Short Ride (56.6 Miles), 'Enjoyable' for 250 Bikers

June 12, 1979

By ROB KERBY
Of the World Staff

ADA - Cooled by a gentle north breeze, about 250 Free Wheel '79 riders arrived here Monday on the week-long, 431-mile bike ride's shortest day: 56.6 miles.

Swamping every restaurant in Wapanucka, they bought every bottle of Gatorade in the town's two groceries.

Gone was Sunday's winds which seemed to push the mostly first timer bicycle tourists back a foot for every yard peddled.

One group of Tulsa Wheelmen bicycled club racers zipped along Monday's rural back roads hours ahead of the slower main group. On arriving here, they took a 30-mile "training ride" so "the day wouldn't be completely wasted."

THE SCENIC TOUR OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA is sponsored by the Wheelmen and the Tulsa World.

Fighting the wind Sunday, panting somewhere between New Allison and Cobb, I asked veteran rider Bill Sullivan if all cross-country riding was such work.

"You'll see," laughed the 45-year veteran of bicycle racing and touring.

I did Monday.

"This was enjoyable," said Mrs. Marilou Bork, Bartlesville.

Breakfast - donuts and coffee - came from Tishomingo's Lions Club Monday morning and was served by the town's undertaker, Richard Smith, and Associated District Judge H. Leo Austin at Sunday night's overnight campgrounds in Tishomingo's city park.

Several Tishomingo youngsters had pitched tents among the Free Wheel campers and about 25 adults and kids joined the tour Monday riding into Ada.

Outside of Clarita, I stumbled onto middle-aged Tulsa Webster High School history teacher Earl Larkin riding miles ahead of student Robert Rainey, 16

Larkin was worrying with a broken spoke.

"I've been riding 70 miles with my brakes on," boisterous, rotund outdoorsman laughed.

"Not really but with my tire rubbing, it was like it."

Larkin - one of several riders with wives or friends driving cars, vans and campers along behind - said he expects several students to join up Thursday when the ride twists from Okmulgee State Park and touches southeast Tulsa on its way to Sand Springs Thursday.

Others will ride from Sand Springs Golf Course to Bartlesville's Johnstone Park Friday.

Tishomingo made riders feel at home - late Sunday night high school coach Stan White opened up the gymnasium locker rooms so riders could shower.

The Free Wheelers responded Monday:

The Merrill family of Tulsa, Allen, Monya, Kevin and Muffy kept an eye on energetic John Chancy, 13 of Tishomingo, whose balding front tire showed more and more signs of popping.

Outside of Ada, new friends Wade Henderson, 12 Tulsa, and Peter Morrell, 10, Tishomingo, worked 15 minutes fixing Peter's kinked chain.

Near White, Tulsan Fred Thomas taught Murray State College aerobics instructor Mrs. Cindy Ryan, Tishomingo, how to shift her 10-speed.

Monday night bikers were served hamburgers, cole slaw and baked beans by Ada's Kiwanis Club.

Club head Sid Bearden gazed out over the throng and said he'd consented to let his sons, Robert, 12, and Bo, 10, ride Tuesday into Seminole.

Under a tree Ed Clary, Tishomingo's town pharmacist and assistant Vicky Lacy, rested beside there bikes.

How'd they like the ride?

"When are we going to do this again?" asked Vicky.

At the single pop machined in Tupelo, pool hall wonder Bill McWethey put out a cooler of ice water fro riders. "I've never seen anything like this," he said.

"This is really something. People on bicycles been coming through all day telling me they're going to Kansas."
He shook his head in wonder.

"They asked if I wanted to come along.

"Maybe next time."