Hundreds of cyclists stop in Willard and now traveling to Lebanon, Mo.

(KY3)
Published: Jun. 19, 2018 at 10:13 AM CDT
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Hundreds of Big BAM cyclists are traveling along the historic Route 66.

Cyclists started in Joplin and stayed overnight in Willard.

During their stay, the City of Willard tried to break a Guinness record for the longest chain of bicycles, on the Frisco Trail, they needed 1,500 people to break the record, they came close, but did not beat the record.

The Willard Chamber also put on a community breakfast for the cyclists at the Willard Community Center and all the funds went towards its scholarship program.

Hundreds of cyclists are traveling through several towns throughout the Ozarks and people are wanting to show their hometown hospitality to the visitors.

When cyclists left Willard, their route takes them through Strafford, Marshfield, Conway and they will land in Lebanon and stay overnight.

"We want to show off our local businesses, we want to show off the trail, and potentially these riders will want to come back, and visit the trail again and spend their money in our town supporting our local businesses," Willard Parks Director J.C. Loveland said.

"We are the only local bike shop as BAM is coming through Willard, so we're going to be available me anytime for any of the repairs we have extra parts, tubes, accessories anything, we're going to be open for any of the bikers needs," owner of Frisco Bike Rental Sales & ServiceCari Harrison said. "The fact that they're following the Route 66 it's so nostalgic, a lot of people haven't even driven it, so being able to ride that and see the sights and maybe get the feeling of what it was like so many years ago to travel that route across the country is a really great opportunity to be fully supported by the bike across Missouri."

After the overnight stay in Lebanon, riders will head to Waynesville, Cuba and Eureka, Mo.