Muskogee Daily Phoenix

Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat (OK)

June 6, 2006

Boy to trek across states, by Daniel Lapham

To many the thought of jumping on a bike and trekking 425 miles across Oklahoma from Hugo, on the Texas border, to Baxter Springs, Kan., may seem a little bit scary or even crazy. But for 10-year-old Shay Hoog and his mother, Laurie Hoog, it is a bonding experience. The pair will ride together in the 28th anniversary Oklahoma FreeWheel, June 11 to 17. According to the official Web site, okfreewheel.com, The Oklahoma FreeWheel is an annual week-long cross-state bicycle ride held in early June. The FreeWheel began in 1979 and now has approximately 1,000 riders of all ages attend each year. They stay overnight in small communities and ride an average of 60 miles per day.

Laurie said Shay is the youngest rider she has seen training for the ride.

"I am not sure how many other kids are doing the FreeWheel. I know other kids ride tandems behind their parents, but Shay is the youngest one I have seen out there training with the Tulsa Bicycle Club," she said.

Shay said he is really excited about the trek across the state.

"See my mom always rode on a bike, and I started out on a mountain bike and I never got to ride with my mom 'cause she was to fast,"

Shay said. "I really wanted to ride with her, so I saved up some money and I got a little bit of money from everybody in my family and I got this Trek bike. Now, I am really happy and excited 'cause I love bike riding and my mom inspired me to do it."

Shay's mom explained that her son started road riding in March after receiving money for his 10th birthday.

"I was nervous at first, but he has done very well. He is getting road smart," Laurie said.

He is beginning to be aware of his surroundings and learning how to stay safe while riding on the road. She said he is even learning to draft other riders, which can be a scary time for a mother.

"I am scared he is going to run into the back of someone."

Laurie said she rode in the ride last year because she had never

really pushed herself physically and wanted to see what she was made of.

"I went down there by myself last year and by the end of the ride I had 30 new friends. It was like summer camp. My parents laughed at me though, because I am not the type to camp out and rough it for a week. By the end, my body was screaming, 'where's the blow dryer,'" Laurie said.

Laurie and Shay have been training with the Tulsa Bicycle Club since March to prepare for the Oklahoma FreeWheel challenge. She and Shay usually ride about 40 miles at a time, but last week they pushed it.

"Shay rode 75 miles last Saturday," Laurie said.

That achievement alleviated some of her concern for Shay because the daily rides for the tour will range from 45 to 81 miles a day. The trek is divided into sections with a specific destination each day, Laurie said. The tour across the state will pass through Warner and Tahlequah, according to the official Web site, okfreewheel.com.

Reach Daniel Lapham at dlapham@muskogee.gannett.com or 684-2930.

Shay Hoog

Age: 10.
School: Grant Foreman fifth-grader.
Hobbies: Sports. "I would rather be outside playing or riding my bike than doing anything inside."
Future Plans: "I want to be a doctor, a lawyer or pro baseball or soccer player."
Heroes: Alex Rodriguez and his mom.