HEALTH 2 | THE CULLMAN TIMES
HEALTH
CULLMANTIMES.COM | SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012
CONTRIBUTED
Group members shown, from left, are Perry Shields, David Hudson, Gayle Ledbetter, Annette Harris, Dixie Bergquist, Noel Bergquist, Keelan Banks (Dogs-Wicken and Lola), Deb Schmidt, Becky Loyd, Michael (last name unknown), Jim Loyd, Steve Barnett, Katie Newman, Gabe Taylor.
The Rumors Bike Club
Low-impact workout offers fun, calorie burning adventures CONTRIBUTED
Taking a short break are members, Perry Shields, Vince and Dixie Berquist. LORETTA GILLESPIE CORRESPONDENT
conscious, making sure that people know the rules of the road, and that they hey say you never wear the proper safety forget how to ride a equipment, like helmets. bike. For some “We plan to have a beginCullman residents, that’s ner’s class this year to an understatement. The insure that everyone Rumors Bike Club has knows how to be safe, and members who have been also how to be courteous riding for years, but they to drivers and other ridwelcome any and everyers,” said Harris. one to join them in this “This class will be for fun, low-impact sport. people who don’t know “We encourage anyone anything about riding or from beginners to interhow to use their bike. A lot mediate and experienced of people are intimidated riders,” stressed Annette by the more experienced Harris, charter member of riders, but there are memthe bike club, which bers of all skill levels who meets at her restaurant, ride with us,” Harris Rumors Deli, and makes explained. its circuitous route around “Most of us have the city. learned how to change a The group started out flat and do general mainsmall, and has grown to tenance on our bikes,” she about 25 members, but added. that number fluctuates as “This is for fun, these people take vacations, aren’t mountain bikes, kids start playing ball or although we do have new members are added. members who also ride The bikers vary the those, this is for people routes to keep the ride who want to exercise at from getting boring, and their own pace, and there have devised routes that is always room for allow beginners to comadvancement.” plete a cycle, while others Harris points out that continue to ride a longer this sport is relatively route. “People of all ages inexpensive, and that and skill levels ride with there are no dues from us,” said Harris. “We don’t members. want people to think that The group got started they have to start out ridabout two years ago. “We ing long distances, there never expected to ride the are several routes that can way we are doing,” she bring them back around admitted. “We started out to the starting point.” riding for about two or Cullman’s wide streets three miles, some people are perfect for cycling, could only ride for about running, walking and jog- 10 minutes in the beginging. The recent beautiful ning, but now we have spring weather has three loops around town, brought people out in and people can stop at droves to stretch their legs any point.” and get some exercise. They meet at Rumors It’s a great way to meet at 6 p.m. and each indipeople, too. “A lot of peovidual rides for as long as ple just like riding in a they feel comfortable. group for the companion- There is a one-mile, twoship,” Harris pointed out. The group is very safety Please see BIKE Page 3
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