I live in the Kansas City area on the Kansas side. I have never done the B.A.K. but have seen videos of it. It seems like the people who do it are very nice and supportive of each other. The number of riders is small - 800 to 900. If you do it, bring a sail for your bike. Its the first week in June and you can expect either a strong headwind, tailwind or crosswind during that time of year. BTW, Kansas is not flat - there are plenty of rolling hills that seem to go on forever. I think the scenery is pretty boring unless you are in the Flint Hills area which is really spectacular.

If your heart's desire is to ride in Kansas, check out the Border Raider's ride. It's a ride through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missiouri with a historical aspect covering the Cival War period. You'll encounter a beautiful landscape and lots of nice hills, as the ride follows the Missiouri river. There are motels or hotels to stay in at each stop. A Google search should give you the website and more info. People in the bike club I belong to did this ride and really enjoyed it.