Kevin Nickel is fundraising
KS Bike Record for Tabor Mennonite Kids
My name is Kevin Nickel and I will be attempting to set the World Ultra Cycling Association Kansas cross-state bicycle record by riding 230 miles from north to south across Kansas this upcoming Friday, December 14th. I am making this attempt as a fundraiser for my church, Tabor Mennonite (rural Goessel, KS), and am asking for support for a building project we have recently begun which will provide additional space for our fantastic kids programs, among other needs, to better meet our mission of offering hospitality, healing, and hope in the name of Christ. We have raised all but the final $150,000 of the approximate one million dollar project and I would be so grateful for you to support my cross-state record attempt by giving to help finish this wonderful project!
About Tabor Mennonite: My family and I have been members of Tabor Mennonite Church for over 20 years. Tabor Mennonite is a vibrant community whose members are passionate about peace and social justice issues and living out our faith as Christ's followers. Many of our programs reach beyond our member base including the Tabor Food Pantry that aids many in the community and our Wednesday night children’s programs that serves about 70 children, almost double of those who attend on Sunday mornings! To help our mission, we have begun construction on an expansion and remodel project centering around a ground floor fellowship hall that will provide a more accessible community gathering space and free up the current basement fellowship hall for additional youth classrooms. https://tabormennonite.org/ 
Rehearsing for the "Peace Lab" program 
Record attempt details: On Friday, December 14th I will ride from the KS/NE state-line on highway 83 starting North of Oberlin, KS and finishing on highway 83 at the OK/KS state-line just South of Liberal. Follow my attempt:
You can follow along on my social media which will include updates along the way. https://www.facebook.com/NickelTriathlete
https://www.instagram.com/nickelpsp
You may also send checks made out to "Tabor Building Fund" with memo "Cross-State Ride" to Tabor Mennonite Church 891 Chisholm Trail Rd Newton, KS 67114-7503
Thank you!
Update12/14/18
My crew consisting off Elton Nickel, Dawson Duerksen, and Russell Adrian made the trip to Oberlin late Thursday evening getting in around midnight. We spent a short night in a quaint motel then headed to the NE/KS stateline for an early start at the attempt leaving around 6:30am.
The weather was cool at 19deg with a light NW wind of 5mph but it was nice to have whatever wind there was at our backs. I was struck by how much snow was still packed in the ditches from an early winter blast they had a couple weeks ago.
The first hour or so was spent riding in the dark with my support vehicle with amber roof lights mounted and following directly behind me. My bike was also required to have front/rear lights and reflective tape at 8 different places. Traffic was light and it was quite peaceful.
As we made the turn at mile 31 to take the 20 miles SW that was the major non-Southerly part of our trip we were greeted by a higher volume of truck traffic. This would last pretty much last the rest of the day. Highway 83 is one of the busiest traffic roads in the entire state. Luckily there was also a wide shoulder on nearly all but that 20 mile section between mile 31 and 51.
The ride went pretty much to plan without mechanical or incident. After the initial 30 miles it was bright enough for the support vehicle to start "leapfrogging" me by driving a few miles ahead then waiting for me to pass and get a few miles in front of them. We continued this method until we entered Liberal around dusk and it was again dark enough to require them back behind me.
The stretch between Oakley and Scott city was the most scenic as you descend and climb out of the Arkansas Riverbed. You are spoiled with views of rock formations including the Monument Rocks National Landmark.
Scott City to Garden City was probably the toughest stretch mentally as it was pancake flat for 35miles without being able to see the city ahead until the last few miles.
Leaving Garden City with 65 miles to go and almost 8 hours of riding completed was the first time I gave any thought to finishing time. 230 miles is a long haul and I just wanted to ride as hard as I could while staying within myself so as not to blow up completely. Of course benchmark times can create a little extra incentive so I set my sites on maintaining enough speed to get the record under 11 hours. Except for the several mile climb out of the Cimarron Riverbed this stretch was pretty flat and I was able to hold my speed fairly consistent. Finally in Liberal, while stuck at a red light, my crew yelled out that I had 5k to the state-line and 14 minutes to make it under 11 hours. I rode the final 5k at 24mph to finish in 10:54 with time to spare.
Total trip stats:
Distance: 228 miles
Time: 10:54
Speed: 20.8mph
Thank you to all who provided encouragement and support!
About Tabor Mennonite: My family and I have been members of Tabor Mennonite Church for over 20 years. Tabor Mennonite is a vibrant community whose members are passionate about peace and social justice issues and living out our faith as Christ's followers. Many of our programs reach beyond our member base including the Tabor Food Pantry that aids many in the community and our Wednesday night children’s programs that serves about 70 children, almost double of those who attend on Sunday mornings! To help our mission, we have begun construction on an expansion and remodel project centering around a ground floor fellowship hall that will provide a more accessible community gathering space and free up the current basement fellowship hall for additional youth classrooms. https://tabormennonite.org/ 
Rehearsing for the "Peace Lab" program Record attempt details: On Friday, December 14th I will ride from the KS/NE state-line on highway 83 starting North of Oberlin, KS and finishing on highway 83 at the OK/KS state-line just South of Liberal. Follow my attempt:
You can follow along on my social media which will include updates along the way. https://www.facebook.com/NickelTriathlete
https://www.instagram.com/nickelpsp
You may also send checks made out to "Tabor Building Fund" with memo "Cross-State Ride" to Tabor Mennonite Church 891 Chisholm Trail Rd Newton, KS 67114-7503
Thank you!
Update12/14/18
My crew consisting off Elton Nickel, Dawson Duerksen, and Russell Adrian made the trip to Oberlin late Thursday evening getting in around midnight. We spent a short night in a quaint motel then headed to the NE/KS stateline for an early start at the attempt leaving around 6:30am. The weather was cool at 19deg with a light NW wind of 5mph but it was nice to have whatever wind there was at our backs. I was struck by how much snow was still packed in the ditches from an early winter blast they had a couple weeks ago.
The first hour or so was spent riding in the dark with my support vehicle with amber roof lights mounted and following directly behind me. My bike was also required to have front/rear lights and reflective tape at 8 different places. Traffic was light and it was quite peaceful.
As we made the turn at mile 31 to take the 20 miles SW that was the major non-Southerly part of our trip we were greeted by a higher volume of truck traffic. This would last pretty much last the rest of the day. Highway 83 is one of the busiest traffic roads in the entire state. Luckily there was also a wide shoulder on nearly all but that 20 mile section between mile 31 and 51.
The ride went pretty much to plan without mechanical or incident. After the initial 30 miles it was bright enough for the support vehicle to start "leapfrogging" me by driving a few miles ahead then waiting for me to pass and get a few miles in front of them. We continued this method until we entered Liberal around dusk and it was again dark enough to require them back behind me.
The stretch between Oakley and Scott city was the most scenic as you descend and climb out of the Arkansas Riverbed. You are spoiled with views of rock formations including the Monument Rocks National Landmark.
Scott City to Garden City was probably the toughest stretch mentally as it was pancake flat for 35miles without being able to see the city ahead until the last few miles.
Leaving Garden City with 65 miles to go and almost 8 hours of riding completed was the first time I gave any thought to finishing time. 230 miles is a long haul and I just wanted to ride as hard as I could while staying within myself so as not to blow up completely. Of course benchmark times can create a little extra incentive so I set my sites on maintaining enough speed to get the record under 11 hours. Except for the several mile climb out of the Cimarron Riverbed this stretch was pretty flat and I was able to hold my speed fairly consistent. Finally in Liberal, while stuck at a red light, my crew yelled out that I had 5k to the state-line and 14 minutes to make it under 11 hours. I rode the final 5k at 24mph to finish in 10:54 with time to spare.
Total trip stats:
Distance: 228 miles
Time: 10:54
Speed: 20.8mph
Thank you to all who provided encouragement and support!
- N
- R
- K
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