it ALL StArtS At 40 it ALL StArtS At 40 - Spokes Magazine

“The carryover” from participating in any of his tours was
that the participant would retain a passion for God and for
a healthy lifestyle. Wandering Wheels’ earliest tours were
centered primarily on boys aged 14-15, but more recently
centers on riders over 50.
“If I was going to be in the business of sharing my faith,
I needed something other than the church or the YMCA
to get the kids to go home and openly brag about it,” he
recalls.
“So one day, having never been a bicyclist, I saw a
10-speed Schwinn Varsity that a classmate was riding,
and asked him if I could try it out. I hopped on it, rode it
about three miles, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that
this was my answer. Quickly, and without much reasoning,
I wondered what would happen if I took a group of kids
on a 1,000 mile bike ride and pushed them beyond their
comfort zone. In 1964, I got the 15 bikes, got the 15 kids,
and we rode 1,000 miles from the headwaters of the Mis-
sissippi in Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois. That was the start
of something I had no idea what it would become.”
Today, Bob still rides a lot, averaging 8,000 miles a year
outdoors, (mostly lunchtime 40-50 mile jaunts on Indiana
gentle byways) and when weather turns bad he’s worn
out three Schwinn Aerodynes indoors.
Bob’s legacy? “Outside of my family, and outside of having
played football at the highest level, and coaching it for
11 great years, and then doing the bike thing for over 40
years, I would have to say my greatest accomplishment is
leaving a sweet taste in so many people’s mouths about
the importance of having God in their lives. Pleasing
someone beyond yourself. I hope that is my legacy.”
The passion
for cycling
starts young…
and lasts forever.
The Bicycle Place –
the friendliest
shop in town.
Let us help
you explore
your passion.
8313 Grubb Road, Silver Spring MD 301-588-6160
Winter 2010/11
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