Free Wheel 2008
Free Wheel is 46 days away.
In case you don't know, Free Wheel is Oklahoma's annual cross-state bicycle ride. When I tell people that I am preparing to ride my bike from Texas to Kansas, they almost always assume I'm talking about a motorcycle. When I tell them I'm riding a BICYCLE, they're pretty surprised. I'm not sure if they are surprised because riding a bicycle that far seems crazy to most people, or because I don't look like an athlete (translation: I'm fat). Either way, I don't care. I'm just excited about the ride.
This will be my sixth time to ride in the event. I started in 2001, and I think this year might be the best year ever. It is the 30th year for Free Wheel, and people seem to be taking notice. The producer for Discover Oklahoma, a weekly television show, is participating, and the cameras will be following her progress during the week. For the first time in several years, the Tulsa World will be publishing daily reports from along the route. They should do this every year, like they do for events like marathons. Seriously, anytime 1000 people put on spandex and pedal across a state, I would think it would make the news. Yesterday, in fact, the World had a nice write up about the ride. You can read it here.
Check out this year's route:
It isn't too late to start training, if you'd like to join us. It is good for your body, and good for your soul. You'll make friends that last a lifetime. You will see parts of Oklahoma that you never see from a car. And people will look at you like you're crazy. And maybe they're right.
In case you don't know, Free Wheel is Oklahoma's annual cross-state bicycle ride. When I tell people that I am preparing to ride my bike from Texas to Kansas, they almost always assume I'm talking about a motorcycle. When I tell them I'm riding a BICYCLE, they're pretty surprised. I'm not sure if they are surprised because riding a bicycle that far seems crazy to most people, or because I don't look like an athlete (translation: I'm fat). Either way, I don't care. I'm just excited about the ride.
This will be my sixth time to ride in the event. I started in 2001, and I think this year might be the best year ever. It is the 30th year for Free Wheel, and people seem to be taking notice. The producer for Discover Oklahoma, a weekly television show, is participating, and the cameras will be following her progress during the week. For the first time in several years, the Tulsa World will be publishing daily reports from along the route. They should do this every year, like they do for events like marathons. Seriously, anytime 1000 people put on spandex and pedal across a state, I would think it would make the news. Yesterday, in fact, the World had a nice write up about the ride. You can read it here.
Check out this year's route:
It isn't too late to start training, if you'd like to join us. It is good for your body, and good for your soul. You'll make friends that last a lifetime. You will see parts of Oklahoma that you never see from a car. And people will look at you like you're crazy. And maybe they're right.
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