Who We Are
A Group with an Interest in Wellness, an Appreciation for Adventure and a Passion for Community
Hays Area Bicyclists is a 501(c)3 organization which supports wellness through cycling. Formed in 2019, our mission is to enhance awareness of the local Biking Community, to capitalize on the many treasures of the small-town community and provide an opportunity to explore the rural terrain. We are a diverse group of individuals, all ages, all levels of cycling. We have members that are avid cyclists in trail riding, gravel cycling and road cycling. We have grown as a vibrant community, organizing various local events, cycling trips and social gatherings. We have a love for Western Kansas and a keen appreciation for the Volga-German history and architecture.
About the Ride
The Tour die Kapellen (Tour of the Chapels) was organized in 2019 as a joint venture between four rural communities in the Ellis County area along with members of the Hays Symphony and Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau. Through the efforts of volunteers from Hays Area Bicyclists, Catherine, Victoria, Pfeifer, Munjor and the Fort Hays State Music Department, the event has become a popular, uniquely supported, organized cycling ride. The event celebrates the Volga-German heritage in the Ellis County area, as riders visit historic limestone churches, experience the ethnic culture, and listen to professional musicians at each venue – all through a commute on cycle. The solitude of the open, rural terrain is an added bonus for anyone hoping to escape a hectic, daily routine. The small town, midwest friendliness is unforgettable to all visiting Ellis County. In 2022, the Bus Tour was added to accommodate the non-cyclists traveling to Hays.
CHARITABLE RECIPIENTS
The event was conceived on a 5-year trial plan: the monies being donated each year to one community for maintenance of their church. In the inaugural year (2019), the profits were donated to The Basilica on the Plains in Victoria and applied to assist in a full remodel project. (The 2020 Tour was put on a pandemic sabbatical.) In 2021, the monies benefitted St. Catherine Church for the interior repainting. The 2022 Tour die Kapellen’s proceeds were distributed to St. Francis Church in Munjor for general maintenance. In 2023, the profits were presented to Holy Cross Church in Pfeifer, (one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas) to contribute to roof repairs. The 2024 Tour die Kapellen proceeds will be awarded to the Hays Symphony. After five years, the steering committee will determine what local areas are most in need of funding, restructure the routes, and continue their mission of wellness, health and promoting cycling while supporting community needs.