location. Lunch was on "your own."

Support and gear stops (SAGS) along the way are indispensable to a successful ride. This year's SAG crew was comprised of many experience veterans. Stops were great for support and encouragement as well as the refueling provided with fruit, snacks, and water.

Sunday, June 26th

The ride started bright and early from Taylor, heading to Ainsworth. The Taylor UMC created a huge breakfast spread that included fruit, eggs, pancakes, and more. The wind was to the backs of the riders making the 70-plus miles seem as much like a breeze as 70-plus miles can ever be considered.

Monday, June 27th

Monday afternoon saw 99 NUMB riders take to the Niobrara on tubes. A two-hour excursion brought floaters to Smith Falls where the cool spring fed falls refreshed everyone before heading back to camp.

The Valentine UMC was the location for the spaghetti feed that capped a full day.

Entertainment included the Dallas Parker Almost Gospel Band. Dallas Parker was featured on the "fiddle." Tunes such as May the Circle be Unbroken and Amazing Grace left the group satisfied and happy about the entire day's events.

Tuesday, June 28th

The nearly 75 miles from Valentine to Bassett went quickly for early starters. For others like me (Kathryn Witte) it was a little more challenging. The tall grasses and ocassional fields of the Sandhills framed the day in a picturesque setting while reminding everyone that nature and the terrain are often more telling.

A thunderstorm hit Valentine Tuesday night rocking many of the tents and sending many inside the Valentine UMC. The ride started with a light fog on the ground and a challenging hill right outside of Valentine as one embarks for Bassett.

Wild turkeys, and even elk greeted riders along the way. Many ate lunch in Springview before completing the final third of the ride.

Lift tickets sold for $2 per lift were sold on Monday evening as a preventative move for those thinking that they might be out of steam by the time they reached the "other" major hill about 15 miles outside of Bassett. Proceeds from the lift ticket sales also go toward hunger projects.

On Wednesday, the ride concludes in Taylor where it all began.

Bassett to Taylor - Wednesday, June 29th

An early start was the strategy on Wednesday. Weather forecasts predicted wind by mid-morning to early afternoon. A thunderstorm started the day, keeping some from leaving as early as they had planned.

A few sprinkles fell on some riders on the way to Taylor, but most enjoyed a weather-free ride. The wind also waited until a little later in the day to arrive in full stride.

Almost all riders were in by noon to enjoy a lunch prepared by the Taylor UMC, held in the fairgrounds dining hall.

By 2 p.m., most riders had packed their gear and left town, leaving Taylor and the Nebraska Sandhills to their quiet Great Plains habitat.

For scenes from the 2005 NUMB Ride, see the slideshow below.

NUMB Ride 2005

More Scenes From NUMB 2005

Special thanks to the Nebraska United Methodist Conference for providing this article.

since 10/30/2002

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this page last updated 01/12/05