North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity would like to invite Cycle Mesabi riders to participate in their 2010 Habitat 500 Bike Ride, July 11 - 17th.
The 2010 Habitat 500 bike ride will be coming through Hibbing this year. The 130 riders will arrive in Hibbing on July 14th and stay through the 15th. Our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate was chosen to host the 1800th Habitat home built in Minnesota and the Habitat 500 bike riders will be helping to
build it on July 15th.
The ride will be held from July 11th through the 17th.
We are looking for riders in the Hibbing area who would like to do this ride this year. There is a $175 registration fee and each rider raises $900 for their Habitat affiliate of choice.
A team of riders can be formed to ride where one member rides one day and then another member takes day two and so on. The team then raises $900 between themselves.
The route:
Day 1 - 55 miles
Sunday, July 11
Sandstone to Isle
Day 2 - 75 miles
Monday, July 12
Isle to Hill City
Day 3 - 70 miles
Tuesday, July 13
Hill City to Grand Rapids
Day 4 - 100 miles
Wednesday, July 14
Grand Rapids to Hibbing
(with optional short cut for 80 mile ride)
Day 5 - 70 miles
Thursday, July 15
Hibbing Loop!
Bike, Build or Breather Day
Day 6 - 75 miles
Friday, July 16
Hibbing to Esko
Day 7 - 50 miles
Saturday, July 17
Esko to Sandstone
Riders who are interested are welcome to call me at 218-749-8910 or check out the Habitat 500 website, www.habitat500.org or both!
If you need some encouragement, and further information look below for a letter written in 2009:
The letter below is from Jon Siman pictured here with his wife Sharon and son Jessie:
"As I write this invitation, the weather is not exactly turning my thoughts to the prospects of warmer weather to come and life without winter coat, gloves, and something to cover my lack of natural insulation on the top of my head. But, I guess it's at least snowing like April showers. And, it is time to plan ahead, that dreaded notion my wife likes to taunt me with! I actually had a call last week from a friend who cross-country skis on a daily basis. He asked if I was interested in a trip to the Boundary Waters. I immediately thought there was no way I could consider such a skiing trek given my non-existent readiness for such an adventure. Then he added, this August. I was totally impressed with his desire to plan his summer. I am offering you such opportunity!!!
July 12-18 is the 17th annual Habitat 500 (please note that this was last year's ride) -- "a fully supported 500-mile, 7-day bicycle ride benefiting Habitat for Humanity; the ride has raised over $3.25 million for Habitat home construction in Minnesota." This is your "call" to plan your summer and feel a sense of order in your life. Like me in my initial response to my friend's invitation, you could react like this consideration is beyond the realm of physical "do-ability" and the excuses would flow through your head like snow that should be melting off our roofs. So, you need to be convinced that you have the wherewithal to participate in such a worthy fund-raising event.
By happenstance I engaged a veteran participant in at least 9 of the last 16 rides. At the time, 6 rides ago for me, I was in my mid-fifties and entertaining a kind-of-midlife-crisis that involved awareness I could feel better if I were more physically fit. This encourager appealed to my ego that if he could do it at our age, why not me. I accepted the challenge. On the ride I have encountered riders ranging in age from 13 to 70 who will accommodate any pace you can manage. And yes, there are older riders than me that I can't keep up with.
If you are already an avid rider and don't need to be convinced about your physical wherewithal, join us on one of the best-supported, 7-day bicycle excursions described by participants as a summer camp family reunion. Over 60 percent of the riders return each year. And, what makes this camaraderie so inviting for repeaters and first-timers is the spirit that underlies the volunteerism that makes Habitat for Humanity work - teamwork and commitment to the cause of funding and building affordable homes is truly a blessing to all involved in the effort."
JOIN US - The North St. Louis County HFH riding team needs you!!!
Jon Siman
North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity
www.nslchfh.org
Tel: (218) 749-8910
Toll free: (866) 749-8910
PO Box 24
Virginia, MN 55792
