FEATURE STORY:
e
A not-so-secret ingredient
to the success of Bike MS
riders is the support of local
bike shops.
Behind the
Scenes at
Bike
MS
by Patricia Wadsley
Every year, the expertise and manpower of local bike shops help keep Bike MS rides going. Cycling stores spread the word about upcoming events and provide volunteers who work en route to fix
flat tires, straighten wheels, tighten chains and
perform whatever other maintenance is needed
to keep riders on the road. Many employees also
ride for the cause. But this year local bike shops
went the extra mile, forging an important new
relationship for Bike MS.
Hitting the ground biking
In Ohio, Century Cycles had supported Bike MS
for years.
“For a while, we were kind of behind the scenes,” says
Scott Cowan, owner of the three-store chain. “We
displayed the materials for Bike MS rides prominently
in our stores, making sure everyone in the community
knew when the ride would take place and how
they could join. During the ride, we worked at the
pit stops, providing support and dealing with any
mechanical issues. We were happy to be part of it.”
mechanical issues. We were happy to be part of it.”
Cowan had first learned about multiple
sclerosis when a college friend was
diagnosed. Then, when another
friend’s mother started using a
wheelchair because of her MS, Cowan
decided to raise funds for the cause by cycling from
Knoxville, Tenn., to New Orleans.
ce
friend’s mother started using a
Knoxville, Tenn., to New Orleans.
“The ride wasn’t associated with Bike MS, but I
decided I wanted to donate my sponsorship money
to the Society,” Cowan says. “That year I raised
$7,000 but I knew that I wanted to do more.”
“The ride wasn’t associated with Bike MS, but I
$7,000 but I knew that I wanted to do more.”
So in 2009 Cowan joined the Bay Rockets, a Bike
MS team made up of faculty from his old high
school. They started training for the Ohio Buckeye
Chapter’s Pedal to the Point, a ride that stretches
through the cornfields and hills of northern Ohio,
from Middleburg to Sandusky.
