The very first Biking Across Kansas was launched in June of 1975. Inspired by the "bike boom" of the early Seventies, Larry and Norma Christie of Wichita decided that a ride across their home state would be fun. It would also serve as a pre-test for the Kansas section of the official Bikecentennial '76 cross-country route. (Bikecentennial was the organization that sanctioned a bike route across America as part of the nation's Bicentennial celebration of 1976. It's now called Adventure Cycling Association.) Less than 100 riders participated in 1975, but the numbers quickly grew into several hundred within the first five years.

The start of the very first BAK West of Tribune, KS in June 1975.

Many others shared the Christies' enthusiasm and thirty-five summers later, BAK has grown beyond all original expectations. BAK now limits participation to 800 participants on each year's event. From 1975 to 1983 there was a single route, but in 1984 that was expanded to two, and then three in 1989. In 2004, BAK returned to a single route format.

Above: Roger Kenney during BAK '75. Right: Larry and Norma Christie at the end of BAK 1975.

The routes change from year to year, and in the course of the past three decades, nearly every corner of the state has been visited by Biking Across Kansas cyclists. BAK has exposed people from all over the country to the beauty of rural Kansas and has done much to increase state tourism. In 1994, the Christies received the Kansas State Tourism Award for their organization and promotion of Biking Across Kansas.

The Christies retired as Executive Directors in 2001, appointing Charlie Summers of Newton as their successor. BAK celebrates its 35th year in 2009.

.
The first of what would become a familiar sight--
the obligatory photo at the finish line.
BAK 1975 ended just east of Pittsburg.