First-ever CHaFE 150 bike event empowers riders - and kids

SANDPOINT — For Sandpoint resident Brad Williams, worlds collided when he brought together his passion for biking, a fond recollection of childhood summers spent in the picturesque Bull Lake region of Montana, and a genuine concern that local school kids get a high quality education.

And the result is nothing short of extraordinary: A first-ever premier, nearly 150-mile-long biking event that will wind its way through the Idaho and Montana mountains this fall in support of education for young children.

Dubbed the CHaFE 150 — which stands for Cycle Hard For Education — this regional one-day bike ride on Sept. 13 begins in Sandpoint and heads east towards Montana, makes its way north through the beautiful Bull River valley, west along the Kootenai River and then returns south to Sandpoint. It is modeled after regional rides that Williams himself has participated in over the past 15 years, such as the ultra-successful RATPOD in Montana — an annual long-distance ride that fills up with 500 riders within the first 24 hours of open registration, while raising more than $100,000 for charity.

It was Williams’ experience at regional rides like RATPOD that gave him the idea a bike ride event could be staged out of Sandpoint through the Bull River valley and back. And it just so happened he knew of the perfect cause such an event could support.

Since its inception five years ago, Williams, a CPA, has served as board member and treasurer for the Panhandle Alliance For Education, a Sandpoint group that sprang up to support public schools in northern Idaho.

To him the fit only seemed natural — if PAFE was willing to undertake the effort necessary to pull off such a large-scale event. Not that “large” is something PAFE is shy of; the group has compiled a remarkable record of pulling off big endeavors. In its short life PAFE has provided more than $1.1 million in grants to local schools and teachers, along with building an endowment to support education over the long term.

Presented with the idea, the PAFE board endorsed Williams’ vision, and CHaFE was born.

“To see this ride happen is an actualization of Brad’s dream,” said Geraldine Lewis, organizer of the CHaFE 150 and a staff member at PAFE. “His enthusiasm is the key to success for this event.”

For the bicyclists who participate, the ride will be plenty challenging — while the course follows mainly level river valleys with no mountain passes to climb, it’s a 145.3-mile route to be ridden in a single day. It’s not for the faint of heart.

CHaFE will host more than 100 riders for its first year, and there are daunting logistics to support all those riders over a 150-mile course with four break stops, safety crews, food and refreshments, facility and equipment needs along with several dozen volunteers. Williams says that “the community support in terms of sponsorships, in kind donations and volunteer support has been overwhelming”.

All the energy from those riders, organizers and volunteers is going to a highly worthwhile cause. Funds from the registration fees, donations and sponsorships that riders collect all go to a new literacy program to help parents of young children get their kids ready for success in school.

Sponsors have started lining up to back the CHaFE 150. Rider signups for the event have been coming in from as far away as Colorado as more and more cyclists learn of the event. Williams has every expectation that the event will quickly gain notoriety in the region.

 “People don’t know it’s a great ride yet, but we plan to keep it going,” Williams said. “I have every expectation that in three to five years, it will reach its 500-rider cap.”

Those registered for the ride will be greeted at the Panhandle State Bank’s new Sandpoint Center in downtown Sandpoint on Friday, Sept. 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with complimentary appetizers, beer and wine, while picking up registration packets. The ride includes a breakfast the following morning of the ride at Coldwater Creek, plus five break stops located at 30-mile intervals featuring top-quality food with a different menu at each stop. Riders will also receive a T-shirt, and a coupon good for dinner at select Sandpoint-area restaurants. The CHAFE organizers aim to make sure the ride offers riders a unique, top-tier experience.

While Williams says this is not a race, but a fundraising ride, and there is no glory in coming in first, the final prize will be determined years later — when children get an earlier chance to read, improve their educational experience and get on the path to lifetime success.

Registration is still open, and costs $120 per rider. To learn more and to sign up, go to “www.chafe150.org.”

To learn more about the Ready! For Kindergarten program, go to “www.readysandpoint.org.”