HOISINGTON — Some 800 bicyclists rode into Hoisington on Tuesday on their journey with Biking Across Kansas.

Fortunately for the riders, the wind was from the south and southwest giving them a boost in the extreme heat.

"We love it here," Denise Duerksen, asst. director of BAK said. "Everything is going great."

The first day for the riders was cool, but for Monday and Tuesday, it temperature neared or was over the century mark.

For Duerksen, bicycling is a stress reliever. "Riding is my release," she said. "It makes me feel good to be out on the road."

Training for the event is different for everyone.

It helps if you’ve ridden BAK before. "Muscles have memory," said Duerksen.

People will do some mileage during the week and build up on the weekend. Others will participate in races from around the state or take spinning exercise classes. BAK recommends that riders train to ride 50-70 miles in a day prior to participating.

Support vehicles will pick up anyone who become injured, ill or has mechanical failure, but participants are expected to finish the day if they are simply tired.

BAK starts at the state line between Colorado and Kansas and finish on the Kansas, Missouri state line after eight days, covering 475 miles. The purpose of the tour is to enjoy the challenge, but also to see the small communities and the history of the Great Plains.

Their routes vary from year-to-year, but they travel on paved back roads and by ways.

Held since 1975, BAK is a made up of a committee of volunteers. Participants are responsible for most of their meals and tent camp or stay indoors in facilities provided by host cities. In Hoisington, the Activity Center was open for sleeping.

"I thought everything went well," said Stacey Bressler, Hoisington Chamber of Commerce. "Bikers were hot and tired but they loved the facilities they stayed in."

She said that BAK is great about supporting the communities they pass through.

Eating establishments bustled and the local hotels and bed and breakfasts had plenty of business. The last time they passed through Hoisington was in 2007.

This years tour included stops in Tribune, Scott City, Ness City, Hoisington, McPherson, Cottonwood falls, Burlington Garnett and La Cygne.

A high school youth group provided a dinner fundraiser and the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce provided a breakfast fundraiser on June 7.