The Annual Ride
I just stumbled upon my collection of fliers and maps for the many "organized" bicycle rides Mary and I led over the years. So I scanned them and put them in a PDF for your enjoyment.
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<Click the map to open the flier collection in a new tab. Click HERE to view photos of early rides in a new tab. |
Along with the fliers I'll try to document the history of the rides, as best as I can remember.
The FIRST ride - ANTI IRONMAN - April 27, 1975 - no flier, no map.
This started it all. I was disgusted with the annual AYH Ironman ride. It had gotten too expensive, too crowded(!?), had bad food and drink, and had dropped it's commemorative patch. It just didn't supply the value I wanted in a ride. So in 1975, on the same day as the Ironman (always the last Sunday in April) I invited a few friends to do an alternate ride. Gene Olson, Ed Keating, Jim Kotasek (possibly Daphne too), Jim Vann, Mary, and maybe others were foolish enough to bite. We started at the south end of Bald Eagle Lake and rode north with no real planned route. We ended up turning east to Chisago City. It was a really HOT day with plenty of rolling hills. And this was before there were convenience stores everywhere. Arriving in Chisago barely alive due to hunger and thirst, we asked the local cop where we could eat. He sent us up the street to a little 3.2 beer and burger joint. (This is a key point!!!) Here's a recent photo of the place.
The FIRST ride - ANTI IRONMAN - April 27, 1975 - no flier, no map.
This started it all. I was disgusted with the annual AYH Ironman ride. It had gotten too expensive, too crowded(!?), had bad food and drink, and had dropped it's commemorative patch. It just didn't supply the value I wanted in a ride. So in 1975, on the same day as the Ironman (always the last Sunday in April) I invited a few friends to do an alternate ride. Gene Olson, Ed Keating, Jim Kotasek (possibly Daphne too), Jim Vann, Mary, and maybe others were foolish enough to bite. We started at the south end of Bald Eagle Lake and rode north with no real planned route. We ended up turning east to Chisago City. It was a really HOT day with plenty of rolling hills. And this was before there were convenience stores everywhere. Arriving in Chisago barely alive due to hunger and thirst, we asked the local cop where we could eat. He sent us up the street to a little 3.2 beer and burger joint. (This is a key point!!!) Here's a recent photo of the place.
It was crowded, with no place to sit. We asked if they would serve us out on the empty lot next door (shady side of the building). They said OK. We had much beer and burgers - and a great time. Of course we still had to ride back. There was a semi-planned refreshment stop on the return route, at Hwy 61 in Hugo, but it was Sunday and stores were closed. What were we thinking??? We suffered a lot but we made it. After ride analysis of the map indicated that we went nearly 80 miles!! What were we thinking???
The SECOND ride - Anti Ironman - April 25, 1976 (scheduled) - and the first flier.
In the early spring I did some research (and used the car) to plan out a nice route in Anoka County, on the Anoka sand plain, i.e. - FLAT! Starting near the small airport in Blaine, the route had the quaint Lake Netta Store on the way out, a stop at the Martin House Resort for lunch, and a root beer stand on the return trip. Perfect! I made up a flier and sent it to pretty much everyone I knew. (Note that the ride carries approval by the White Foam Bike Club - you know who you are!) Perfect.
BUT IT RAINED!!!
Not to worry. The flier promised a truly Anti Ironman concept - "reschedule in case of bad weather" - so we did. It went off the next Sunday without a hitch and sunny skies. The Martin House was great, relaxing, right on the lake. The core group above rode, along with many others. I don't remember them all.
The THIRD ride - Martin Lake 100 - May 15, 1977
Big news! A name change. We had decided we liked a later date, in hopes of better weather, (note "pre-postponed" pledge on the flier) so were no longer Anti anything. In honor of the fabulous lunch spot and the fact that the route was nearly 100 kilometers, the ride became the Martin Lake 100. It rained on the scheduled day again, but we went a week later with even better results and more riders than in year number two.
(An aside - the new date for the Martin Lake 100 opened up the April date of the real Ironman so some of us did ride it from time to time. We learned that if you did not officially enter, and did not pay the fee, you could supply your own food and drink and get a reasonable amount of value. Let's see, I remember the year that Gene had the twelve pack lashed to his back rack and... No, that's a whole 'nother story!)
The FOURTH through SEVENTH rides - Martin Lake 100 - 1978 to 1981
The next four years had us following the same route. We moved into June or late May, still searching for the perfect weekend. The number of riders grew, with highest count around 35. The core group held fast and made pretty much every ride. Random happenings:
-One year, I think 1978, the root beer stand was razed (imagine our surprise) but by the next year there was a convenience store near the same spot. -When we moved to June we found the Lake Netta Store personnel to by very hostile, accusing us of stealing, and demanding to see our "leader". We were puzzled until we realized that in mid-May there was an AYH "Ironman-like" ride in late may that brought hundreds of bikers to the store in a short period of time, some evidently causing trouble. The store owners thought we were just the first wave of another similar group.
-We found we could get water at the back of a cemetery and it was add to the 5th map. -There were a few flats but that just gave me the opportunity to show off my repair skills. I could get it done in 10 minutes flat (pun intended). -The 6th ride made the shortcut official, right on County 26 instead of left, busier road but it cut off nearly 1/3 of the miles. Check the flier map.
-One year we had a severe thunderstorm blow in while we lunched at the Martin House. It bummed us out at first but a couple of hours (and a couple more pitchers) brought back the sun. Everyone was really rested and it turned out to be the easiest ride back ever.
-We mostly rode as a group, at a pace that suited all. But every now and then an inexperienced rider would take a flier off the front and inevitably miss a turn. Then yours truly would have to chase them down to get them back on track.
-Talk on the ride was that, as we all got old (surely many years in the future) we would have someone pre-drive the route, filming with a video camera. The "riders" would then just meet for the beer and burgers at Martin Lake and watch the video.
-In 1981 almost everyone opted for the shortcut to Martin Lake. The hard core took this opportunity to turn the "longcut" into a race, getting to the lunch stop not much after the shortcutters. We arrived at the Martin House to find it closed, shut down, OUT OF BUSINESS! We did have a backup, a roadhouse bar at Viking Blvd and 197th Ave near Coon Lake, but it was a poor substitute - so this lead to...
The EIGHTH ride - Hamburger Haven Half Hundred - June 6, 1982
Same start point, the Lake Netta Store, the cemetery pump, a new (much friendlier) store at the far north end, and a new route back. Only 50 miles total (in deference to all the shortcutters he previous year), and a short 13 miles to ride after lunch. All this and burgers at the Hamburger Haven.
The NINTH and TENTH rides - Hamburger Haven Half Hundred - 1983 and 1984
I must have been getting tired of the whole thing. Notice the encouraging tone of the flier for the 9th. And nothing at all to say for the 10th. Well, the route was much less scenic (the west part was kind of a grind) and the Hamburger Haven was certainly no Martin House.
The ELEVENTH ride - Bombay Bicycle Club Back Pedal - June 23, 1985
A new restaurant, the Bombay Bicycle Club, opened just a bit south from our traditional starting point. With a name like that it seemed to be a fine place to start our newly shortened ride. We were down to 30 miles now, on an out and back course to the Lake Netta Store. Lunch was to be at the end of the ride, back at the BBC. The menu was extensive and many opted for non-burgers, and mixed drinks were seen instead of beer. This was telling! (As was the fact that the flier actually did not carry an annual number.) The ride itself was OK but Anoka county was really expanding like crazy. The formerly quiet Raddison Road was now the main line to many new developments and carried a steady stream of traffic. So for the next year we tried...
The TWELFTH ride - Withrow Wandering - June 29, 1986 - notice, no annual numbering on the flier again.
This was an out and back ride on little-traveled roads in Ramsey and Washington Counties. Starting at Phalen, with a water(!??) stop at White Bear Beach, the route went to Withrow where there was a small bar. We then returned to downtown White Bear Lake to eat pizza(!?????) at Two Guys From Italy. A good ride but pizza seemed to be the death knell for the ride. This was the last of the annual rides.
(Another aside, somewhere along the way Mary and I sporadically "organized" three or four Twin Town Tavern Twenty rides. These were done in Saint Paul, on a kind-of-planned route, where the goal was use a number of taverns as an excuse to take a leisurely ride and visit different parts of the city. The rule was twenty miles or twenty taverns, whichever came first. The rides were generally small but fun. No fliers were prepared.)
The ?TH through ??TH ride - Cannon River Cruise - 198? and on
By the late 1980s we were missing the group rides and decided that the Cannon Valley Trail was a good excuse to have another. We started on the east end in Red Wing and rode to Cannon Falls, 20 miles one way. Those not up for a 40 miler joined up at the halfway point in Welch. The first year we had a rest stop in Cannon Falls and then returned to the Welch Village Inn for (what else) beer and burgers. These rides continued somewhat annually through the 1990s. Usually right around the 4th of July. After the first year we discovered that Brewster's Bar in Cannon Falls welcomed us to roll our bikes right into the building, so that became our preferred lunch stop. Of course they had beer and burgers. None of these was numbered. Only one (1990) had a flier that I can find. No map was necessary. Somewhere along the way I just stopped organizing rides. Don't know why, it just happened.
So there you have it. Hope you enjoyed my reminiscing. Maybe, if I'm inspired, I'll organize another ride next summer. I checked a few years ago and the Martin House was replaced buy a development of expensive-looking lakeside homes. Click HERE to see the site. So that's out. No matter what the route or timing I just might have to call it the 32nd Anniversary Anti Ironman. Or maybe I'll just drive some route and show the video! Email me if you're interested.
Mark
The SECOND ride - Anti Ironman - April 25, 1976 (scheduled) - and the first flier.
In the early spring I did some research (and used the car) to plan out a nice route in Anoka County, on the Anoka sand plain, i.e. - FLAT! Starting near the small airport in Blaine, the route had the quaint Lake Netta Store on the way out, a stop at the Martin House Resort for lunch, and a root beer stand on the return trip. Perfect! I made up a flier and sent it to pretty much everyone I knew. (Note that the ride carries approval by the White Foam Bike Club - you know who you are!) Perfect.
BUT IT RAINED!!!
Not to worry. The flier promised a truly Anti Ironman concept - "reschedule in case of bad weather" - so we did. It went off the next Sunday without a hitch and sunny skies. The Martin House was great, relaxing, right on the lake. The core group above rode, along with many others. I don't remember them all.
The THIRD ride - Martin Lake 100 - May 15, 1977
Big news! A name change. We had decided we liked a later date, in hopes of better weather, (note "pre-postponed" pledge on the flier) so were no longer Anti anything. In honor of the fabulous lunch spot and the fact that the route was nearly 100 kilometers, the ride became the Martin Lake 100. It rained on the scheduled day again, but we went a week later with even better results and more riders than in year number two.
(An aside - the new date for the Martin Lake 100 opened up the April date of the real Ironman so some of us did ride it from time to time. We learned that if you did not officially enter, and did not pay the fee, you could supply your own food and drink and get a reasonable amount of value. Let's see, I remember the year that Gene had the twelve pack lashed to his back rack and... No, that's a whole 'nother story!)
The FOURTH through SEVENTH rides - Martin Lake 100 - 1978 to 1981
The next four years had us following the same route. We moved into June or late May, still searching for the perfect weekend. The number of riders grew, with highest count around 35. The core group held fast and made pretty much every ride. Random happenings:
-One year, I think 1978, the root beer stand was razed (imagine our surprise) but by the next year there was a convenience store near the same spot. -When we moved to June we found the Lake Netta Store personnel to by very hostile, accusing us of stealing, and demanding to see our "leader". We were puzzled until we realized that in mid-May there was an AYH "Ironman-like" ride in late may that brought hundreds of bikers to the store in a short period of time, some evidently causing trouble. The store owners thought we were just the first wave of another similar group.
-We found we could get water at the back of a cemetery and it was add to the 5th map. -There were a few flats but that just gave me the opportunity to show off my repair skills. I could get it done in 10 minutes flat (pun intended). -The 6th ride made the shortcut official, right on County 26 instead of left, busier road but it cut off nearly 1/3 of the miles. Check the flier map.
-One year we had a severe thunderstorm blow in while we lunched at the Martin House. It bummed us out at first but a couple of hours (and a couple more pitchers) brought back the sun. Everyone was really rested and it turned out to be the easiest ride back ever.
-We mostly rode as a group, at a pace that suited all. But every now and then an inexperienced rider would take a flier off the front and inevitably miss a turn. Then yours truly would have to chase them down to get them back on track.
-Talk on the ride was that, as we all got old (surely many years in the future) we would have someone pre-drive the route, filming with a video camera. The "riders" would then just meet for the beer and burgers at Martin Lake and watch the video.
-In 1981 almost everyone opted for the shortcut to Martin Lake. The hard core took this opportunity to turn the "longcut" into a race, getting to the lunch stop not much after the shortcutters. We arrived at the Martin House to find it closed, shut down, OUT OF BUSINESS! We did have a backup, a roadhouse bar at Viking Blvd and 197th Ave near Coon Lake, but it was a poor substitute - so this lead to...
The EIGHTH ride - Hamburger Haven Half Hundred - June 6, 1982
Same start point, the Lake Netta Store, the cemetery pump, a new (much friendlier) store at the far north end, and a new route back. Only 50 miles total (in deference to all the shortcutters he previous year), and a short 13 miles to ride after lunch. All this and burgers at the Hamburger Haven.
The NINTH and TENTH rides - Hamburger Haven Half Hundred - 1983 and 1984
I must have been getting tired of the whole thing. Notice the encouraging tone of the flier for the 9th. And nothing at all to say for the 10th. Well, the route was much less scenic (the west part was kind of a grind) and the Hamburger Haven was certainly no Martin House.
The ELEVENTH ride - Bombay Bicycle Club Back Pedal - June 23, 1985
A new restaurant, the Bombay Bicycle Club, opened just a bit south from our traditional starting point. With a name like that it seemed to be a fine place to start our newly shortened ride. We were down to 30 miles now, on an out and back course to the Lake Netta Store. Lunch was to be at the end of the ride, back at the BBC. The menu was extensive and many opted for non-burgers, and mixed drinks were seen instead of beer. This was telling! (As was the fact that the flier actually did not carry an annual number.) The ride itself was OK but Anoka county was really expanding like crazy. The formerly quiet Raddison Road was now the main line to many new developments and carried a steady stream of traffic. So for the next year we tried...
The TWELFTH ride - Withrow Wandering - June 29, 1986 - notice, no annual numbering on the flier again.
This was an out and back ride on little-traveled roads in Ramsey and Washington Counties. Starting at Phalen, with a water(!??) stop at White Bear Beach, the route went to Withrow where there was a small bar. We then returned to downtown White Bear Lake to eat pizza(!?????) at Two Guys From Italy. A good ride but pizza seemed to be the death knell for the ride. This was the last of the annual rides.
(Another aside, somewhere along the way Mary and I sporadically "organized" three or four Twin Town Tavern Twenty rides. These were done in Saint Paul, on a kind-of-planned route, where the goal was use a number of taverns as an excuse to take a leisurely ride and visit different parts of the city. The rule was twenty miles or twenty taverns, whichever came first. The rides were generally small but fun. No fliers were prepared.)
The ?TH through ??TH ride - Cannon River Cruise - 198? and on
By the late 1980s we were missing the group rides and decided that the Cannon Valley Trail was a good excuse to have another. We started on the east end in Red Wing and rode to Cannon Falls, 20 miles one way. Those not up for a 40 miler joined up at the halfway point in Welch. The first year we had a rest stop in Cannon Falls and then returned to the Welch Village Inn for (what else) beer and burgers. These rides continued somewhat annually through the 1990s. Usually right around the 4th of July. After the first year we discovered that Brewster's Bar in Cannon Falls welcomed us to roll our bikes right into the building, so that became our preferred lunch stop. Of course they had beer and burgers. None of these was numbered. Only one (1990) had a flier that I can find. No map was necessary. Somewhere along the way I just stopped organizing rides. Don't know why, it just happened.
So there you have it. Hope you enjoyed my reminiscing. Maybe, if I'm inspired, I'll organize another ride next summer. I checked a few years ago and the Martin House was replaced buy a development of expensive-looking lakeside homes. Click HERE to see the site. So that's out. No matter what the route or timing I just might have to call it the 32nd Anniversary Anti Ironman. Or maybe I'll just drive some route and show the video! Email me if you're interested.
Mark
