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The long road ahead
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:17 AM EDT
Kevin Degen of Lathrup Village makes his way down a hill on Juddville Road as he comes to M-52, nearing the last water stop for Tuesday’s leg of the Pedal Across Lower Michigan bike tour. Degen, a 24-year veteran of the event, always chooses to ride the longer route of each leg, despite only being able to use one arm and one leg due to cerebral palsy.
oling out bags of ice and filling squirt guns with cool water, Dave Luft may not have participated in the more than 50-mile bike ride to Owosso High School, but he made sure everyone had a good time during it - and at the finish line.
“We couldn't make it without him,” said Dave's wife and Perry High School math teacher Jan Luft as she took a bag of ice and placed it on her knee.
From across the state and all over the country, 764 cyclists participated in the 26th annual Pedal Across Lower Michigan, which started Saturday. The week-long bike tour started in Spring Lake and reached its third of six stops in Owosso Tuesday.
“It's a lot of fun, but it's a lot of work,” Jan said after she finished the ride to Owosso from Carson City. “I've been a 5- to 10-miler and thought that was a long way - now 5 to 10 miles is nothing.”
For the second year, Jan, 45, is taking her bike over the about 300-mile trek that ends in St. Clair. The Lufts' 18-year-old son Nick is also in the process of completing his second PALM, but for Dave, this is his rookie year.
“It's busy but there are a lot of friendly people,” Dave said. “It's well worth it.”
Traveling the 300 miles in his Chevy Tahoe and pulling a camper trailer, Dave drives ahead of the cyclists to set up stops where they can recharge on snacks and cold water. That's how he has gained the nickname “The Candyman.”
“I have a variety,” Dave said of his stash of candies offered every 5 to 10 miles. “But the ladies like Tootsie Rolls - the chocolate.”
Although the three Lufts travel at different paces - with Nick reaching Owosso a few hours before Jan - the event's family atmosphere adds to the enjoyment, they said.
“(Nick) still wants to do stuff with us. It's cool,” Jan said. “That is one thing that is very special about it.”
The Lufts also credit the people they travel across the state with as motivation for the sometimes-grueling days.
“Everyone sets their own pace, all walks of life do this,” Jan said.
Kevin Degen of Lathrup Village is an inspiration to many cyclists, Jan said. A PALM veteran, he often takes the longer routes, even though he has the use of only one arm and one leg due to cerebral palsy.
Today the Lufts plan to bike to Millington in Tuscola County. Although Jan will be taking the about 50-mile route to the next stop, Nick will be taking on the “century” - the 100-mile alternative loop.
Kassie Monroe, 16, of Wayland met the Lufts during last year's PALM and is planning to take on the “century” with Nick today.
“It's just so I can say that I did it,” Kassie said.
And teenagers, who make up the second-largest demographic in the tour - just behind 50- to 59-year-olds - aren't the only ones with the same logic.
“It's just such a challenge, and to say that I can do it is pretty cool,” Jan said.
The physical and mental challenges brought by the week-long journey are what make all the sweat and sore muscles worth it, they said.
“On that last day when you cross that finish line and there are already people there whooping and cheering...it's just like, ‘yeah,'” Jan said, throwing a hand up in the air.
“You know you have gained so much,” she added.
