New Lincoln Bike Rally organizers seek, encourage local support

Members of the Tenacious Dames, the women's motorcycle club organizing the 2019 Lincoln Bike Rally for the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce, hosted a meeting at the Community Hall Sunday to discuss community planning for the July 13-14. event.

Club President Julie Fink and Tina Bundtrock, their state special events coordinator, stressed the need to find out if the town is behind the event.

"This is a community event, so it takes all of the community's buy in to make it work," Fink said

The group took over organizing the Rally last year and began promoting it across social media, so they expect a substantial turnout this year.

The meeting stressed the need for early preparation, and sought to find whether community members and businesses are able, or willing, to support the logistics required for the rally.

Top concerns included lodging, transportation, food and additional activities. They noted those can generate income for community members, even beyond main street.

With nearly 300 visitors possible through the Tenacious Dames club alone, the worry is that motel rooms, camping sites and RV sites will fill up quickly, so they're looking for creative ideas for other options, from making dry camping and tent sites available in fields or yards, to renting out homes.

"If people who are interested call and find the whole towns booked up, and there aren't other options, they just won't come," Fink said.

A ride service to limit problems with DUIs and intoxicated pedestrians is another challenge, and opportunity. They're hoping to find people to organize and provide rides for participants, for a fee, in some type of Uber or taxi system. Vehicles can be anything from golf carts and side-by-sides to cars or busses.

"If you don't want to do it, we'll have to find another way; we'll have to bring people in to do it," Fink said.

Food presented another issue. Bundtrock said a main complaint from previous rallys here was the time it took to get food. They want to encourage restaurants to look at more fast food style options for the event, such as serving grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages. They also noted clubs and organizations could sell food to raise money.

Although that could be seen as competition, they pointed out vendors keep already busy restaurants from being overwhelmed and keep visitors happy and willing to return.

Other questions included local activities for riders who don't take part in the planned fun run, a venue for the two bands they have booked (Hooper Park was previously reserved), spaces for food and equipment vendors, and help with garbage removal.

For more information on taking part in or supporting the Lincoln Bike Rally contact Tina Bundtrock at 406-564-7424 or [email protected].

A follow up on the meeting is planned during this month's LVCC meeting at the Lincoln Library April 11 at 5:30 p.m.