Takes True Grit to do 105-mile bicycle ride

The annual True Grit Ride 105 and True Grit 5K are Saturday morning at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith.

A fundraiser for Community Services Clearinghouse, True Grit offers timed road rides as well as a guided mountain bike tour. As the name suggests, the bike routes are designed to be exercise.

Beginning at 7 a.m. at the Crossing, 7313 Terry St., the seventh annual road event has 10-, 30-, 45- and 62-mile options as well as the 105-miler.

The 105-mile course entails a bit more than a half-mile in elevation gain overall, and there is a short but memorably steep grade near the end. Because riders wear timing chips, they can compare their performance with other riders using Strava, a smartphone app for runners and cyclists.

Chuckwagon aid stations will be roughly 10 miles apart, and there will be snacks at the start and barbecue at the finish. All courses close at 4 p.m.

Registration and maps are at truegritride.com. Joining the 10-miler costs $45, and the longer rides cost $55 each.

Phat Tire bike shop will lead the 18-mile mountain bike ride at 7:20 a.m. for $50.

Runners and walkers can compete in the 5K at 8 a.m. for $35. The first three finishers overall (only), male and female, will win awards. All entries come with T-shirt, goody bag, breakfast snacks and, beginning at 10:30 a.m., BBQ.

New this year is a mixer from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Phat Tire, 1700 Rogers Ave. Register, pick up packets, enjoy free dinner, drinks, music and a silent auction.

All proceeds support the Clearinghouse, which connects people to emergency help in Crawford, Sebastian, Logan, Scott and Franklin counties in Arkansas and two counties in Oklahoma. The charity also distributes weekend backpacks of food to children who otherwise would miss meals.

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ActiveStyle on 06/18/2018

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