June 13, 1982

By ROB KERBY
Of the World Staff

BROKEN ARROW - Whit a clatter of muddy derailleurs, FreeWheel '82 bicycling hordes braked to a stop at the Summer Festival here Saturday.

And for the last five miles of the 500-mile, week-long jaunt, the stream of bicyclists finally had the road to itself. Broken Arrow police halted traffic along south 193rd East Avenue and 81st Street while the four-hour long procession came in.

Hundreds of bicyclists had ridden every inch of the Tulsa World's fourth annual family ramble across Oklahoma.

Evelyn Ashlock, 45, Tulsa, rode every mile.

So did Burt Jones, 11, Sand Springs, John Middleton, 27, Bartlesville, and Judy Flores, 35, Sand Springs.

"I made every mile," said Chauncey Murphy, 39, Houston, adding that his daughter, Michelle, 12, pedaled all but 20 miles. She accepted a ride on the big MK&O bus lines "Sag Wagon" during Friday's hailstorm.

"I rode every inch of it,"said Jan Schmidt, 27, San Francisco - who drove from California just to participate in the bike adventure.

Each rider was heralded by name Saturday as he pedaled into the Summer Festival's arts and crafts area.

"David R. Webb, M.D., Chinle, Arizona. Mike King, Covington, KY," called out the announcer as weary riders rolled in the front gates of St. Anne's Catholic Church. "Tim Amstuta, Los Angeles. Bill Cashman, Hereford, Ariz. Leslie Harrison, Albuquerque, Jean Gardner, Bridgeville, PA. Robert Fox, Casper, Wyo. Jon Sherwood, Keene, NH. Mike Matthews, Wilmington, Del."

At one point, the microphone was silent for a moment, then: "And from London, England - Judy and Ron Scott.

Most of the hundreds of participants were from northeastern Oklahoma. But one came from as far away as Johannesburg, South Africa. Will Louw, who rode every inch of the way and raved of the courtesy of Oklahoma drivers, will return to South Africa Wednesday. He came to Tulsa only to ride FreeWheel.

The only negative note was sounded by family members who - upon greeting their heroic bicyclists - began commenting that it looked like several had gained quite a bit of weight during what had been billed in letters home as an arduous journey.

Some riders had literally eaten their way through a week of lemonade booths, concession stands and civic club feasts. Saturday, some riders had come only for the day.

Cindy Stacy, 25, Tulsa, rode from Muskogee to a Coweta lemonade stand benefiting the city parks there. Then, like others all week long, she climbed aboard a sag wagon and was taken to the finish line.

Those who had been there all week were cheered and hugged by relieved families.

The ride coasted to a stop under a big circus tent. And then it was over. Will there be another FreeWheel June 4-11 next year?

Officials aren't saying.

But the map committee has its first meeting next month.

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