600 expected for Saturday bike ride

By Michael Kinney

July 18, 2008 12:32 am

— The 13th Annual Norman Conquest Bike Tour will take place Saturday in Norman. Organizers of the event are expecting a large field to compete in for the top prize.
"The last I heard, 200 have already registered," said Greg Gaston, director of marketing for the J. D. McCarty Center. "We are expecting around 600 riders. That is how many participated last year."
The rides begin and end at the J. D. McCarty Center at 2002 East Robinson St. and cover a variety of distances from 10 miles to 46, depending on the group.
Registration, which begins at 6 a.m., is $30 per rider and $40 for a tandem bike. Proceeds will benefit Camp ClapHans.
The winners will receive prizes, plus the Norman Conquest will make donations of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third to Camp ClapHans in the names of the three winners.
At the end of the tour there will be live music by the cover band Super Freak, and a drawing for a free bicycle. Also, an Air Evac helicopter will be on display at 11 a.m.
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com