MCC celebrates 25 years of outreach with Flatlander Ride

In a file photo, Kevin Boyd makes final preparations before riding his Penny Farthing Bike for 45 miles. Saturday was the 19th-annual Flatlander ride for the Mennonite Central Committee. Photo by Clint Harden

By Allison Weaver

A lack of access to clean water is an ongoing crisis for the women of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Here, half a world apart, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) aims to aid that crisis in an unusual way: by bicycling.

The Flatlander Bicycle Ride, sponsored by the MCC in North Newton, always aims to provide clean, sustainable water for a group of people but selects a different project each year.

The emphasis on water is based in the interests of bikers everywhere.

Because water is so important to bike riders, it is a cause that could touch their hearts, and they can always […] relate to the need for clean, accessible water,” said Chair of the Planning Committee Donna Becker.

This year’s pick is a clean water project that the MCC and the Christian Medical Action approach together; their goal is to provide sanitary wells and toilets for eight schools in the Bluefields area. This is the second year the proceeds have gone to this project.

These clean facilities will reduce the spread of disease, especially among school children, and reduce gender inequality. Given that the burden of collecting clean water is a traditionally female role, the lack of access to clean water leads to conflict and an increase of domestic and sexual abuse.

In previous years, the Flatlander Bicycle Ride has raised close to or at their standing goal of $10,000. For example, the 2020 virtual Flatlander Ride raised a total of $8,460 for the MCC.

In recent years, we have had some years where we were able to send $8,000, some where we sent $11 or $12,000, and one year, we sent $18,000,” Baker said.

Funds come primarily from the entry fees, and many entrants add their own contributions on top of the $30 adult entry fee.

This year’s ride will be a special one: 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Flatlander Ride, which saw its beginnings in 1996. Historically, it “has always been a benefit ride for the MCC,” Becker said.

To mark the occasion, the Flatlander Committee commissioned a redesign of the logo from designer Tasha Wentling.

That was the big project that we did […] It’s really distinctly different. We hope people take notice of that and appreciate the new look,” Becker said.

In a ride sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee and beginning in North Newton, one might expect entrants to be a mostly Mennonite crew.

Based on past experience, that isn’t the case.

Becker said about the participants that “there is a wide representation […] There are certainly a number of people with a Mennonite background, but people come from Wichita, Salina, Sedgwick, El Dorado, Colorado, Nebraska to ride. People come from all over the state and some from out of state.”

She believes that, among biking communities, the Flatlander is known chiefly for its expert handling of the event.

People really appreciate the Flatlander because it’s well organized,” Becker said.

In part, this is due to the event and staff’s years of experience. However, the ride is also known among bikers for another key detail: its cookies.

[During the ride,] we do have rest stops about every 10 miles on the track, and we have volunteers host a stop with water, and one of the features of our ride is the homemade cookies,” Becker said. “Over the years, I have baked many, many dozens of cookies for volunteers who want to be at the site but can’t furnish the food.”

The cookies are appreciated by riders of all ages. While Becker noted that most of the riders are single riders that “likely ride with a friend or two,” there are also couples and a handful of families who take to the track.

To be suitable for families as well as less experienced riders, the routes are planned to be accessible to all ages and skill levels.

We had a three year old a few years ago who biked out the four miles and was offered a ride back [for the other four], and he said, “Oh, no. I don’t want a ride back; I want to ride my bicycle back,” Becker recounted.

For people who aren’t as interested in biking, there are still ways to join the fun.

We would dearly love to have a couple more people join the planning committee, and we also do use volunteers the morning,” Becker said.

She also voiced appreciation for past volunteers and staple helpers, such as the Newton Ham Radio Club, which helps volunteers keep in touch, and Everett Bradly, or “Dr. Bike”, who helps riders with any last-minute tune ups or emergencies with equipment.

Ultimately, the ride is for both the riders and for a good cause.

We see it as a great opportunity to support access to clean water as well as providing an opportunity for exercise, for fitness, for camaraderie among the riders,” Becker said. “So I would say, if you’re looking for a bike ride that is suitable to any rider ability, and you care about access to clean water in any part of the world, then this is the ride for you.”

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