History of the Tour de Stooges

1996

Co-founders Roger Kramer and Ken Kibort developed the idea for Tour de Stooges while marking routes for another ride in the St. Louis area. McKendree College agreed to be the host for the ride.

1997

The first Tour de Stooges drew about 150 riders. The five routes were 9, 13, 19, 39 and 63 miles. The films were shown in McKendree's old gymnasium. T-shirts are offered.

 

1998

About 250 people attended the ride. The films were moved inside Ames Hall, where the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet is served.

1999

Attendance for the ride fell, partly because Roger Kramer, now the sole ride coordinator of the ride, tried to organize the ride while living in North Carolina. The ride was cancelled for 2000 because we were unable to maintain the quality of the event. T-shirts were not offered and would not be again until 2004.

2000

Roger Kramer moved back to Southwestern Illinois and decided to revive the ride in 2001.

2001

The ride resumed with about 125 people in attendance. Tour de Stooges launches its first Web site in an effort to build interest in the ride.

2002

Attendance for Tour de Stooges increased by 40 percent.

2003

Tour de Stooges used online registration for the first time through Active.com; 25 people took advantage of the service. Online registration led to the first significant influx of riders from outside the St. Louis area. The current routes of 13, 19, 30, 42 and 63 miles were instituted. About 250 people attended the ride, another increase of 40 percent.

2004

By popular demand from participants in the 2003 ride, particularly from people outside the St. Louis area, T-shirts once again are offered. Online registration continued to take hold as 60 people used Active.com to sign up for the ride. Cold, damp and windy weather held attendance to about 150 people. Fresh fruit was served at the rest stops for the first time.

 

2005

Nearly 500 people attended the Tour de Stooges, and 126 people signed up online through Active.com.

2006

More than 500 people from 15 states — Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Arkansas, Kentucky, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington — rode the Tour de Stooges. We switched our online registration to the Gateway Council of Hostelling International's online store, and 240 people signed up for the ride online.

2007

Tour de Stooges celebrated its 10th anniversary, and about 700 people attended the ride. This would be the final time that McKendree, which changed its name to McKendree University in July 2007, would host ride.

2008

The Tour de Stooges moves to Lindendale Park in Highland, Ill.