Another great ride! Thanks to all the riders and volunteers who participated in this year's Okra Strut Century Ride. We look forward to seeing you again next year.

The fourth annual Okra Strut ride was an outstanding event enjoyed by 153 riders. The weather this year was almost a carbon copy of 2000, sunny but cool with a challenging head wind. The mass start at 8:00 a.m. went well with support provided by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. (You can check out the ride with this full-screen slide-show of photographs taken the day of the ride. There are several photos so, unless you have a high-speed internet connection, please be patient.) Registration went smoothly with all the riders checked in by the start time. As usual, the rest stops did a superb job of providing a substantial quantity of food and drink for the riders. The SAG vehicles were available and appreciated by the riders. All the many club volunteers did their part to make this year’s ride the most successful one yet. This year’s organizing committee made up of Jim Allen, John and Lola Antun, Phil Creel, Theodore DuBose, Alice Koss, Gerry Maron, Jim Smith, Gabrielle Steele, Bob Swanson, Pam White and Ron Wright all did outstanding and much appreciated work in pulling all the many elements of the ride together.

A special thank you goes to the 2001 sponsors who provided financial support and/or door prizes for the ride. They are; BB&T, American Diabetes Association, Berry, Quackenbush & Stuart, PA, South Carolina Heart Center, Loxscreen Company, Rico Company, Hooters, Shandon Wood Animal Clinic, Bicycle Center of Irmo, Bike to Nature, Cycle Center, Harrell’s Bicycle World, Outspokin and Tri-City Cycling and Fitness. And also thanks to the riders, volunteers, McGregor Presbyterian Church and everyone else who helped to make the 2001 Okra Strut Fall Century a great ride.

Special thanks to the following major sponsors of the ride: Harvey & Casterline, L.L.P.; Berry, Quackenbush & Stuart, P.A.; Loxscreen Corporation; South Carolina Heart Center. Also thanks to these participating sponsors: Gateway Computers; Hooters; Bicycle Center of Irmo; Bike to Nature; Cycle Center; Harrell's Bike World; Outspokin Bicycles; Tri-City Cycling and Fitness; Shandon Woods Animal Clinic; Dick's Sporting Goods. And more thanks to the riders, volunteers, the Irmo Fire Department and everyone else who helped to make the 2000 Okra Strut Fall Century a fantastic ride!