MILLSTADT: Bike event at VFW
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| Jeff Gipperich of St. Louis douses his head with water after completing the Gateway Council of Hostelling International USA's Beer and Brauts Century Bike Ride on Aug. 2 in Millstadt. Terry Smith photo |
 
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The Gateway Council of Hostelling International USA sponsored the event to raise money to support the organization's mission to increase diversity and understanding between cultures.
"We are working towards getting a hostel in St. Louis," event coordinator Dave Reiter said.Gateway Council started working with the Millstadt VFW four years ago. The Millstadt ride is one of five century rides-100 mile courses-scheduled for riders throughout the year. Other rides and venues include the Indian Crossing in Portage Des Sioux, Mo., the Flat as a Pancake Ride in New Baden, Ill., Firecracker 100 Ride in Greenville, Ill., and the Dog Prairie Ride in Lake St. Louis, Mo.
The day consisted of a 62-mile metric century ride in the morning with a break for lunch at the VFW for beer and bratwurst.
"We see about 50 percent of the riders drop out after lunch due to the length of the ride," Reiter said. "If they continue to ride the rest of the route, most riders hold off on the beer and brauts until their rides are finished."
Reiter has been riding with his wife since 1988 after his children went off to college. He is just one of the 200 riders who show up for each century ride event.
"If riders complete all five courses, they receive a prize," Reiter said. "We get a lot of riders from Illinois."
The next scheduled event is the Moonlight Ramble, which takes place Friday in Downtown St. Louis. Usually about 5,000 riders show up to conquer the course.
"It's a great way to meet a lot of different people and to take part in new experiences," Reiter said.
