Cyclists turn out for ?Bike to Work Week?

    The week of May 17-21 is recognized nationally as ?Bike to Work Week.? In honor of the national event, a few people from the area are taking on the challenge of riding their bikes to their place of employment instead of driving their cars. For some, such as Rodney Stogdill, that means 45 minutes of pedaling from his house, which is 10 miles from his store in Washington.

    ?I don?t want to brag. That?s not very fast,? said Stogdill. ?I try to ride into town at least once a year during bike to work week. I try to ride my bike at least once a week.?

    Stogdill said that he likes riding a bike because it is a ?joyous experience.?

    Stogdill also said it?s not even the taste of fresh air that makes him want to hop on a bicycle.

    ?After that diesel truck passed me this morning, I wondered about the fresh air I was getting,? said Stogdill. ?It?s a sense of freedom. As a young person, it?s one of the first things you learn to do, and it makes you feel independent.?

    Washington resident Dave Krantz is another cycling enthusiast who is participating in the ?bike to work week.?

    ?I ride my bike fairly often in the summer,? said Krantz. ?We were out last night. Sometimes we go on the nature trail. Our bike group will get together after work and ride 20 miles. Sometimes we?ll ride to Coppock or Wayland.?

    Krantz said that what he likes about cycling is the camaraderie and the experiences he has traveling with other people.

For the full story, see the May 18 edition of The Washington Evening Journal