CHRISPENS FAMILY ENJOYS HOSTING CYCLING TEAMS DURING THE REDLANDS BICYCLE CLASSIC

REDLANDS, CA. – When the Redlands Bicycle Classic, presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, was started 40 years ago, one of the first priorities for the organizing committee was to find homes for cycling teams to stay in while competing.

That strategy was important since there were few hotels and motels in the city of Redlands at the time.

Host families have been a significant part of the Bicycle Classic’s success ever since, as the event continued to grow not only in the number of cycling teams, but in the number of stages for competition now spread over five days.

One of the many hosting families who have welcomed race teams the past three years and will do it again the week of April 9-13, 2025, are Marian and Jere Chrispens of Yucaipa.

The Chrispens have been bicycle enthusiasts since their youth and while raising five children – four boys and a girl – who are now grown and out of the house with two now living out of state.

“So now we have a large house with empty bedrooms,” said Marian Chrispens.

One of the reasons the Chrispens became interested in hosting cycling teams is that they were bicycling enthusiasts while their children were growing up and took bicycle tours in the U.S. and abroad with them as well as friends.

In 2024, the Chrispens hosted the Above and Beyond Cancer team comprised of eight riders, a manager, mechanic and coordinator. The latter managed groceries, snacks and water for the team and helped team members cook at the house.

“We had a good time getting to know them and a little bit about where they came from. The team members were from many different places and one was from outside the U.S. He raced here while he was in the country attending a university,” Marian said.

“They were a delightful group, full of energy and laughter! We were impressed with their service to the Redlands community. While here they visited several schools in Redlands to promote good living and exercise.”

The couple even attended some of the races and social gatherings during the five-day event.

The Chrispens said they love sharing their home with others “who have reason to be in this area, both for fun and for medical care at Loma Linda University Medical Center,” she added.

“We’re looking forward to hosting another team of riders.”

Robyn Purves, one of three host housing coordinators and volunteers with the Bicycle Classic, needs more area residents to welcome the race teams to their homes for the whole week of April 6-13.

At the March 6 meeting of the classic committee, Purves said her committee needs beds to accommodate four-person cycle teams in Highland, Yucaipa and Redlands. Residents can accept two to four riders or a full team if they have room and residents can specify if they want women’s teams or men’s teams.

“By signing up you commit to a roof over their heads along with a clean place to sleep, clean towels and shower and safe place to keep their bicycles and equipment. Hosts are not expected to feed or clean up after the riders,” she said.

People who agree to house riders must provide a bed or air mattress to include clean bedding. Sleeping bags are acceptable. Teams are used to sharing a room.

Interested in housing two or three riders or have room for a whole team? Please contact any of the three coordinators and provide them with your name, address, home and cell phone numbers and an email address.

Contact: Robyn4RBC@gmail.com; Shannon4RBC@gmail.com or Stacey4RBC@gmail.com

“It’s wonderful volunteers like you that have made this race possible since 1985,” said a posting on the classic website http://redlandsclassic.com.