Steve Hegg has been an Olympic cycling gold medalist, a multiple national champion in both cycling and skiing and the world-record holder for speed in a human-powered boat. He also surfs, golfs, runs marathons and has competed in the Ironman Triathlon.
So when he travels from southern California to the Flathead in September, he’s not looking to pad his athletic resume. That resume is thoroughly padded. Like other participants in the Huckleberry 100, Hegg is really just looking to have a good time and enjoy the “beautiful scenery.”
“Last time I was in Montana I was ski racing, not riding, so this is a great opportunity,” Hegg said last week. “I am looking forward to riding in the beautiful state of Montana.”
On Sept. 15, Fresh Life Radio – the 91.3 FM Christian radio station of Fresh Life Church – will present its second Huckleberry 100. The event was originally established three decades ago but then came to a stop. Last year, Fresh Life Radio revived the cycling tour as a fun ride open to cyclists of all abilities. More than 100 riders participated.
Courtenay Dulak of Fresh Life Church and Ron Brunk of Glacier Cyclery and Nordic are organizing this year’s event, which features a number of sponsors. The gold sponsors are Glacier Cyclery, Hammer Nutrition, Montana Adventure Sports, Wheaton’s, Twisted Bliss Frozen Yogurt and Professional Therapy Associates.
As its name suggests, the Huckleberry 100 takes riders on a 100-mile scenic ride through the Flathead Valley’s towns and along its roads. If 100 miles seems daunting, riders can instead opt for a 50-mile course, 25-mile course or the roughly 12-mile family ride that mainly follows bike paths.
The 100-mile course begins in downtown Kalispell and winds by Somers, through Bigfork, through Kalispell again and up to Whitefish before heading south near Columbia Falls back to Kalispell. Since the ride isn’t timed, cyclists of all abilities can feel comfortable completing the course at their own pace.
“It’s a great family-friendly event,” Dulak said.
Dulak said registrations have already been coming in from Florida, Colorado, Canada and elsewhere, as well as Montana. Registration costs $55 for the 100- and 50-mile rides and $30 for the 25-mile and family rides. Riders can register early or on the day of the event, though the cost goes up $5 for the longer rides.
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Fresh Life Radio revived the Huckleberry 100 last year three decades after it first started up. | Photo courtesy of Fresh Life Radio |
In addition to the cycling portion, the Huckleberry 100 will feature a festival in downtown Kalispell on the day of the ride. The festival will have live music, food vendors and family-friendly activities like face painting.
Dulak said the event offers an economic boost at a time when the Flathead’s busy summer season is winding down. The Kalispell Convention and Visitor Bureau, which reached out to Hegg, has been trying to establish more off-season events like the Huckleberry 100.
The Huckleberry 100 comes a week after the Montana Dragon Boat Festival, another event the convention and visitor bureau is promoting as a boon to the valley.
Dulak said organizers are also raising money to purchase “100 bikes for 100 kids” through Court Appointed Special Advocates, a child advocacy program with a chapter in the Flathead. It costs $100 to sponsor a bike.
“We want to get kids good bikes that encourage a healthy lifestyle,” she said.
Everyone from serious racers looking for a training opportunity to novices looking for a challenge are encouraged to sign up for the ride, Dulak said.
“A lot of people need a goal to get in shape and this is a great goal to shoot for,” she said. “To accomplish something like that, whether it’s 25, 50 or 100 miles, is a huge accomplishment.”
For more information, visit www.huckleberry100.com or contact Dulak by phone at 406-257-3339 or by email at [email protected].