Bike ride Gears up again
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

VALLE CRUCIS — It will be no surprise that the 100-mile part of the Blood, Sweat and Gears will be a sellout. Sonny Sweet, the director of the Watauga Red Cross and the creator of the fund-raising event, expects that all 750 slots will be taken by the time the June 23 bike ride is run.

It begins at 7:30 a.m., at Valle Crucis Elementary School.

It’s hard to say just how many riders will try the 50-mile alternative. Last year, they took to the course in record numbers. Sweet is hopeful it happens again.

Last year, the ride raised $36,000 for the Jeremy Fisher Fund, which is the primary source for the Red Cross’ disaster relief. Now in its eighth year, the ride has become an important part of funding the Red Cross in Watauga County. Sweet feels it could be $43,000 if all of the slots are sold.

So far, there are 741 riders registered for both courses, but it’s still early. Sweet said there are little over 100 slots available for the 100-mile ride. Last year, there were 1,187 riders overall, with all of the 750 slots for the 100-mile ride taken. This year, the entry fee is $50.

“I’m sure we’ll sell out by mid June,” Sweet said. “The plan is never to go over 1,250 with the two rides. The infrastructure would not support it. You’d run out of volunteers, you’d run out of bathrooms, you’d run out of food. It just gets too big.”

Sweet said that last year’s winner, Chris Harkey, who has won the event every year he’s participated, is bringing his team to Boone. Harkey is from Mount Pleasant, N.C.

Sweet said the ride is not necessarily supposed to be competitive, but added that it’s hard for athletes not to compete once they are on the course. He speculated that a small group will break away from the field and try to win the ride, but most of the other riders will be testing their own abilities.

However, no matter if riders are racing or competing against themselves, safety is Sweet’s primary concern. He speculated that the first 100 riders fall into the racing category, while the others will just try to finish the ride.

“But as human nature says, if you’re a Chris Harkey and you’re about a Chris Harkey, you’re racing,” Sweet said. “That’s all there is too it. You’re competing against each other.”

“They’re the ones who do not stop at aid stations,” he added.

Sweet said the ride would not be possible without the volunteers who serve at aid stations, direct traffic and provide medical aid should there be an accident. Many of the volunteers are in law enforcement, who make sure the riders stay on course.

Sweet said at least 165 volunteers are needed for the ride, but he’s lost count on how many have been used recently.

“I say 165 because the first couple of years, that’s exactly what we ended up with,” he said. “There may be more or there may be less.”

The Jeremy Fisher Fund was established by his parents after he was killed in a fire in 1996. The ride is the only major event held to raise money for the fund. Sweet said there are usually 20 fires per year which require financial assistance from the Red Cross.

“Jeremy Fisher was killed in a fire in 1996 after graduating from Appalachian State,” Sweet said. “His parents established a memorial fund and the money from the 100-mile ride goes into the Jeremy Fisher Fund, which enables us to fund disaster relief for victims in Watauga County.”