For Rich Bell, organizing the Hawaii Century Ride over the last few years has been more than just getting a group of cyclists together for a high mileage ride along some of the Big Island’s renown scenic roads.
For Rich Bell, organizing the Hawaii Century Ride over the last few years has been more than just getting a group of cyclists together for a high mileage ride along some of the Big Island’s renown scenic roads.
Bell’s efforts to host the annual 100-plus mile event, now in its fourth year, continues to hold a deep meaning that is close to his heart.
In 2012, Bell’s father passed away from cancer. Like many families who seek additional care to enhance the quality of a loved one’s life, Bell said his father benefited from the services of North Hawaii Hospice — a nonprofit organization providing compassionate care for terminally ill patients and support for their family members during the final stages of life.
Around the same time, Bell began the initial planning stages toward fulfilling a goal he had been thinking about for awhile – creating Hawaii Island’s first Century Ride. But it wouldn’t be until Bell spoke with his mother about his father’s involvement with the nonprofit group, both as a volunteer and patient, that he realized it would become the perfect opportunity to help give back.
“I’ve always wanted to have a Century Ride as I thought our Big Island community deserved a Century Ride,” Bell said of organizing the inaugural event in 2014. “Like many other Century Rides there is a charity component. I really didn’t think about using (Hospice) as a charity until I talked with my mom.
“My dad was a volunteer for Hospice before he was diagnosed. And while he was ill undergoing cancer treatments, he still volunteered for Hospice’s North Hawaii branch. So I thought that it was a cool tie-in with what I wanted to accomplish in terms of having a ride and charity, and it also happened at the time of year when my dad received his diagnosis.”
Bell, who is an avid cyclist and the general manager for Bike Works Beach &Sports in Waikoloa, said that his father was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Easter Sunday.
Over the last three years, the Hawaii Century Ride has become an annual fundraiser for Hospice. Yet for Bell, the timing of his event felt like pure serendipity.
“It was coincidental that it happens a week after Lavaman and sort of ends up near the anniversary of my dad’s diagnosis,” he said. “In fact I just realized it this year — I had never thought of it that way before.”
Bell added that participant entry fees along with a matching donation from Bike Works Kona, and various community contributors like Tom and Betsy Solis, have equated to thousands of dollars raised in donated over the years to Hospice’s North Hawaii and Kona branches.
Just last year alone, more than $4,000 was donated to the Hospice of Kona. Bell was hopeful that Sunday’s event would raise another $4,500.
“I do it for the charity,” Bell said. “So working with Hospice of Kona has been great as they supplied us with a bunch of volunteers to help out with the event and it’s a great charity. I’m always surprised with the amounts we raise.”
A record turnout of 95 participants gathered at Spencer Beach Park to take part in Sunday’s fourth annual Hawaii Century Ride presented by Metzler Contracting Co. LLC.
Century rides are some of the more popular noncompetitive, untimed cycling events in the United States. The featured distance is always a minimum of 100 miles, with shorter routes often included to accommodate varying fitness levels. Sunday’s event offered the Full Century (109 miles), the Metric Century (60 miles), and the Short (30 miles).
Fifteen-year old Caleb Barville was one of the first to return to Spencer Beach Park to take part in the post-race barbecue that awaited hungry participants.
“I just wanted to have a fun time with a big group and get lots of miles in and have a good time,” Barville said of completing a modified Century course of 73 miles. “I heard about it online and from my neighbor.”
The Kealakehe sophomore said that he wanted to participate despite still feeling fatigue in his legs after competing in his first Lavaman Waikoloa Olympic Distance Triathlon event just one week prior. Barville placed an impressive 42nd overall and fifth place in the 19-and-under age group with his time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 44 seconds.
“Hospice helps lots of people and they are really great for the community,” he said. “I like it because it goes to a good cause.”
As more and more participants rode or wheeled their bikes in throughout the day, all sung high praises toward Bell’s efforts in organizing a first-class community event.
“This is my fourth year doing the Metric Century which is around 60 miles,” said Joe Loschiavo, who is better known as Joe Ironman. “I like that Rich Bell puts it on and Hawaii Cycling Club supports it, and it’s a great community event. Hawaii Cycling Club is a great community organization to help promote safe cycling on the island so I’m glad to come out. And I believe the donation goes to Hospice in Kona which is just awesome.”
For Wendy Minor, a 71-year-old veteran triathlete who will compete in her 11th Xterra World Championships in Maui this year, participating in her fourth Hawaii Century Ride was her way to support the nonprofit group that helped her mother and the organization to which she serves as vice president.
“My mother was in Hospice before she passed years ago so I have real special place in my heart for any Hospice group and what they do for people,” Minor said. “They are just a great group of people. And I just love the event. The post-race barbecue is always really good, and it’s a great club event for the Hawaii Cycling Club as I’m one of the board members.”
At the end of the day, the fourth annual Hawaii Century Ride was another big hit and Bell could only express feeling gratitude to everyone who helped to make that happen.
“A big thank you to Hawaii Cycling Club, the North and West Hawaii communities, my family, and just general gratitude to everybody for allowing us to ride our bikes and be supportive of our event.”