Jim Snider from Ride South Recumbents in Brandon participated in the 2002 Birthday Challenge and brought quite a few members of the BentLovers Club (a recumbent bike club in Jackson) to the event.  

Ride South has sponsored a rest area for everyone to "get comfortable" at mile marker # 5.25. He generously sponsored a raffle at the Birthday Challengewhich helped raise money for the rest stop.

Here's Jim's report on the Birthday Challenge

BentLovers & Friends:

Here are a few choice frames from the video footage of the Longleaf Trace Birthday Challenge.  The photo quality is not the best, so till we get the movies loaded on the web site, you will have to come into the shop to see the real video!  We are also forwarding Bill's mail with some great still photos!  If you think we all had a great time, you are right on target!  Many thanks to those who came and helped to support the trail and our bent cause, through donations and your presence!  The kayak raffle was a great success as well, with the winning ticket held by Bob Maselle.  Bob lives on the water and has plenty of kids and grandkids who will try to gain paddle-time from him!  Way to go Bob!

Bill Hulett (RANS Screamer tandem with Karen Hulett) made some *shocking* photos at the start.  They were shocking because Bill touched a live wire in the gazebo while setting up the camera!; Consequentially, they were fired up and first out of the gate!  Thank you Bill for contributing many of the pictures below.

Jim Lee (RANS Rocket) soon left us all and blasted up the trail.  We saw him returning about 30 miles out, zipping down the trace on cruise control at about 25 mph.  I think we woke him up as we passed!  Don Sullivan (front faired RANS Stratus) and Bob Maselle (RANS Stratus) are always fun to ride with!  When informed about Bob's desire to ride to Utah, Don said Delta has good service, why not try that :-)?  We are sure that either of them could make it on a bent!   Danny Wallace (front faired RANS V2) rode well as usual, commenting that drafting the Screaming Huletts was a blast!

The gentleman of the day award goes to Steve Stephenson who postponed riding his brand new Lightning F-40 to ride with wife mate Pam Stephenson (new EZ-3 Trike) on his fun-to-ride Kett Wiesel trike.  They even hooked them together after a while to make a tandem!  Pam, who has MS disease, said she never thought she would see this day come!  Way to go Pam!!

Press York (RANS Stratus) and Amy York (RANS Tailwind) brought some friends down from Jackson, said Lane Snider (RANS V-Rex).  This rider (front faired RANS V-2) heard them complaining about butt soreness at one of the rest stops.  Maybe we can include them in our BentLovers group soon!

Everyone had a great time!  So far as I know, everyone at least met the mileage challenge . . .  five of us going the distance from deck to dirt, and back, 76 miles or 122 km.  Maybe next year we can have a lunch provided in Hattiesburg, say a turkey/cheese sandwich and some pasta?  Food for thought :-).  Great job promoting the ride and great website!

There were many others who couldn't come because of previous engagements or other technical reasons.  We missed you and hope you will join us on the next *bent event*!  This excellent 38 mile trail is soon to expand to 44 miles, and beyond, which will include our new Ride South rest area at mile marker 5.25!  The mayor of Prentiss announced an indoor health facility project coming soon, as well!   Prentiss, home of the famous Possum Queen, is always a great place to launch from! (There is no truth to the rumor that the Possum Queen, transformed, was the possum found sleeping in someone's car engine compartment at the trail head!  After extraction by Harry Strohm, the dejected possum was seen heading off to the woods!)  Lane said she may have seen the real Possum Queen, sans buck teeth, wig, boots, etc. on the trail.  We will never know for sure, though!  (You had to be at the MS150 banquet to know what we mean!)

In all, there were over 300 riders, walkers and runners, of all ages, from as far away as Michigan.  We even counted 10 hand cyclists on the trail!  We plan to keep our tradition of heading to Prentiss the first Saturday in every month, so stay tuned!  Thanks again to our customers and friends for your continued support!!!

Jim & Lane Snider
Ride South Recumbents
Reservoir, Mississippi
601 992-2490