With the Baker City Cycling Classic starting today, it can be easy to take such a big production for granted.

But behind the excitement of all those cyclists coming around a tight bend at 25 mph, separated by a few inches from the rest of their competitors, are the volunteers who make the race happen.

“Without our volunteers, there’s no way the race could go on,” said volunteer coordinator Corrine Vegter. “There are races in Bend and all over that have to cancel their races because they couldn’t get the people to come out and support.”

But that’s not an issue with the Baker City Cycling Classic due to the dedication of local volunteers.

“We have 60 drivers and radio operators,” Vegter said. “This year we have every single position filled with even a few backups.”

Ann Mehaffy, winner of the 2015 Legacy Woman of the year award for her volunteer work in Baker City, helps feed the cyclists after the final day of competition.

This will be Mehaffy’s sixth year volunteering for the Cycling Classic, and her third year serving the roughly 300 racers her Texas-style vegetarian chili.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Mehaffy said. “It’s like a theatrical production, because there is all of this waiting and prep work, but once you finally put on the show and everything works out you feel so successful pulling it off.”

That prep work involves dozens of cans of black and pinto beans, corn kernels, chopping tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and lots of cumin.

And four large cauldrons.

“Basically how I’d make it for my family,” she said.

Mehaffy comes back every year in part because of how appreciative the racers are once they get their food.

“They come in starving and bend over backwards to let you know how thankful they are,” she said. “And many athletes are vegetarians, so when they find out that we can serve them something hearty like chili, they’re just so happy.”

Splinter Wrenn, a hired announcer who has been a part of the race since its inception 16 years ago, is impressed by the number of volunteers considering Baker City’s population of about 9,900.

“The people who help are just so fun to work with,” Wrenn said. “The officials, volunteers and the riders interact in a warmer and more cooperative way than what you normally see.”

Some people contribute something besides their time to the Cycling Classic.

Beverly Calder, owner of Bella Main Street Market, donates money to ensure parity in the race purses between the men and women.

“I remember it was about 11 years ago, and I thought, ‘how come the men and women race the same distance, but women get paid 40 percent less for winning?’ ” Calder said. “I mean since the days of the Oregon Trail, women have proved that they are just as deserving and as capable as anyone in the race.”

See more in the June 23, 2017, issue of the Baker City Herald.