The 13th annual Tour de Manure is back Saturday, June 1, after a one-year hiatus. Organizers remind drivers in the Sierra Valley area to be extra cautious looking for bicycle riders on the road during the morning, and point out that Sierraville will be “one big party” until about 3 p.m.
“We are excited to revive the Tour de Manure, the largest event in Sierraville,” said tour boss Mike Blide, who is doing much of the organizational work for the event. “And we are pleased to have a new organizing structure which should ensure an annual event going forward.”
The Tour de Manure is a supported metric century bicycle ride in Sierra Valley. Three routes are available to registrants: a 62-mile ride around the valley, a 42-mile ride that cuts through the middle of the valley on Marble Hot Springs Road, and a 30-mile out-and-back from Sierraville to Loyalton along California Highway 49.
The tour’s size is limited to 500 riders, as it has been for many years, according to Blide. A Caltrans permit requires a limit of 500 riders. Interest in long-distance tours and races supported by food and drink aid stations and sag wagons has been on the rise for many years, say organizers, and registration this year sold out in three weeks after it was opened in early February.
“For 12 years volunteers from the Sattley and Sierraville fire stations produced the event and used the proceeds to help purchase new and upgraded response vehicles and other specialized equipment,” said Laura Read, who’s running marketing and promotions. For the first time this year the Tour de Manure will be hosted by a new nonprofit, the Eastern Sierra Firefighters’ Auxiliary.
Rick Maddalena, a director of the Sierra County Fire Protection District, explained that the nonprofit setup is a good one for managing the annual Tour de Manure funds. “A firefighters’ auxiliary creates opportunities for community members to support the local volunteer emergency responders,” he said. “A not-for-profit corporation creates tax incentives for contributors and provides liability protection for organizers.” An auxiliary can also generate funds that can be used for activities that cannot be paid for with taxpayer funds, he added, such as recruitment events, training opportunities and volunteer appreciation functions.
“After the event, we will reach out to volunteers, fire district directors and the community at large to determine how to most effectively support the volunteers,” said Nanci Davis, the nonprofit’s president. The group will add more directors over the next year, she said.
At the tour every year more than 80 volunteers perform duties including aid station preparation, parking, registration, food service, course management, entertainment and cleanup. For example, Michael Hogan and the Simpletones have played live music at the event since its inception; When Pigs Fly BBQ as well as Los Dos Hermanos will provide hot food this year; Paula McElroy and Debbie Hogan will organize food for the aid stations and the lunch side dishes; and the Sierraville Recreation Association will manage beer sales and the tour’s specialty general store. The Plumas Sierra Bicycle Club will send a team to staff an aid station at Marble Hot Springs Road and the Sierra Valley Chamber of Commerce will staff the Loyalton Aid Station. Lost Marbles Ranch will provide a lemonade stand halfway through the course. Sierraville Hot Springs and Drifters’ Table are event sponsors this year. Alibi Ale Works, The Brewing Lair, Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. and Ronin Fermentation Project will provide beer.
“It’s about doing anything to help support the local volunteer fire department,” said Sara Wright, chairperson of the recreation association. “They are so incredibly important to the welfare of small communities. And doing something fun to raise funds is an extra bonus.”
Every year to help raise funds the tour sells new swag. This year, Kelsen Thompson’s We The Trees hat company, of Loyalton, produced “Manure Happens” and “Tour de Manure” hats for sale. Also this year, a registered rider gifted a set of special tickets to be given away. Nanci Davis is selling the raffle entries to win tickets to two San Francisco ballgames, one featuring the Giants and one the 49ers. More information is available from Davis at [email protected] or 530-574-8331. Individuals do not have to be registered for the tour to buy raffle entries.
Valley residents are welcome to drop by the Sierraville fire station between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy the Tour de Manure party and live music. Lunch is available for $20 per plate.
For more information, check tourdemanure.org.
Information provided by Tour de Manure
