STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A new Ben Frank Memorial Ride on the Harriman Trail will encourage bicyclists to get out and enjoy the fall colors while honoring the memory of a man who loved the trail and the picturesque Boulder Mountains he passed as he rode it.

The Ben Frank Memorial Ride is open to riders of all levels. It will leave the SNRA headquarters seven miles north of Ketchum on Highway 75 at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15.  Participants will then cycle about 17 miles to Galena Lodge where they can purchase lunch, enjoy refreshments provided by Frank’s widow Marie Gallo and listen to live music on what is the last day of the season for Galena Lodge.

The ride is being spearheaded by Trailhead Bicycles in Hailey in honor of a man who helped save the Rotarun Ski Area, raised funds for the Blaine County Education Foundation to help feed children when federal lunch funds were cut and was forever baking decadent chocolate cakes and cheesecakes to raise money for what is now Far+Wise and The Senior Connection.

The ride celebrates the life of a man who at 69 rode in his first gravel bike event up Trail Creek Summit in Rebecca’s private Idaho and had planned to take part in an encore ride this year. Just before that, he organized a Rally in the Valley bike ride along the Harriman Trail to raise money to fight cancer. He had planned to make it a recurrent event but passed away without warning in February 2024.

“Ben really loved the Harriman Trail and mountain biking and gravel riding,” said Allan Smith, who often accompanied Frank on mountain bike rides along Hidden Valley and other trails. “Hopefully, this might be the start of an annual event.”

Smith noted that Frank was the last to finish when he organized the bike ride for cancer research.

“He wasn’t about being the first to finish—this isn’t a competitive thing. But it’s one of the most beautiful rides in the valley because of its spectacular views of the Boulder Mountain, especially when the aspen are changing. Ben always really loved the view of the Boulders from Baker Creek—he’d always stop and take a picture there. And it’s a fairly gentle climb so it’s something everyone can do.”

All one needs to do is show up, Smith said. Participants can ride as a group or by themselves. They can start before the SNRA headquarters if they want a longer ride or some place in between if they want a shorter one.

“We’ll probably have some fun little prizes,” Smith said. “Ben loved the idea of birthday party at Sun Valley bowling alley so we may have a gift certificate to the bowling alley. He loved the root beer at  Sawtooth Brewery so maybe we’ll have a gift certificate honoring that. Who knows? Since he was famous for coming in last, maybe we’ll recognize the last-place person on this ride!”