The members of the Solon Centennial Lions Club are used to unique bicycling events – the Club hosts the annual Fat Tire Classic every February on the trails around Lake Macbride.
“We just celebrated our eighth year (of the Fat Tire race), and Sugar Bottom Bikes has been over the top in helping the Lions Club,” said Lions Club member Jay Proffitt. “We did it as a fundraiser (the only fundraiser the club does throughout the year), and for eight years they have donated time and materials, and John Yetley (owner of Sugar Bottom Bikes) and Nate Kullbom (one of John’s employees) go out and set up the entire course. Basically, Sugar Bottom Bikes does the whole thing but we get the credit for it, and they give us the credit for it and the money.”
Saturday morning, cyclists looking for a challenge were again the focus as the club provided support to participants in the Core 4 bike events with an aid station at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area (SRNA) providing water, pickle juice (to help prevent cramps), whole pickles, Coke®, and even cookies to the riders cranking out 100, 60, 40, or 20 miles on trails, gravel roads, and even “Level-B” minimum maintenance roads (which turned into a muddy challenge with heavy thunderstorms and torrential rains the night before) with Wilson’s Orchard the start and finish point.
“The reason we’re out here today is to support Sugar Bottom Bikes for all they do for the Lions Club and also to support Nate Kullbom,” Proffitt said. “So, we are just showing our thanks and our support for everything that they do. Plus it’s a great opportunity for the Lions Club to be present.
Our motto is, ‘Where there is a need, there’s a Lion.’ Since we’re in an area that doesn’t typically have hurricanes and other natural disasters, this is a really easy thing for us to do.”
Sugar Bottom Bikes purchased dozens of gallons of water, which the Lions made available for riders to refill their water bottles and even give their gears a quick splash to knock the mud of the “wet route” off before taking on the next leg of their ride.
“It was hot, hard, and well worth it,” said Solonite Jeff Rehnke on Facebook. “Met some really awesome people from across the globe. They had nothing but kind things to say about the Iowa hospitality. There were world champions, No. 1-ranked (professional) riders, and muddy B-roads.”
Rehnke rode the 60-mile race finishing 168th out of 225 males in four hours, eleven minutes.
Support from Lions found throughout the community
The Solon Centennial Lions Club takes applications from places in the community in need of some financial assistance, said Proffitt.
“For example, possibly the school lunch program. The nutritionist will come and say they have a need and they’ll ask. There might be a church group that says they’re going to go on a mission trip and they’re running a little short.”
The Lions are guided by a principle that says their group should only keep as much
money as is necessary to keep the group functioning. Any funds above their operating budget is be distributed among the local community first and then beyond, even to international needs.
“That’s the main reason I like it,” said Proffitt. “We give the money away. I’m all for raising money and then helping other people.”
When his wife Helen ‘voluntold’ Jay he was joining the Lions, she said to him, “Tell me someone that you don’t know that has a hearing issue, a sight issue, or diabetes.”
“We help with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and we also do vision screening at the school.”
For those interested in joining, the Lions meet the first Tuesday of the month at Frida Kahlo’s Mexican Restaurant in Solon at 7:00 p.m. with potential new members always welcome.
“Or if they know a Lion, they’ll direct them to the right people.”