May 23, 1982

ADAIR - The population of this Mayes County town will at least double two weeks from now as the Tulsa World's fourth family bicycle ramble pauses here.

That's not counting the crowd Adair Chamber of Commerce President Van Poplin fears the evening Bluegrass and country music jamboree may attract.

Poplin isn't publicizing the Tuesday, June 7, 7 p.m. concert in the Adair football stadium, featuring Barbara Rice and the country Pickers.

Chelsea's Clem McSpadden will serve as master of ceremonies - and may be persuaded to sing, said Poplin. Another guest will be local recording artist Gary Timmons. Even Don Reynolds, district manager of the Continental Communications System, may crack out his fiddle.

"If word of this thing gets out," said Poplin, "I'm afraid we'll fill up the stadium with people from Pryor and all over the bicyclers won't get a good seat."

The concert is free.

Tuesday night will be a good night to come see what FreeWheel looks like. From Tulsa, head northeast on U.S. 66 until you reach Foyil. Then, go 15 miles on Oklahoma 28-A.

It's at Adair that one of the biggest challenges of any FreeWheel is faced.

The ladies of the Adair Christian Church will attempt to fix a home-cooked meal for all of the event's hundreds. That's because Adair only has tow small restaurants.

The cafe owners are gearing up for the extra business, but will not be able to feed more than 50. Neither has more than three tables.

Adair - population 500 - is the smallest town to ever host FreeWheel. But Christian Church pastor Joel Rutherford says his flock is up the task of the meal.

Although FreeWheel's hundreds are notorious about not showing up for breakfast, Adair boy Scout Troop 167 - which will unload riders' luggage for free Tuesday - is planning a sausage and pancake breakfast Wednesday morning.

That will begin at 6 a.m. in the Adair Community Building, said troop spokesman Carl Osborn.

And for $1, orange juice and breakfast rolls will be available at the campgrounds, provided by the scouts.

The Scouts also will run a concession stand at the campgrounds, selling popcorn and soft drinks.

Campgrounds and showers will be provided by the Adair Board of Education, said Superintendent Gene Winfield.

Monday, the Christian Church ladies got down to the nitty-gritty of serving hundreds of overnight guests at a minimum cost.

The goal: to serve up a memorable meal, yet charge only $3.50-$4.

It was the church ladies last year who served free lemonade and snacks to riders on their way from Locust Grove to Chelsea.

Free.

The town became famous among riders.

Never before had anyone set out a stand under the trees and told riders to eat their fill of brownies, cookies and cake -

For no charge whatsoever.

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