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On Saturday, another chance for NDSU students to compete against and beat their UND foes arises. St. Paul’s Newman Center is hosting the 27th annual Bike Race and Ride against UND. This bike race is the largest fundraiser for St. Paul’s Newman Center and it provokes the ability to have fun, compete and get a great workout all in one exhilarating 40 mile trek.
The ultimate goal for the race is for students from both schools to compete against one another, but also to help raise money for both NDSU’s Newman Center and UND’s Newman Center. Rev. James Cheney, director and chaplain of St. Paul’s Newman Center at NDSU, mentions that profits from the bike race will greatly help in many areas at each Newman Center.
“The bike race is a big part of paying for the programs we offer, and keeping the doors open,” he said.
St. Paul’s Newman Center is a successful campus ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo. The center impacts students’ lives and aspires to bring them closer to God through many bible studies, ministries and programs.
Each rider has the goal of pledging $200 for the race. The entry fee for the race is $25.
The race is also composed of teams in which each student leader at the Newman Center creates as a captain.
Yes, the race is 40 miles long, but the good news is that it is always held downwind. The track for the Race & Ride is 40 miles and the course runs along old HWY 81 parallel to I-29.
Since being established in 1985, the Race & Ride has changed its dynamics. The race began as a strictly competitive event where the race team that had the most riders usually won. Now, the winner of the event is determined by three factors:
1.The number of riders
2.How much money is raised
3.The top 20 racers
The Race & Ride has shifted to focus more on riders who commit themselves to raise more pledge money, but may not necessarily have the best time in the race. The team size is still important because the team with the best overall time also still has a shot to win. The competitive factor is still there because the top 20 racers can leg it out for the best overall time and some bragging rights in being the individual champion.
Prizes will also be awarded to those who accomplish certain feats in the race. The top fundraiser in the race will win a Raleigh “Sport” bike, sponsored by the Great Northern Bicycle Co. in Fargo. For every $200 riders raise, their name gets put into a drawing for a 40" Scepter LCD HDTV Flat Screen. The first place finisher wins a wireless speedometer. Finally, the captain with the most racers on their team wins a Canon PowerShot 24mm 5x Optical Zoom and 12.1 Megapixels digital camera.
A free spaghetti feed at 6 p.m. will also be held at the Newman Center. Each participant can divulge in a big plate of spaghetti to help carbo-load for the race. Another free meal at the end of the race will also be provided.
Free t-shirts will be handed out after registration. Each year, the logo on the shirts changes; this year the shirts will read, “Live to Race, Race to Live.”
Cheney, a long time participant in the race gives a description of what riders can expect to experience.
“The race offers a wide range of experiences for a competitive biker looking for a challenge. Draft teams make it fun as well and the race goes much faster with them,” he said.
Last year, UND defeated NDSU in pledge money, by raising over $110,000 for their Newman Center. Cheney says he is proud of NDSU who raised $75,000, but hopes to raise $80,000 this year.
285 riders competed for NDSU who took the overall crown last year defeating UND 55 -50.
This year the riders hope to promote the “Bison Strong” motto so commonly used on campus by putting forth a fine effort against UND, and hopefully coming out the victor for the second year in a row.
To register for the race or for more information visit, http://www.bisoncatholic.org. Registration ends today, so make a move fast to help your Bison beat UND once again.