The Big Dam Bridge turned 11 this year, just in time for the 12th annual Big Dam Bridge 100 bike tour.
Wrap your mind around that.
The state's largest bicycle event, the BDB 100 attracted almost 3,000 riders in 2016. The field is capped at 3,500 participants this time, and registration will close if that many sign up.
Some riders will race one another, but it's technically not a race. Riders slow, fast and in between will line up.
They have the option of being timed using a tag that must be attached to the bike. There are no awards for being the fastest; everyone who completes a 50-, 68- or 100-mile route gets a medal. Riders who complete the 10- or 32-mile ride will receive pins.
The staging area will open at 6 a.m. Saturday at Riverfront Drive and Willow Street in North Little Rock.
The options are 10 miles (for $40) and 32-, 50-, 68- or 100-mile routes for $59.95 ($110 for a tandem bicycle in any of the distances). Online registration closes after 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Registration fees include a Gears and Beers party from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St. in Little Rock. Lost 40 Brewery will provide the food and drink.
In-person registration and packet pickup will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday during the Big Dam Bridge 100 Expo at the Statehouse Convention Center, 101 E. Markham St. in Little Rock. The 10-miler will still cost $40, but the other distances will cost an extra $4, and tandem entries will cost $120.
There is no ride-day registration, but packets may be picked up between 5 and 6:30 a.m. Saturday at Orbea USA, 700 W. Broadway in North Little Rock. Adult participants must pick up their own packets and show a photo ID; parents or guardians can collect packets for a minor.
Starting corrals will be based on distance and projected finishing times. The blue corral, which will start at 7 a.m., will be for riders in the 50-, 68- and 100-mile distances who will keep an approximate pace of 17.5 mph or faster. The yellow corral will start at 7:10 a.m. for slower riders doing the same routes. (Note: The finish line and course aid will close at 4:30 p.m.).
BDB 100 charter members (who supported the first BDB 100 in 2006) and tandem riders will start early at 6:55.
The green corral, which will start at 7:20 a.m., will be for all the 10- and 32-mile riders, regardless of pace.
Organizers recommend that participants carry cellphones, but support vehicles and aid stations will be scattered along the courses to rescue any distressed riders and provide food and water. Courses will be marked, and law enforcement will monitor major intersections.
Riders must wear helmets and follow all traffic laws. GPS Exchange Format (GPX) files of the maps can be downloaded from the website.
The entertainment stage and finish-line celebration -- the BDB Finale Fest -- will be on the North Little Rock riverfront near the Willow Street entrance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. In past years, they occupied the 300 block of Main Street, but organizers moved it for the Broadway Bridge construction, and the new location has stuck around at least for this year.
Free parking for the ride and post-ride festivities will still be at East Fourth and North Poplar streets in North Little Rock.
For more information and online registration, visit thebigdambridge100.com.
By the way, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is a sponsor of the 10-mile Family Ride.
East End Sizzler 5K
The East End Sizzler 5K will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at East Union Missionary Baptist Church, 20422 N. Springlake Road in Hensley.
Race-day registration will be available on-site from 7 to 7:45 a.m. for $30. T-shirts will be available while supplies last.
Trophies will be given to the fastest overall male and female runners. Also, awards will be given three deep by sex and age group.
Proceeds will be used by the Little Rock South Lions Club to support various projects in the East End Community. There will be a health fair from 8 to 10 a.m. with free screenings as well as the 18-by-14-by-12-foot inflatable "Mega Brain" exhibit, which provides stroke education.
For more information, visit facebook.com/lrslc.
CASA Superhero Colorful 5K
The CASA Superhero Colorful 5K will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Baptist Church, 3115 Trinity Blvd., Texarkana. There will be a shorter kids competitive run for ages 5 to 11 preceding the 5K at 8:30.
Online registration is available until 11:59 p.m. Friday. The 5K is $35, and the kids run is $20 (children are welcome to participate in both events with just one paid registration).
Packet pickup will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the CASA Office, 1201 Main St., Texarkana, Texas.
On-site registration and packet pickup will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. There will also be a pre-race stretch and warmup during this time.
The kids run will be in an open field, and the 5K will involve a loop through a cross country trail system. Runners are encouraged to dress as superheroes. There will be stations throughout the race where runners will be showered with brightly colored cornstarch.
There will be food and activities for children of all ages at the finish line.
Proceeds benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children.
For online registration, go to runsignup.com and search for "CASA Colorful 5K."
Please send tips for active recreation to
cbyrd@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 09/18/2017