Cotton Ramble set for Saturday

SIKESTON — Two new routes have been added to this year’s 14th annual Cotton Ramble bicycle ride.

Set for Saturday morning, the ride features mostly flat routes of 14, 28 and 65 miles but added this year are two gravel loop routes with hills.

“There is a trend in cycling toward wanting to ride on non-paved surfaces,” said Rodney McConnell, event organizer and member of the Sikeston Lions Club, who sponsors the ride. “The Cotton Ramble has been noted for flat, paved routes so this is for that (group) who wanted a different challenge.”

McConnell said finding the hills in this area proved to be a bit of a challenge. After some searching, they found some gravel roads with hills near Bloomfield that they could offer as a gravel option.

“Those who want the gravel, hill option can go Bloomfield,” McConnell said. “There will be two 15 mile courses, the southern loop and the northern loop. They can ride one or both.”

A group of riders from Cape Girardeau did a test ride on the routes, which they classified as entertaining but challenging.

McConnell said they will be good for people who are experienced but probably not ideal for those on a gravel route for their first time.

Of course many prefer the flat routes. As of Tuesday morning, 47 riders had already registered and McConnell said the number of people who register the morning increase two to three times that of those who preregister.

There are also many from out of the area who converge in Sikeston to take part in the Cotton Ramble but McConnell said while that is great, they need more local riders.

“We used to have local riders, families with their kids taking the shorter routes, but they haven’t been coming out,” McConnell said. “We need to get more local support.”

McConnell said the Cotton Ramble is a fundraiser for the Sikeston Lions Club and they need enough people to make it worth their while.

The Lions Club supports many local charities, including the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, United Way, Humane Society, Mission Missouri and Spread Hope Now.

“We only have four total fundraisers and all the money we raise stays 100% local,” McConnell said.

Registration for the Cotton Ramble will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Depot. The ride will begin at 8 a.m.