The Ride...At 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 3 cyclists began arriving at Davidson United Methodist Church to register or check-in for the ride.
At 8:30 AM Event Chair Dick Hay welcomed the riders and announced the start of the 100K route, followed shortly thereafter by the start of the 50K and 25K courses.
In the meantime, families and children enjoyed the bike safety course set up on-site by the Davidson Police Department. At 9:30 AM the Family Fun Ride set out at a fast pace to wind through nearby Davidson neighborhoods.
Later, as cyclists began returning from their routes, sub-sandwiches, cookies, water and Gatorade were ready for them.
The Support...
Without a doubt, the Rest Stops, SAG (Safety and Gear) Vehicles, and volunteers made the ride a success. Manning the Rest Stops were groups from Davidson IB Middle School, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Girl Scout Troop 2703, Girl Scout Troop 2742, and Davidson Day School. Over 30 volunteers dedicated their Saturday to help set-up, oversee, and take-down the event. We couldn't have done it without them!
The Planning...
Every year, a team of "Ride Captains" works to prepare the Ride for Hope & Housing. Though there are many details to organize, this group has a lot of fun along the way! Want to be a part of plannng for next year's ride? Have suggestions for the future? We welcome your input. Email
us anytime.
The Results...
Thanks to the support of riders, volunteers, and 36 local businesses, Davidson Housing Coalition raised more than $7,500 to directly support its affordable housing, emergency home repair prorgramming, and homebuyer education and counseling services in our community.
The cyclists themselves best expressed their satisfaction with the event. In post-ride survey responses, they enthused, "The volunteers were SUPER! The course was fantastic," "Great time of year. Quite fun!" and "Keep up the great work." The thanks we receive from our riders encourages us as already we begin to plan for next year's event.
