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. In 2025, St. Ann’s Church in Walker and St. Joseph’s Church in Hays are optional stops on a custom designed route. 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
Over the past five years, more than $75,000 was distributed among the Hays Symphony and each of the historic limestone churches on the tour: St. Catherine Church, St. Fidelis Charitable Fund, Holy Cross Church, St. Francis Church, St. Anthony Church, and Our Lady Help of Christians Church. In 2025, both St. Joseph’s Church in Hays and St. Ann’s Church in Walker will be added to the beneficiaries. The funds are presented to the churches to help defray costs of structural repairs and general maintenance.