Rick Kalb was chatting up a business coach a few years back, when the idea first crossed his mind.

"Forget about business for a minute ... what do you want in life, what kind of life do you want to live?"

As Kalb considered those questions, he knew that at least a portion of his own preferred lifestyle would include some sort of service to the community in which he lived, worked and played.

He had, at one time, kicked around the idea of becoming a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County. But he and his wife, Elizabeth, had young children of their own who needed their dad's attention.

So, why not do something to help support a program in which he already believed?

"Most people in business do a golf tournament, but I hate golf," Kalb said with a laugh.

But he loves mountain biking. And with a mecca for mountain bikers in his own backyard, the idea of a sponsored bike ride seemed to make sense.

Ten years later, Kalb's idea has become one of the biggest fundraisers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County program. But its success seems to be somewhat a surprise to the guy who dreamt the whole thing up.

"I was so worried about making that first one work that I never thought further than that," Kalb said. "To be honest with you, I didn't think that (it would reach a 10th anniversary)."

But it has.

Along the way, the ride has raised around $75,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Giving back, and then some.

Now Kalb hopes to build on that success.

The 10th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Bike Endurance Ride is slated for May 17 - plenty of time to get yourself geared up.

As veterans of the event know, the endurance ride offers a 50-mile trek through some seriously technical singletrack trails along the South Yuba River canyon.

But what Kalb wants all of us beginners to understand is that there's an another route - also complete with breathtaking views - offered, which any of us could handle with some advance training.

The 45-mile ride leaves from Pioneer Park in Nevada City, following the Pioneer Trail to Omega Road and then down to the little town of Washington - and back.

"It's not technical at all," Kalb said. "If you make it a goal now and start getting in shape, you can do something good for yourself and help fundraise for a great charity."

Riders are required to each raise $250 through pledge sponsorship, an amount easily raised through a few friends but also an amount that can make a real impact for a nonprofit when combined with the total field of riders.

Over the years, Kalb said many folks have lent a helping hand, most notably being his wife. But there are also the event's regulars who help to make sure each ride has a solid core of support - no matter how many newcomers join the fun - each time out.

And sometimes, those newcomers even join the ranks of regulars.

A mountain biker living in San Rafael spotted a flyer on the ride that Kalb had posted there during a business trip. That rider came up to give the ride a try and apparently enjoyed his stop in western Nevada County so much that he recently moved here - oddly enough, two doors down from Kalb himself.

So not only is Kalb's creation giving back to the community via Big Brothers Big Sisters, it also landed a buyer for the local real estate market.

Whether or not you're ready to ride alongside Kalb and his crew, the Big Brothers Big Sisters endurance ride is certainly a cause worthy of our support (ride sponsors are also welcome from those not ready to hop in the saddle).

And the man who came up with the concept is certainly worthy of our congratulations on a decade of giving back.

For more information, visit the Web site www.bigsofnc.org/Events.asp or contact Kalb via e-mail at rickkalb@gmail.com or by phone at 470-1800.



Brian Hamilton is sports editor at The Union. His column appears Saturdays. Contact him via e-mail at bhamilton@theunion.com or by phone at 477-4240.