June 6, 1982

Will La is proof that pedal power can stretch over 12,000 free wheeling miles.

Louw, a 52-year-old bicyclist from Johannesburg, South Africa, arrived in Tulsa this week to participate in the Tulsa World FreeWheel '82, a six-day jaunt through northeastern Oklahoma.

He joins has friends Norm and Jeanne Hollis, of Tulsa and their granddaughter, Michelle Davis, 11, of Pryor, on the 500-mile ramble.

"I am actually reciprocating because my friend Norm was staying in South Africa and I invited him to ride in a bike ride there," said Louw, a member of the biking group Pedal Power in his home country.

Hollis, as airlines maintenance manager, rode with Louw in February on a three-hour endurance ride. "You see how far you can ride. It is to whatever distance - you compete against yourself. The ride here is the same," Louw said.

Hollis invited Louw to visit Oklahoma to participate in the fourth annual FreeWheel ride, and offer Louw, and airline technical manager eagerly accepted.

" I wanted to see how things are done here. When I get back. I will write some articles and also hope to have a tour arranged on the same lines as this one," he said.

He praised the tour's organization and sponsors for the trip. "All the problems have been solved by now. I want to take the trip and learn from there," Louw said.

The South African tours are financed by various organizations.

Saturday, he and the Hollises were packing pup tents, sleeping bags and the 12-speed Centurian bike Louw brought over, preparing for the Guthrie sendoff Sunday.

"This offers an opportunity to stop wherever you like and see the beautiful country in Oklahoma," Louw said.

"This is certainly a wonderful way of doing things."

Hollis, a three-year veteran of the Oklahoma ride, agrees: "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened. I think it is really neat."

Following a two-day rest when the ride ends next Sunday, Louw will return to South Africa.

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