VERMILLION, S.D. – It took the helping hands of hundreds to get 820 registered bicyclists to hit the pavement June 10 for Tour de Kota 2007.

For one night on the grounds of the armory near Barstow Park, men and women, young and old, from around the nation camped for a night. Each rider was to leave the next morning to pedal 50 to 100 miles a day on a 425-mile, seven-day journey through the state’s small towns.

Other stops on the tour included Lennox, Dell Rapids, Madison, De Smet and Watertown.

The morning was chilly with a breeze that fluttered dozens of flags attached to fences surrounding the park. The flags represented states, tribes and the country.

Riders began pedaling by the dozens about 6:45. Before each left, Kathy Vankley of Vermillion loaded their duffel bags into one of two trucks. Filled with tents, sleeping bags, clothes and anything else a rider might need, the bags were driven to the next campsite to await their owners’ arrival.

Another volunteer stacked pancakes on paper plates as the Lions Club offered riders breakfast.

“We served well over a thousand pancakes,” said the club’s Marion Kryger, wearing a yellow apron spattered with batter.

To warm the grills and make pancakes and enough coffee, Kryger said he set his alarm clock for 3 a.m. to beat the 5 a.m. serving time. “We were ready to go by 4:30,” he said.

Chad Pickard was on hand to offer his expertise on the nuts and bolts of bicycles and ensure a smooth ride.

Pickard, who owns Spoke-N-Sport, a bike shop in Sioux Falls, outfitted his 1996 Buick Roadmaster with an equipment trailer so it could act as a sag wagon, patrolling the route and providing riders roadside assistance.

Pickard would look for riders grounded along the route, he said, hoping to “uplift spirits” while dealing with “flat tires, broken spokes, handlebar plugs,” however small or big the repair.

By 7:45 a.m., the area around the armory and park was hushed.
A few riders lingered. Vankley sat quietly on a truck tailgate.
Grills cooled, and the pancakes were gone. But Roadmaster Man was on the move.