For the most part, the biggest field in Flint Hills Gravel Ride and Run history had an enjoyable Saturday.
Roughly 850 participants took part in one of the various biking or running distances. This included individuals from more than 20 different states and three different countries.
Founder and lead organizer Bobby Thompson says as if the attendance was not a good enough sign of the event’s rising popularity, the fact that he is seeing it represented well beyond Kansas borders is certainly another.
Audio PlayerSaturday’s attendance illustrated how the event has continued to grow steadily as it was better than 100 more participants than the 2024 event and a better than 200-person increase since 2022. Thompson says there are a lot of things he believes have played a role in that uptick, including the community, the quality of the event and the majesty of the Flint Hills.
Audio PlayerPlans are already underway for the 2026 ride and run, with Thompson expecting another increase in participation between now and then. While he does not know what that increase might look like, Thompson says he does know how many participants he believes they will be able to manage in the future, noting he will, if necessary, cap the participation at 1,000.
Audio PlayerThe event took on a somber tone, unfortunately, as cyclist Steve Bell suffered an apparent cardiac-related event during the 49-mile ride. Bell was four miles away from the finish line when other cyclists found him unresponsive. Lyon County deputies and Emporia Fire responded, with an ambulance taking Bell to Newman Regional Health for treatment, but Bell, a Lawrence native and a World Languages, Literatures and Cultures professor at the University of Arkansas, passed away Saturday night. Thompson and other event organizers say they send their hugs and blessings to Bell’s wife, sons and other family members.
A YouTube short from Saturday’s activities is available here.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News and Aaron Davis
