BAK History

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 and would pre-test the official Bikecentennial '76 cross-country route across Kansas. (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.)

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

Many others shared their enthusiasm and nearly thirty years later, BAK has grown beyond anyone's expectations. Typically, there are now 900-1000 people participating on each year's event and the original single-route tour has expanded to three.

Roger Kenney
Above:
Roger Kenney during BAK '75.

Right: Larry and Norma Christie at the end of BAK 1975.
 Larry and Norma

 

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 will celebrate its 30th year in 2004.

 

BAK 75 finish.
The first of what would become a familiar sight--
the obligatory photo at the finish line.
BAK 1975 ended just east of Pittsburg.

For more BAK history, return to the Archives section which displays all the past logo art and web pages.