My History of Bicycles and Bicycling

This is where it all began, our first bicycle, the bike my brother Terry and I learned to ride.

My first new bike was this 20", 5 speed bike from Western Auto. Our Grandpa Plumlee gave each of his grand kids a baby heifer calf when we were young. The calf grew into a cow, and each year she had a calf. We'd sell the calf, and dad let us keep all the money. So that year, we went to the Western Auto store in Harrison, and Terry and I bought new bicycles. I rode this bike for a couple years, then one time we took it in for repairs. They told use there had been a recall on this bike due to a faulty frame, so I could trade it in for a new one. I was sort of glad, as I was about to out-grow it. So I picked out a 26", 3 speed bike. I'll keep looking for a photo of it it post.

When Lajunta and I began to get a bit serious, we bought matching 26" ten speeds. But I made a bad mistake. On our first ride, we went about 20 miles. Way, way too far for a first time rider. I think she hated bicycling from that time on. Again, I'll keep looking for a photo of those bikes.
My first long bike ride was on that bike. On July 4, 1977, my brother and a couple of cousins, rode our bikes from Oak Grove, to Roaring River State Park, near Cassville. It was about 40 miles. We didn't ride back home, as Lajunta and a friend drove up with vehicles, and hauled us back home (after a picnic).


My first nice "bike shop" bicycle was purchased in the early 1990's. The kids were wanting nicer bicycles, so I took them to the A&B Bike shop in Springfield. We got two bikes for the kids, and I bought a Schwinn Frontier mountain bike. I put a lot of miles on that bike, and have kept it well maintained. It's still a very road-worthy bike.
Here is a photo of that bike, when I did a week-long solo ride on the Katy Trail across Missouri in 2003.

My next mulit-day bike ride on the Schwinn Frontier was with my cousin, Steve in 2008. We started at my home, and did a 6 day, 4 state "loop". We hit the corner of Okalhoma and Kansas, and ended in Springfield, MO.

I pulled the grand kids a few miles with the Frontier bike. We purchased a two-wheeled "chariot" and the one wheeled "WeeHoo" tag along bike. We've ridden around home and done several parades. 

On Decembere 26, 2016, my 60th birthday, I rode my Frontier bike 60 miles. I started at my home, and rode to the Boone County hospital, where I was born (now known as the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center). I had to map out the "long way" route to make it 60 miles, Farewell, Denver, Burlington, Omaha, and Bergman.

I've done a few rides with my photographer friend, David Summerlin, and his friend, Russ Hight. We've done a few muli-day rides, including this one from Joplin into Oklahoma and Kansas. Here we are in Pitcher, OK, which is now a ghost town. It was a major lead and zinc mining town, until they discovered the mining had contaminated the ground water. I believe the federal government bought out the town, and it's now abandoned. Pictured behind us of one of the huge chat piles from the mining. 

In 2009, I completed the world's-largest organized bicycling event, RAGBRAI. Each year, around 20,000 cyclists from all 50 states, and several foreign countries, gather the last full week of July for this west to east bike ride across Iowa. This event has been happening annuallly for 40 plus years. Here I am on RAGBRAI, with my 700cm, 27 speed Felt road bike that I purchased that year. 

In 2010, I once again returned to Iowa and RAGBRAI, this time with daughter Karla and her husband Jason. The previous year had been in the southern part of the state, this year, the northern part of the state. Each year is a different route. Here we are pictured with Mr. Carter LeBeau, a RAGBRAI legend, and his wife. He was around age 84 at this time. At this time, Mr. LeBeau had ridded every RAGBRAI! He was an employee of the Des Moines Register, the sponsor of the event. It's my understanding, that the event began around 1973. One employee of that newspaper was an avid cyclist. One of his co-workers suggested, "Why don't you ride your bike across the state and write a story about the adventure?" The cyclist replied, "I will, if you go with me". They ran a small story in their newspaper, telling readers about their plans, and welcoming anyone who would like, to join them. They were shocked when they met to begin the ride, as about 200 riders showed up! The ride was completed, and the story was written. They got many inquires, "Any chance you'll do this again next year? We'd like to join in". So with a little more promotion, the second ride was scheduled for the following year. That time, about 2,000 cyclists showed up! Year after year, the event continued to grow, until well over 20,000 cyclists were showing up each year. The state police stepped in and said, "This thing is getting too big, you've got to cut it down". So a lottery system was developed, with only 10,000 "official" rider passes being given. But since the event is on public roads, another 10, 000 or so "bandits" show up most days, to join in the ride. 

I was thrilled the day we did this photo. We had stayed at the same home as the LeBeau's the previous evening. I didn't realize that until the next morning. Mr LeBeau was always easy to pick out of the crowd, due to his trademark socks. He and his wife came out of the house, about the time we were leaving. He seen my Arkansas Razorback jersey and hog hat. He laughed and said to his wife, "We've got to get a photo with these guys". 

Mr LeBeau passed away in 2013, at the age of 87. 

On the last night of the 2010 RAGBRAI, I told Lajunta, "I'm not going to ride across Iowa again, until I ride across our home state of Arkansas". So the following year, 2011, that promise was kept. 

My cycling buddy, Jerri Joubert and I started riding at the Arkansas/Missouri border and rode south for 6 days, until we came to the Louisiana border. Lajunta drove the car, and carried our gear, what cyclists call "SAG" (support and gear). 

My cousin Steve is partly to blame for my love of cycling. He had often told me about the time he and our cousin Richard, rode in the "Oklahoma Freewheel". It's sort of a much smaller version of RAGBRAI, drawing about 500 cyclists each year. They usually begin at the Texas border, and ride north to Kansas, a seven day event. I just had to experience that event, so in 2014, I completed that ride. 

In 2018, I added the 5th bike to my collection. This time, I bought a Salsa Marrakesh touring bike. A touring bike is heavier than a regular road bike. They have a bit longer wheel base, for more stability. They are made for long distance traveling and carrying heavy loads, with more spokes in the wheels. They are lower geared as well. Here I am pictured with David Anderson, from Sunshine Bike Shop in Springfield. When I bought my first "bike shop" bike in the early 1990s at A&B Bike Shop, David was working there and sold me those bikes! I've wanted to take this bike on a long tour, but so far, things haven't fallen into place. But I'm a patient person. 

Several years ago, I found this tandem bike at a flea market. Not a bike I'd want to take off on a 50 mile ride, but fun to go on short rides with the grand kid. 

Nothing much more fun, than a bike ride with the grand kids!!!!