Bikecentennial / Re: Need info. on the 1976 bicentennial ride..anyone on here that made that journey?
« on: March 31, 2012, 05:57:36 pm »I'm from Europe, I made the full trip in 1976, I'm sure I came along the position of your stand at Shawnee Creek on the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Mountains.
I rode a white roadracing bicycle with a black saddle bag.
Since there were only a few stands along the whole of the TransAm trail, it must have been yours that I remember. I also slept that night in a motel in the neighborhood, probably Summersville or Houston.
The next day I ended up in Springfield at the University campus in a fierce shower at the end of that day (I did 80 to 100 miles a day).
As I remember well, which is very difficult after so long time, I stopped at the stand, but it was so crowded at that moment, that I took off again after a few minutes or maybe I took some water.
In about the same pace as I travelled alone from East to West, a mixed group of British youngsters, also on roadracing bikes went in the same direction, they also had a support van behind them. It probably were them at your stand at that time.
I met up with this group again the next day, in the terrible shower they had lost one another and I could tell them where most of them were in hiding, while I carried along. After all, I met them again at the University that night.
This all happened around the first of July.
In Springfield I lost a day repairing my bike, shoes and racingtrousers.
The British group I encountered again after many weeks in a hostel near Missoula Montana.
You must have had at least 2,000 cyclists passing your stand there in about one month time, at least 50 a day. Did you ever get the compliments of the organisation for your initiative ?
I remenber only one other stand on the trail. That was between Dubois and the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
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Greetings to you and your family,
Hans Kornalijnslijper
the Hague.