News and information about bicycling in and around Kinston.
Bicycle Fitness Ride for Scholarship 2010
7:30 Registration
Choose between a 9.5 mile or 22.5 mile ride through Kinston, NC as a fitness activity for scholarship.
The event begins at the Farmers Market Area and continues through sections of the city. Registration begins at 7:30a.m Saturday morning. Bicycle helmets are required for riders under the age of 16 and recommended for riders 16 and over. Proceeds from the event will assist in funding scholarships for high school students through the “Fonnie B. Murrill and Ruth M. Jones Scholarship Foundation.” Special awards will be presented to the oldest, youngest participants and the participant who has traveled the farthest distance for the event. Prizes will be awarded by lottery to three riders for each route. All awardees must complete the 9.5 or 22.5 mile rides.
Contacts - Bert Statum at Riverside Bicycle Shop - 252 - 520-9400 or Edwin Jones - 252-527-0039ECJCSCS@aol.com
This event is part of the larger BBQ Festival on the Neuse, which is Kinston's premier downtown festival and well worth coming to see. There will be BBQ plates for sale at lunch and lots of other great activities. For more info on the festival, visit KinstonBBQ.com.
Bicycle Fitness Ride for Scholarship
- Le Tour de Kinston
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| Fitness Ride 2009 |
Thirty one bicycle riders ages nine to sixty-nine pedaled a 9.4 mile "Bicycle Fitness Ride for Scholarship" on Saturday, April 4, 2009 through Mitchelltown, West Kinston and East Kinston. Riders, who were family members and individual participants, came from Kinston, La Grange, and Morehead City and as far away as Lakeland, Florida to ride for scholarship. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Fonnie B. Murrill and Ruth M. Jones Scholarship Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships to deserving graduating seniors in Lenoir County High Schools.
The onsite registration was facilitated by J. Perez - student at Lenoir Community College Early College High School, A. Garris and E. Carmon, adult volunteers. Riders were treated to juice and bagels as they arrived before the ride. Edwin Jones welcomed the riders before the kick-off for the ride, as they listened to music provided by Entertainment Xpress. Bert Statum discussed the ride instructions and the 31 riders were off on Le Tour de Kinston.
This was truly a community effort for scholarship, safety, fitness, and fun. With the help of Riverside Bicycle and Outdoor Sports and the Kinston-Lenoir County Department of Parks and Recreation, the course and the directions were clearly marked to ensure that the riders would stay on the assigned route. Riverside and Outdoor Sports Owner, Bert Statum provided all participants with a free bicycle safety check. Tim Knobeloch, Recreation Superintendent for Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Department worked closely with the planning committee to offer suggestions to make the bicycle ride a success.
The Kinston Police Department (KPD) was outstanding in their support for this event. Under the leadership of Commander R. Ingram, the assigned police detail was there with the precision and the safety needed for the riders to have an enjoyable and safe ride. Volunteers from Kinston-Lenoir County Boys and Girls Club, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Men from St. Augustus A.M.E Zion Church complimented the Lenoir County Early College High School volunteer students who were veterans in working their second event including the "The Kinston 8000 Run of the River," on March 28. An EMS vehicle was onsite in case of an emergency with the bike riders.
The 9.4 mile ride was paced by the KPD followed by 9 year old C. Walker who was the youngest to complete the ride. It was evident that Walker's fitness was exceptional as she was the leader for the majority of the ride. For completing the ride as the youngest rider, Charley was presented with a bicycle lock from Wal-mart.
Bert Statum, the ride coordinator, rode at the front of the cyclists while Jay Statum drove the sag wagon with a trailer at the rear in the event any of the cyclists were unable to finish the ride. The pace was 12 to 15 mph. All riders completed the 9.4 mile ride.
It was estimated the ride would take 75 to 90 minutes, but the first group of riders returned after 55 minutes. Entertainment Xpress continued playing the music as the cyclists finished the ride. After the ride, the cyclists were given complimentary t-shirts and refreshments.
Mayor Ritch greeted the riders and spoke about the event. Six awards were presented by lottery to riders who received four Golden Corral buffet lunches and two Applebee's Manager's Meal Passes. The rider who traveled from Lakeland, Florida was not awarded a plane ticket back to Florida but a $25.00 gas card from Murphy's Express. Our most mature rider was awarded dinner for two at the Chef and Farmer Restaurant.
Edwin Jones closed the event by expressing appreciation for the many individuals who supported the event and promised everyone to look for more riders and more fun next year in the "Bicycle Fitness Ride for Scholarship" - 2010.
The Fonnie B. Murrill and Ruth M. Jones Scholarship Foundation Riverside Bicycle and Outdoor Sports Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation
Sponsors
The Noon Rotary Club; Donald Pollock, Attorney; Nicholas E. Harvey, Attorney; Lenoir Family Medicine; Eric Ibegbu, MD; Chef and Farmer Restaurant; Subway - Kinston, Golden Corral Restaurant; Applebee's Restaurant - Kinston; Murphy's Express - Kinston; Donald Kennedy Insurance Agency; Wal-Mart Kinston; Food Lion #1687; Piggly Wiggly - #66; Piggly Wiggly at the Plaza; Corporate Resources; Lowe's; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; Minges Bottling Group; Entertainment Xpress; Coastal Connections Marketing
TACC9, Sammy C Photography and the Kinston Free Press were instrumental with media support, while the Kinston - Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and Kinston - Lenoir County Travel and Tourism were information centers.
With 31 riders who participated in the ride and 100 more who ride leisurely, let us all look at riding bicycles to work, riding to do our daily chores and riding for fitness and exercise. As we take rides, encourage vendors that you support to consider placing bike racks in front of their establishments to encourage bicycle riding and to promote fitness in Kinston.
Individuals and businesses interested in making donations to the foundation should mail as follows: Fonnie B. Murrill and Ruth M. Jones Scholarship Foundation - P.O. Box 3685 Kinston, NC 28502. Contact Edwin Jones @ ECJCSCS@aol.com for more information.