Cyclists on mission across Minnesota
Sarah Day — Staff Writer
POSTED: May 23, 2008
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Seven local people, ages 24 to 47, will bike those miles, following roads and highways along I-90 until they reach Wisconsin on Sunday.
Members of the group joke that they’re doing it because of insanity, but the real reason is significantly more sincere.
The group consists of Bruce Larson, Wyman Fischer, Reed Walters, Logan Kahler, John Erickson, Jen Bartholmey and Katie McConnell. They are going to test their physcial abilities to support a mission trip sponsored by Bethel Evengelical Free Church of Fairmont.
The trip will be to Kaluga, Russia, for the 12th year. Eleven people — six from Fairmont — are going on May 30 and staying through June 8, with several different missions in mind.
Overall, the trips have helped develop and work with orphanges in the region, build a rehabilitation center for men, and developed churches. They also bring a message of faith.
The goal of the cyclists is to raise financial and prayer support.
“It’s mainly just bringing awareness,” Walters said. “To get the word out for people who have a heart for Russian people or the missions. Maybe it will encourage people to get out on a bike this summer.”
Fischer said he started reading a book by Ed Viesturs, who wrote about climbing the 14 tallest mountains on Earth without adequate oxygen.
“I always wanted to climb Mount Everest, but I think that time has passed,” he said.
After hearing tales of adventure from a local bike shop, Fischer got to thinking of an alternative. He and Kahler met for lunch one day in late January or early February and came up with the idea.
“He made it sound very easy at the time,” Erickson said.
Since the snow started melting, or any day that was above 45 degrees, the cyclists have been training.
“(Training) is primarily just saddle time,” Larson said. “Also endurance training, just trying to keep a fast pace.”
Individuals in the group have done mini-marathons, such as from Fairmont to New Ulm, but nothing this extensive. Erickson said he loves biking, and the others agreed.
“Yeah, otherwise this would be very painful,” Kahler said.
The group is bringing support with them — the four-wheeled motorized variety. Since they’ll be cycling with lightweight road bikes, they can’t put bags on them without significantly weighing them down. If they did, it would slow their progress. So one of the bikers will be driving the vehicle, with at least one biker pedaling the miles at all times. The vehicle also provides safety, in case of injury or emergency.
Larson said the exact route is not known, because the weather changes.
“Would you say that’s our biggest challenge?” Walters asked.
Larson said it was, especially since rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the entire weekend.
The group will leave Fairmont at 6 a.m. for the South Dakota border and expect to start riding by 8 a.m. They anticipate riding through the Fairmont area in mid to late afternoon, but can’t pinpoint an exact time.
The group asks anyone interested in donating funds to the mission trip to contact the church office at (507) 235-5513 or BEFC 1125 S. State St., Fairmont, MN 56031.
