We’ve all seen them, and I even admit
to knowing a few, some quite well. Those “other people” who actually like
getting on one of those two-wheeled contrivances! Some even claim to like
the activity and claim it might even be physically advantageous!
Well I never! One of the dubious benefits of advancing age
is the gradual reapportionment of one’s physique, along with the occasional
tender and wincing pains of joints that have exercised their purpose way
too often.
It was Dr. Tom Dougherty who got to the heart of the matter.
At the usual Duluth Pickwick Saturday lunch this spring, he casually mentioned
he’d ridden some 130 miles as he trained for a bike race.
Dumb me! “How many weeks did that take, Tom?” was my question.
“Oh,” he replied, “I started early this morning ...” Taking a good grip
on the stein, I just stared.
 As
you might guess, bride Janice thought such activity would be both fun and
good for us. This led to a visit to Stewart’s Wheel Goods on her part and
soon a kitchen table spread with brochures challenged my reading skills.
My suspicion that strange little men in remote caves design bicycles was
confirmed! A jillion different sized wheels, all kinds of gears, seats
that would make a mummy uncomfortable seem the few common traits. And how
could any summer activity in the northland match boating?
Other boaters were quick to contribute to our growing “outsiders
looking in” feeling. Chuck and Fran Williams added two shiny bikes to the
space ahead of their boat in the next marina, as did Dave and Sharon DeLeo,
neighbors in our marina.
Sure was getting tough to just walk to the bathroom or the
dumpster. Brightly colored shiny bicycles seemed to be everywhere.
We made the rounds, discovering springtime is bike-selling
time, and prices and features abound. I took refuge in saying that there
were just too many different models; why don’t we just wait and think about
it? As I suspected, Jan didn’t share that final plan to remain sedentary
through our “golden” years.
“I’ve picked mine out,” was her cheery greeting, as I felt
the noose tightening. “It has six speeds, big fat tires and whitewalls!”
I studied the floor, looking for the trapdoor that would
drop me. I knew time had run out.
“Not even a blindfold,” I muttered. Some gallows!
Well, I’ve been at this all too long to get outrun by a pretty
Norwegian. Dropping the Ford into gear, I was off to the bicycle store.
Walking through the door, I was momentarily shocked by the smiles and welcoming
waves as those inside must have instantly recognized that I was there to
share my few paltry dollars.
It took half an hour, but I left with a fine car rack, which
was carrying a beautiful blue six-speed bike with a big and, almost, comfortable
seat! Big fat tires and - you guessed it - whitewalls!
Back to the marina. Duluth’s Park Point, that long sandspit
interrupted by the famous Aerial Lift Bridge that forms the Duluth-Superior
harbor, is home to our boat and now to our bikes. The 40-plus blocks of
level riding were great training miles as we gradually became accustomed
to the fun of bicycling.
Stiff knees, something I’ve just lived with for the past
few years, made themselves known to begin with. I realized that my NordicTrack
is good cross-country skiing exercise, but my knees were getting by for
free. As we developed an almost daily bike-riding habit, I was surprised
to find that my knees felt great within three weeks, and the pain and discomfort
had disappeared! Seasoned bikers helped us get the seat height to where
it should be. We agreed that this is a wonderful way to further enjoy summer.
Lake Superior’s friendly shores are a bicycle rider’s paradise,
providing the occasional significant hill which encourages walking and
good conversation. We learned quickly that many use bike racing as a challenging
sport, and we found keeping out of their way not to be a problem.
Another wonderful group we have gotten to know are the young
families in which even the smallest youngsters are enjoying the ride. I’m
sure we haven’t seen every variety of carrier, but the smiles emanating
from screened and padded carriages are unmistakable.
The western end of Lake Superior is the starting point for
the Willard Munger Trail, a blacktop path reaching southwest to Hinckley,
Minnesota, some 80 miles. This marvelous means of re-acquainting us with
our history attracts hundreds of hikers, roller bladers and bicyclists.
Iron ore was discovered at Mountain Iron, Minnesota, in 1890
by the Merritt family. This led to a railroad being carved out of the western
Duluth hillside which now is the Munger Trail. Rising just two or three
degrees per mile, five miles brings you to a breathtaking view of the St.
Louis River Valley. Old town sites are noted by small signs along the way,
and Jay Cooke State Park is described.
At mile 11, Minnesota Power’s electricity-generating dam
and water storage pool system are described in detail, noting that they
were built around the turn of the century. Side trails for hiking encourage
further exploration of this still important source of power for our area.
In northern Wisconsin, the many rural roads are sprinkled
with bikers - individual and whole families. Madeline Island, queen of
the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore near Bayfield, attracts bicyclists
by the hundreds. Its reasonably level blacktop roads are sometimes challenging,
but the many views are fascinating.
Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula again mixes biking with both
scenery and history. Calumet and the new national park recognizing copper
mining make fascinating exploration.
These are not the only bike-inviting areas of the lake. In
fact, for the stout of heart (and we’ve known a few), the entire Lake Superior
Circle Tour is the ultimate bike trail. All deference to Dr. Dougherty,
but that one may take more than just a day or two.
So we pedal on. We invite you to join us. Wave if you see
our reapportioned physique astride our conveyance. If it’s a level surface,
we’ll try to wave back.
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