Good Old Summertime Classic Bike Ride, Other Events This Weekend in Fayetteville

Nothing says the start of summertime more than a good old classic bike ride around a charming small quaint town. The 24th Annual Good Old Summertime Classic bike ride in Fayetteville is just that.

The Good Old Summertime Classic is an MS-150 sanctioned training ride that is open to all levels and ages of cyclists. This year it will be held on Sunday, June 6 starting at 8 a.m. rain or shine on the historic square. Riders along with getting a free t-shirt will also be able to enjoy a free barbecue lunch from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. John’s Church Pavilion. You can also purchase extra plates for friends and family. There will be four routes

There will be four routes all circling around Fayetteville starting from 7.5 miles, 16.9 miles, 25.2 miles to 34.6 miles. Riders can opt to ride any or all routes, either once, or several times. Also, all of the bike riders can expect a safe ride because the Fayette County Deputies will be out and about to keep riders safe and all the routes are approved for non-busy roads.

Bob and Yvonne McCowen, Fayetteville residents, started the ride in 1997. Before retiring to Fayetteville, Bob and Yvonne owned three bicycle shops in Houston and very actively supported the MS-150 and other organized rides in the Houston area. Yvonne is also known for her rest stop which serves the riders her famous homemade cookies which led to her being called “the cookie lady.” Besides her cookies, she will also be serving snacks, pickles, and Gatorade which help riders with any muscle cramps. Along with her rest stop, the superintendent of the school and the Friends of Fayetteville will be manning the other stops.

All proceeds from the ride will continue to benefit the Fayetteville Independent School District (FISD) through the Athletic Department and Education Foundation. In the last 23 years, over $120,000 has been raised to benefit the FISD.

Clint Jaeger, Fayetteville High School’s athletic director, said, “This ride has been a very helpful fundraiser for our school to allow us to purchase things that are not covered in our budget. It helps the whole school overall and not just our athletic department which makes it an even better fundraiser. We encourage everyone locals and out-of-towners to just enjoy the backroads and have a great fun ride.” This past semester 16 students took 21 dual credit courses paid for by the Educational Foundation. Among other things, in the past years, the school has been able to buy new uniforms, weight equipment, playground equipment, water fountains and so many other great things.

This year along with a silent auction Fayetteville Cycling will also be raffling two classic bicycles. The first is a Masi Gran Corsa with a value of $2,000. The second bicycle is a Masi Nuova Strada also valued at $2,000. For more information or to view these bicycles go to www.fayettevillecycling.com.

Plus, if you would like to have a whole fun-filled weekend full of bike riding then you can also participate in the fun free ride which will be held on Saturday, June 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. followed by a meet & greet at the old fire station for locals or visitors to meet the cyclists.

So this summer is the perfect classic summertime to ride because nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike for a good cause.