On Saturday August 6th members of the BBLACC participated and volunteered in staffing the final Bicycle “Aid Station” for the Tour de Big Bear. Our “Aid Station” featured the famous CAR-oops- BIKE WASH to cool off over 2,200 overheated bicyclist's at the Bear Mt. ski area finish line. Bicycle distances included a Family Fun Ride, 25, 50, 70 and 100 mile courses plus the Dirty Bear 25 and 50 mile dirt/gravel rides.
Besides our club volunteers, we were joined by several U.S. Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC) volunteers to staff this large “Aid Station”. We passed out bananas, watermelon, strawberries, cookies, chocolate covered blueberries (Lynn Fowler's favorite), oranges, popsicles, Gatorade, chocolate milk, and water to bike finish participants. We totally enjoyed and needed the partnership of the USARC volunteers to staff this large station adequately. A big “thank you” goes out to seven USARC staff who worked with us. We also learned quite a bit about their upcoming “Peak to Peak” bicycle fund raising effort this October where participants ride over five days from Big Bear to Mammoth Mt. USARC provides opportunities for disabled individuals to experience winter and summer sports at Bear Mt. ski area and on Big Bear Lake.
Our preparation for the “Aid Station” started on Friday August 5th with the set-up of the Bike Wash tents, water misters, and signage plus the tables and shade covers for the next day's food and nourishment distribution. In addition to our “Aid Station” responsibilities, it was first time that BBLACC vehicles participated in the Tour de Big Bear! Bright and early Saturday morning, six Club members provided their Antique cars to “escort” the staggered race distance starts through the community from Bear Mt. Ski area to Stanfield Cutoff. Now that was an adventure having several hundred aggressive bike riders going downhill and staying behind your “escort” vehicle to Stanfield!!! In the past, Tour de Big Bear used a motorcycle for the escort starts. Tour de Big Bear staff and many event participants commented on the uniqueness and special partnership in having BBLACC vehicles lead the way for the tour starts! Many participants poised for pictures with our club vehicles before each start. After the completed starts, all of the club vehicles were staged near the “Aid Station” and “Bike Wash” for display and provide some eye candy!
All of the participating club members and USARC volunteers sure had fun for the day and felt it was a great success in community outreach.
