Over 1,200 riders poured out of the starting line for the Hancock Flat 50 in Greenfield Saturday morning.
File photos
The sun was just peeking over State Street as the floodgates opened and hundreds of bikers poured out of the starting line for the Hancock Flat 50 in Greenfield Saturday morning.
One thousand two hundred and six bikers cascaded through the gate and around the first corner over the course of 10 minutes to begin their either 25- or 50-mile ride through the county. Both routes went as far north as CR 650N and as far east as CR 850E. From there, the 25-mile riders returned to US 40, continuing as it turned into Main Street to finish the ride, while the 50-mile bikers continued all the way to CR 600S before returning northwest, taking Meridian Road to return to Main Street and finish the ride.
The 25-mile ride was finished first by Lauren and John Adams of Cumberland, who have been competing in the Flat 50 for seven years. The Adams finished together with a time of 1:06:27.
“I ride out here in Cumberland with a group every Wednesday, and it gives us a chance to give back to the community,” Lauren said of why the duo keeps returning for the Flat 50.
The Adams came in well ahead of their competition, leaving little room for doubt who would cross the line first, but about half an hour later, a rumbling could be heard coming North Street as a pack of around 20 bikers roared over the hill in chase of the 50-mile title.
In the end, Westfield’s Joel Reitveld took home the crown in the longer ride, finishing less than a second faster than Kent Gabourel, who was one of four cyclists, all of whom finished within the top 35, representing their home country of Belize. Alongside Gabourel were Dion O’Brien, Dejaun Hyde and Gary Bennett. Reitveld and Gabourel both had chip times of 1:54:11.
“This course was really excellent, I’d really love to come out here again,” O’Brien said. “This is my first time in Indian. It was a good race.”
Margaret Barawskas from Terre Haute was the fastest finisher in the female division of the 50-mile with a time of 1:54:43.
As the bikers crossed the finish line, they were greeted with goodie bags and vendors galore in downtown Greenfield, ready to feed and hydrate the bikers.
Next year’s Hancock Flat 50 will take place on Saturday, August 23.
Over 1,200 riders poured out of the starting line for the Hancock Flat 50 in Greenfield Saturday morning.
File photos
