FreeWheel: A trip, a tradition, a great ride

Plenty of drivers along for the ride
ANNIE GASPARRO World Staff Writer
06/18/2005
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A11 of News

They drive the FreeWheel= route every day, providing help and encouragement to bicyclists.

PONCA CITY -- Driving a SAG= wagon isn't an easy endeavor, but it's a job that's vital for the bicyclists who = are traversing the state on the Oklahoma FreeWheel.

"Yo= u have to pitch the tents and look for shade and find the bathrooms and showers and get everyone's bags -- and I got lost more than once," said Diana Lerm= a of Edmond,= the personal driver Friday for the Oklahoma Bicyclists Society.

The grou= p's members take turns driving the SAG -- or Support and Gear -- truck, and Ler= ma had biked the previous five days of the cross-state trip.

"I = like biking better," she said. "SAGing's harder."

Hauling = water coolers and setting up tents, these are the people who make FreeWheelers mo= re safe and comfortable.

Each yea= r, some people join FreeWheel as official SAG drivers, and others follow along= as personal drivers.

The official SAGs travel alongside the bike= rs, stopping by the road to offer cold water, first aid and emergency aid.

Some FreeWheelers, such as those in the Oklahoma Bicyclists Society, have the lu= xury of a personal SAG who drives straight to the campground each morning, getti= ng everything set up for the bikers in his or her group.

Edna Sch= ultz, another driver for Lerma's group, said it's even more difficult to drive an official FreeWheel SAG than to be a personal driver.

"Yo= u have to sit on the side of the road. You try to find a shady spot, but it's hot,= and you have to stay out there for a long time until everyone's done," she said. "It's a lot harder than people think."

Gary Per= shall, a biker from Yukon, spoke of his gratitude to the SAG drivers -- one man in particular.

"Th= is guy -- his name's Dennis -- brings his own canopy and sets it up about 15 to 20 miles out from the beginning, when you really need a break," Pershall said. "He has water, Gatorade, food and even two Port-A-Potties for everyone, and he pays for it all himself."

Pershall= said people like Dennis are vital to the riders in case dehydration, flat tires = or other problems arise.

Stephen Cargill of Shidler is a driver for his wife, who is biking. Although he rod= e in FreeWheel in the past, he said he enjoys his new job as a driver.

"I'= m just here to support my wife. This is her week," he said. "She puts up with me 51 weeks out of the year, so I want to be here for her this week.&q= uot;

While at= a campsite in Antlers early in the trip, Cargill met a fellow driver while th= ey each set up tents. His camping neighbor, James Underwood of Edmond, joined Cargill for a round of g= olf, and the two instantly became friends.

"We= 've figured out the best deal. We wake up every morning and drive to the next place, set up the tents, get everything ready, and then when (the bikers) g= et here and want to take their afternoon naps, we go play golf," Cargill said.

Underwoo= d is traveling with his daughter and son-in-law as their personal SAG, but he sa= id he misses riding his bike on FreeWheel.

"I = rode once with my daughter, and even though I'm happy doing this, I'd like to ri= de again," he said.

One of t= he official Freewheel SAG drivers is Diana Enns, who came from Kansas to support her bicyclist husban= d.

The cycl= ists appreciate her, Enns said, because of what she offers them.

"If= I didn't have the water and Band-Aids, they wouldn't love me, but I do, so th= ey love me," she said confidently.

The cycl= ists and their entourages traveled Friday from Drumright to Ponca City. FreeWheel started Sunday in= Paris, Texas, and= will end Saturday in Caldwell, Kan.

Annie Gasparro 581-8300
annie.gasparro@tulsaworld.= com