Ozark cyclist prepares for 7th Big Bicycle Across Missouri 6-day tour

Chris Webster began cycling before he had his own bicycle. He borrowed one of his friend's to ride the 14 miles to and from high school each day.

Originally from Kansas, today Webster lives in Ozark and works as a flight nurse for Mercy. When he's not working in the air, he enjoys pedaling close to the ground, participating in bicycle tours across the Midwest. One of his favorites is Big BAM (Bicycle Across Missouri).

Big BAM is a six-day bike ride, this year along Route 66. The ride begins in Joplin on June 12 with overnight stops in Willard (June 13), Lebanon (June 14), Waynesville (June 15), Rolla (June 16), Cuba (June 17) and Eureka (June 18). From Joplin to Eureka, the ride is a little more than 250 miles.

The bicycle tour was established in 2015 by Greg and Danita Allen Wood, publisher and editorial director of Missouri Life Magazine.

"Missouri Life Magazine works with communities all across Missouri, and we thought it would be fun to have an event that traveled and that would benefit Missouri towns and communities," Greg Wood said.

More: Morel hunt doesn't turn up any mushrooms for outdoors reporter, but others share their successes

Big BAM celebrates its seventh anniversary this year, as the 2020 ride was canceled due to COVID-19. Greg Wood said prior to the pandemic, about 300 cyclists would come out for the tour, with riders from about 30 different states. This year, he anticipates about 200 cyclists.

Each year, Big BAM's route varies. In previous years, riders have toured the state from west to east and south to north. This year's tour is the second along Route 66.

Webster is one of Big BAM's original riders; he's participated in the tour each year.

Typically, Webster rides along with a group of friends, but this year he said he is excited to welcome his son into the experience. Webster's son is a John Lennon impersonator in Branson and will serve as the musical entertainment for the evening camp in Willard on June 13.

"It was something I talked to Greg about," Webster recalled. "I said, 'It would really be neat if we could get my son to come and perform some time.' As far as the excitement goes for this year, to have him involved in it too, that's a big plus for me."

Overnight camping full of music, food and hot showers

After a long day of riding, cyclists may enjoy the luxuries of Big BAM overnight campsites, hosted at city parks, school grounds or fairgrounds. These services are included in Big BAM registration.

One of Big BAM's vendors is Pork Belly Ventures that sets up 63-square-foot rental tents for each cyclist, ready to go as riders pull into town. Pork Belly Ventures also offers air-conditioned rooms at each campsite, available at an additional cost.

In addition to set-up tents, Big BAM offers a shower trailer — which include soap, shampoo and a towel — a phone-charging trailer, massages, and morning coffee.

Webster described the shower trailer as a "piece of heaven" after a day on the road.

Live musical entertainment, like Webster's son, and exploring each local town are important to the Big BAM experience.

"We want to get our riders out into the towns and have fun, explore and eat, while getting ready for the next day," Greg Wood said. "We feel like (Big BAM) showcases Missouri in a different way from other events in the state."

For Webster, some of his favorite Big BAM memories took place in these small towns.

He recalled one stop in Clarence, about 66 miles north of Columbia. Webster, along with a few other riders, were checking out Lyle Van Houten's Automotive Museum, a museum in an old MFA oil station, when two women asked if they were a part of the bike tour.

"One of them said, 'Well, our residents at the nursing home have been looking forward to this tour coming through our town for a year,'" Webster said. "As it turned out, the nursing home was just about a mile off route. She said, 'Is there any way a group of you could come by and ride in front of the nursing home?'"

More: MO Humane Society raids SWMO unlicensed breeder — rescues 19 dogs, including week-old puppies

Without hesitation, Webster and about 10 other riders took off for Clarence Care Center.

"We went and rode in front of that nursing home, and you would have thought it was noisier than a Chiefs game," Webster said. "Those people were hollering. I could have cried. It made their day. Anytime you can take a tour, have fun and make other people happy, that's a win, win, win."

From borrowing a friend's bike in high school, to purchasing and rebuilding this own for 100-plus mile tours, Webster's passion for cycling has grown over the years. He described cycling as a way to stay in shape and meet new people, while having a fun, relaxing and experiencing nature.

"(Cycling), to me, is like going outside to play and never having mom yell at you that you need to come in and have supper," Webster said with a laugh. "You can truly make this your own personalized experience."

Big BAM registration is open until June 10 at 5 p.m. Cyclists can choose between six-day, three-day and one-day options. Registration can be completed at bikereg.com/big-bam. Pre- and post-ride shuttle passes are also available for purchase during registration. Cyclists may park at the start or end location; long-term parking is included in the shuttle fee.

For more information about Big BAM, visit bigbamride.com.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Big BAM hosts six-day bike ride along Route 66 for seventh anniversary