Chafe 150 turns 10

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — Brad Williams grew up in Libby, Mont., and has lived in Sandpoint for long time, so he’s well versed in the scenic highways and byways of all parts in-between.

So 10 years ago he decided to start a bike ride fundraiser canvasing much of the mountainous terrain that this region is known for, and around 100 people showed up for the first Chafe 150 — an acronym for Cycle Hard for Education.

Come Saturday, that number will have more than tripled, as more than 300 cyclists from around the region and beyond will take part in the 10th annual Chafe 150 Gran Fondo, with rides of 150, 80 and 30 miles offered for cyclists of all levels.

“It’s such a beautiful ride with spectacular scenery,” claimed Williams, who has ridden in all but one Chafe. “This was a route that was begging to have something like that.”

There are three distances to choose from, which is part of the reason the event has grown steadily over the decade.

The 150 mile route starts and ends at City Beach, hitting the towns of Bonners Ferry, Troy, Noxon and Clark Fork while wending along scenic stretches of valleys along Lake Pend Oreille and the Bull River. The loop features 3,800 feet of elevation gain, adding some texture to the ride.

The 80-mile route starts in Troy, before hitting Noxon and Clark Fork on the way to City Beach, and gains 1,890 feet of elevation.

The 30 mile loop, added to draw more casual and recreational cyclists, starts at City Beach and winds through the Selle Valley and Pack River areas before heading back to Sandpoint, gaining 579 feet along the way.

Williams, a 59 year-old CPA, is the Chafe Ride Director, and an avid cyclist all of his life. He saw Hwy 56 in Montana as the perfect route to stage a ride, with ride being the operative word. He’s adamant that it’s not a race, calling those an entirely different animal altogether.

“It’s a Gran Fondo, and timed, but not a race by any stretch of the imagination,” he said. “There are no awards.”

First and foremost, the ride is a fundraiser, and a darn good one at that, with Chafe raising more than $160,000 in the last four years alone.

All proceeds go to the Lake Pend Oreille School District, helping staff to better meet the needs of students within the Autism Spectrum.

“The people who get recognition here are the people who raise the most money,” admitted Williams. “We’re proud of the funds we’ve raised and how the school district is bettering the lives for people with autism.”

Vicki Reich and Jon Hagadone, owners of Idaho Pour Authority, have been huge fundraisers in the past, as has Billie Jean Gerke. This year local Brad Epker is shooting to raise more than $4,000 by himself.

While the cyclists raise a lot of funds, it’s the yearly business sponsorships that helps the event not just grow and thrive, but raise more money.

“We have 90 sponsors for this event, and they cover the entire cost of putting on the ride. All of the money the riders make goes directly to our cause,” said Elana Westphal, Director of Public Relations for Chafe and owner of Lone Tree Creative, which does web design and logos. “I think that’s amazing. What a huge community effort.”

The record number of entries is 368 riders, and Westphal is hoping to reach it again this year. Each rider must raise a minimum of $50, with many raising much more.

Westphal is part of the group that presents LPOSD with a check each year, including a whopping $50,000 number last year. She called it a wonderful feeling and extremely emotional, and was moved seeing the footage of students and teachers while putting together a video recently.

“I care so much about this cause, and knowing we would be giving them money to impact their life,” said Westphal, who plans to ride the 30 mile route this year. “When I’m tired and working on the ride, that’s the thing I think about, are those children’s faces. I hope it just grows and grows each year. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Williams wished to thank Westphal, Mel Dick, Cliff Warren and Mickey Hawkins, among a host of others, for all of the behind the scenes work they put in the make the race a reality.

Dick has been a part of the event from the start, which for the first five years raised money for Panhandle Alliance For Education, an early-childhood education program. He was instrumental in bringing Sandpoint Rotary into the equation five years ago when PAFE decided to step down.

One of the more avid cyclists in the region, Dick said there are a couple big highlights in his eyes.

“Presenting checks to the local school district for $50,000 each of the last two years and watching younger riders completing the 30 mile fun ride to raise money for the cause,” he said, noting so many people step up when asked. “The community-wide support of 90 sponsors and over 100 volunteers making the ride a success.”

Another highlight is the after-ride party, held at Trinity at City Beach.

“The after-ride party is really something,” marveled Williams. “After you exert yourself for 10 hours and sit down in a beautiful location, it’s hard to beat.”

There is still time left to register, either by visiting the tent on the lawn at Trinity at City Beach today from 3-7 p.m., or on Saturday morning starting at 5 a.m.

Organizers encourage the whole community to attend the after-ride party, which takes place on Saturday on the lawn at Trinity at City Beach. Most riders come in from 3-6 p.m., and the party’s from 2-7 p.m. Trinity will be catering the barbecue with tickets for $13 and beer/wine for $5.

For more info, visit www.chafe150.org.

Eric Plummer can be reached by email at eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @EricDailyBee.