Palm Beach Bike Tours

Freakbike Summer of Love – Best Ride Ever

Ken Steinhoff — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:15:44 +0000

I’ve been on a bunch of group rides, including the Freakbike Militia’s Friday the 13 Ride in March, but the July 1 Summer of Love ride was the most fun I can ever recall.

The Summer of Love Ride – The 60’s without the teargas

Some assembly required

The bikes starting gathering near Southern and Flagler some time after 6 P.M. In a lot of cases, “some assembly is required.” That’s OK, though, because everyone wanted to see who had cooked up something new.

Kid Adam was saying he wished they had one of these rides every week, but one of the long-time FBMers (Freak Bike Militia) said that it takes at least three months to build some of the more exotic bikes. That’s why the next event will be around Halloween.

Don’t let “Militia” scare you

These aren’t wackos with guns waiting for Armageddon. These are wackos with regular jobs and families who like to ride bikes they build from scratch. Oh, yeah, and have a good time.

Some of them build high bikes that are tall enough that the rider could dunk a basketball without stretching much. Others are lowered until they almost drag the ground.

Hippie Shower model

There was one that combined the high-rise effect with a pump that kept water running into a “hippie shower.”

I asked the rider what she’d do if she took a tumble and all the water spilled out.

“I’d have bigger things to worry about than spilled water,” she answered.

Theme was Peace and Love

It’s a little disconcerting to see clothes that you used to wear considered costumes these days, but I guess that’s life.

I’m ready to state without equivocation that I never wore any tie-dyed clothing. In case my memory has passed along WITH the 60s (both my age and the Decade), I’m sure Wife Lila will correct me.

60’s spirit lives on

Here’s a couple who may not be old enough to remember the 60s, but they certainly managed to capture the spirit of those days.

Despite the appearances, this was NOT a bicycle built for two.

The Public Display of Affection broke up before the Hippie Showermobile was wheeled over to cool them off.

Tandems and Trail a Bikes

Little Dillon Shreve was all helmeted up and ready to pedal.

There were several youngers on tandems and Trail a Bikes.

Raffle tickets were given out to every rider who was wearing a helmet to promote safety.

Good vibes were infectious

The best part of the ride was not just the camaraderie of the group, it was the good vibes that radiated from it.

This was a ride that brought smiles to the faces of everyone it passed. Joggers, fishermen, dog walkers, everybody gave a smile and a wave.

Critical Mass without the attitude

Some riders would go ahead and block intersections so the group wouldn’t get split up by red lights. Instead of honking impatiently, drivers would pull out their cellphone cameras and take pictures.

Maybe it’s just hard to get PO’ed at a bunch of folks wearing funny clothes riding on funky bicycles.

I don’t want to step on any toes here, but everything I’ve read about Critical Mass rides has led me to believe that they send a message of us vs. them and projects a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude.

This ride, though, had to make people think, “Wow, I wish I was out there. That looks like a blast.”

Rains held off

When I left the house, there was an 80% chance of rain with dark clouds all around.

Except for a few sprinkles, we made it all the way downtown, through CityPlace and to the Fountain in front of where the old library was without getting rain.

There was just enough time to chow down on some biker food, play a few games, make a few announcements and then the Monsoon God visited. Not only did the skies open up, but the winds whipped the rain around like a mini-hurricane.

Everybody headed for cover for about 15 minutes, then what was left of the roughly 115 participants left in a light rain for the starting point.

It’s times like these that make me glad I always pack rain gear. I actually enjoyed the ride back in the sprinkles.

A small nit to pick

If I had to say there was anything that bothered me, it was the number of riders who didn’t have headlights and taillights. Maybe they didn’t think they needed them when they were in the middle of a large group of riders who DID have them, but the rain fragmented the riders enough that there were some awfully dark bikers on the road.

I would have hated to hear about one of the riders who had been having such a good time earlier getting hit by a motorist who couldn’t see him through the combination of a foggy window, rain and dark. It was particularly dangerous because the motorist could have been concentrating on the bikes WITH lights and not notice an unlighted bike until it was too late.

Freakbikers put the fun back in biking

First-time riders Kid Adam and George Primm said they’d be back. I sure wouldn’t miss it. Freaks put the fun back in biking.

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Summer of Love Chopper Night Ride July 1

Ken Steinhoff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:17:28 +0000

I ran into a guy riding a high-rise bike on the Lauren Katzenstein Celebration Ride Sunday. We talked bikes a few minutes and then he said, “I think I know you from somewhere. Oh, yeah, you were at the last Freakbike ride.”

After I determined that he had liked my coverage, I confessed that I was the guy.

He suggested I check out the ride notice on the Freakbike Militia web site.

The Summer of Love Ride is July 1

Here’s Kenny P’s info

Some ol’ Hippy told me about the Freakbike Militia’s Groovy little cruise coming up on Wednesday, July 1st, 7:00pm at the corner of Southern and Flagler.

Yeah Man, said it was some sorta “Summer of Love” 60’s Ride. A Freakstock kinda thing with Peace signs and Tye Dye, The Doors and Hendrix, Choppers and Cruisers, Woodstock and Mini skirts, Go-Go Boots and John Lennon glasses, Tall Bikes and Low Riders, Dead Heads and Electric Kool-Aid…….You get the idea.

Meeting at 7:00pm and leaving at 7:30pm sharp. 60’s attire is highly encouraged, c’mon, support your local Goodwill store!

Headlight and taillight are mandatory, helmets are encouraged, mandatory (by Fl. law) for the kiddies 15 and under.

This is an unsupervised ride at your own risk deal, we need to police ourselves to keep this ride going,

if you see someone being a Gomer, call them on it and tell ‘em why.

**The crossing over the yellow line or blasting down the sidewalks and yelling at pedestrians and drivers that sorta stuff.

This will be the original route, through City place, down Clematis to the Fountain, and returning the same route.

There will be dumb games and the transfer of the FBM Cup. C’mon out and get your groovy on with the Freakbike Militia.

“Peace, Love and Freakbikes”

These are mellow folks

Don’t let the name Freakbike Milita scare you off. These are nice folks who spend a lot of time fixing up their bicycles, some of which are legitimate pieces of art.

Some are families with lots of riders bringing their kids.

[Note: I DO resent them saying that 60's duds are available in thrift shops. I've got stuff of that era in my closet. I won't say that it'll still fit, but it's hiding in a corner.]

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Lauren Katzenstein Ride Attracts Hundreds of Riders

Ken Steinhoff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:53:30 +0000

The Seventh Annual Lauren Katzenstein Celebration Ride attracted more than 400 registered riders Sunday morning, June 28, 2009.

The event celebrates the birthday of Lauren Katzenstein, a high school sophomore who was killed by a reckless, unlicensed driver while she and her father were participating in the MS150 Breakaway to Key Largo charity ride in 2003.

Lauren’s birthday was the last day of June, so it was decided to schedule the ride for the last Sunday in June as a celebration of her life. You can read more about Lauren here.

Here’s a video of the start of the ride.

Temperatures were into the 90s as the morning went on and the humidity felt like it was about 110 percent, but there was a slight cloud cover that offered some relief. Riders had the option of riding 10, 22, 40 or 62 miles.

Where’s my palm tree?

The rest stops were staffed by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers, although I was somewhat let down by some of the teenage girls who were working the Delray stop. I had them pretty much convinced that the only way I’d make it would be if they would cut down a palm tree and run alongside me making shade. They must still be working away at that palm tree with their nail files, because the promised shade never materialized.

The Delray stop had what was billed as WATER and GATORADE bananas (see pictures), but they tasted like regular bananas to me.

Crashes are part of cycling

There were some minor scrapes in the first mile while the pack of riders got sorted out, but the group soon got it together. Two riders at the south end of the course were taken to the hospital after a crash, but I don’t know how seriously they were hurt.

In addition to the well-equipped rest areas, a wonderful BBQ chicken dinner with all the fixin’s was waiting at the end. Ice-cold watermelon slices were especially welcome.

Here are pictures along the way

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Tour de Bar Bike Ride Draws Hundreds

Ken Steinhoff — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:05:21 +0000

What was billed as the 30th Annual Tour de Bar drew hundreds of bike riders and imbibers to local bars in the north Palm Beach County area, according to Darren Ayoub, a participant who was kind enough to send us these pictures.

Crowds gathered at The Brass Ring on U.S. 1 around noon

Darren did a great job dealing with the heat, humidity and party riders. He managed to stay upright and well-focused in his mission of covering The Tour.

Riviera officer was helpful

At one point, Darren said, the bikers were having problems crossing busy U.S. to to get to their second destination, Bettyann’s Bar. An officer pulled up, blocked traffic with her car and helped the participants cross the street.

She got on her car loudspeaker and offered a friendly piece of advice: “Lock your bike to something or it won’t be here when you get back.”

Inlet Harbor Bar / Liquors had it together

The folks at Inlet Harbor Bar / Liquors on Blue Heron Blvd. were ready for the large group of thirsty riders. They had portable bars assembled outside to serve cash-only customers.

Establishments participating

The Brass Ring Pub, 200 N. U.S. 1, N. Palm Beach
Bettyann’s, 2941 Broadway, Riviera Beach
Inlet Harbor Bar / Liquors, 146 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach
Down Low Pub, 237 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach
Sailfish Marina, 98 Lake Dr., Palm Beach Shores
Portofino Italian Grill, 2447 N. Ocean Dr., Riviera Beach

Who toured de bars?

Darren said the 300-some riders ranged in age from 21-year-0lds to “some who could qualify for senior discounts at the movie theaters.”

Several riders, he observed, wore shirts commemorating the 15th Annual, 25 Annual and 30th Annual Tour de Bar. (He had no clue if the event had really been celebrated that long or if the bar tourers use a different calendar than the rest of us.)

Some first-time riders had TDB Virgin scrawled on their arms in magic marker.

One team rode for a serviceman in Iraq

Darren said that there were several teams – or at least groups of people who wore similar clothing.

One group dressed as pirates, complete with swords, pistols and eye patches. One even had a fake parrot on his shoulder.

Another group, dressed in camouflage shirts with “GI Jim” on the back had printed, “Riding for Sgt. Jim Lashey serving in Iraq.” At one stop, the team shared a video call with the distant soldier, Darren said.

I guess I’ll have to show up next year. It sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

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Tour de Bar Palm Beach: June 27, 2009 @ Noon

Ken Steinhoff — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:18:22 +0000

I had some real qualms about posting this event, particularly after promoting the Lauren Katzenstein Celebration Ride where the registration fees go to MADD to support its campaign to make our streets safer.

If someone hadn’t asked for information, I wouldn’t have bothered.

2009 Tour de Bar Palm Beach Ride Details are Sketchy

Here is an email I received second-hand.

Hello All —

Dust off your bikes and take a few practice rides around the block. One of West Palm Beaches best days is back.

BICYCLE, BICYCLE — I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE!!

TOUR DE BAR June 27th NOON TIME at Brass Ring Pub on Northlake.

Previous years have had as many as 400 participants and ten pub stops (CHEAP DRINK SPECIALS). If you would like to join the festivities, be at the Brass Ring Pub at 12:00pm.

Tardy riders should head South on US 1 to meet up with the hoards of hyper riders. If you are really late, head East on Blue Heron and cross the bridge towards the ocean — we’ll be at the Sailfish Marina.Then it’s time for voodoo buckets at Portofino’s before ending the day at Hilton Singer Island.

Let me know if you have any questions. And as always, pass this email onto anyone I may have missed.

Stuff that’s not clear

According to everything I can find, the Brass Ring Pub isn’t ON Northlake; it’s at 200 N. U.S. 1, North Palm Beach, FL. (See map below.)
I had questions and emailed the original sender, but have received no reply.

Ride starts at The Brass Ring Pub at Noon June 27

Brass Ring Pub

Show up at your own risk. Drink and ride responsibly. Or, use this as a warning to stay out of the area while the Tour de Bar Ride is going on.

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Lauren Katzenstein Celebration Ride June 28 in Lake Worth

Ken Steinhoff — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:48:44 +0000

The Seventh Annual Lauren Katzenstein Celebration ride is set for June 28, 2009.

Registration starts at 6:30 A.M. and the ride starts at 7:30 from Barton Park at Lake Worth Beach, 10 South Ocean Drive, Lake Worth, FL.

There will be four distances: 10, 22, 40 or 62 miles.

For more information go the the event web site. There is a $35 registration fee.

Lauren was killed during an MS150 Ride in 2003

The 15-year-old high school sophomore and her father, Dave, had ridden about 30 miles of the MS150 Breakaway to Key Largo charity ride when she was struck and killed by a reckless, unlicensed driver.

Why is it held when it’s so hot?

Lauren’s birthday was the last day of June, so it was determined to schedule the ride for the last Sunday in June as a celebration of her life.

Celebration Ride starts at 7:30 A.M. from Barton Park

Barton Park

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44 Years Since Baby, the Rain Must Fall

Ken Steinhoff — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:35:17 +0000

Baby, the Rain Must Fall">

A real stinker of a movie – Baby, the Rain Must Fall – was released in January 1965. I’ve attached an Amazon link but, trust me, you do NOT want to watch it. I’ve tried three times and never made it all the way through.

What’s special about Baby, the Rain Must Fall?

My high school buddy, Jim Stone, and I were cruising around town, ending up at the Rialto Theater to catch the new movie, Baby, the Rain Must Fall.

The Rialto was owned by his girlfriend’s mother, so we could get into the movies for free, watch them from the projection booth and – Jim’s favorite – pop popcorn in one of those old-fashioned theater poppers.

This night, though, something unusual caught our eye.

There was a new cashier and she was a real cutie.

Jim’s level of fidelity to his girlfriend was just about as high the fidelity of my car’s AM radio speakers, so we flipped a coin to see who would get shot down first.

I’ve won only two gambles in my life

My birthday came in #258 in the 1969 Draft Lottery, which made it virtually certain that Uncle Sam wasn’t going to give me an all-expense-paid trip to Southeast Asia.

Jim lost the flip, and I got to give the new cashier a ride home.

Lila Perry was a keeper

Any girl who will keep seeing you even after you show up up unexpectedly and take a picture of her painting the house in curlers is a gal you’d better hang on to.

Not only did I like Lila, but I felt comfortable with her brother, John (see yesterday) and sister, Marty.

I didn’t even hold it against her that she didn’t vote for me in the Student Body Presidential election.

Our dates were unusual

I was working for The Jackson Pioneer, which was in our high school rival’s town, so she attended lots of events where she didn’t know a soul. On top of that, she’d be sitting in the stands while I was shooting on the field.

We seldom got to see the end of a sporting event because I had to go home to process my film. It wasn’t unusual that she’d end up stranded in the car listening to police calls while I was out taking pictures of whatever fire, flood or famine we’d stumbled onto that night.

I transferred to Ohio University

My buddy Jim convinced me that I had to get away from Cape or be stuck there for the rest of my life. I’m not knocking Cape. It’s a place I return to to recharge my spiritual batteries, but I’m glad he talked me into transferring to Ohio University in Athens, OH, my junior year of college.

Letters, audio tapes and phone calls weren’t enough.

After the first year, Lila followed me to Athens, moved into a house for International Students and took a job with the county health department so we could be closer together.

One day, Bob Rogers, chief photographer for The Athens Messenger, where I was working, asked when we were going to set a date. I said, “Pick one for us.”

He said, “June 27, 1969.”

For one reason or another, the 27th didn’t work, so we compromised on June 23. Because of the confusion, I can’t remember our anniversary date to save my life. I’m hard-wired to remember June 27.

I said I’d never get engaged in December

At different times, I was sentenced to serve as Society Editor during my stint at The Southeast Missourian. I swore that I would never get engaged in December nor married in June because of the glut of those events in those months.

As it turned out, I did both

Lila, by the way, is the beautiful girl in the middle with the long, white dress. I’m the one to her right who looks petrified.

We hit the 40 year mark today

The only reason that Lila hasn’t been nominated for sainthood is that Mother Teresa had a better press agent.

The night she planned her first big dinner party, most of the guests and I were locked in the university library covering a sit-in.
When we were in the middle of remodeling our kitchen, I took off one day short of a month to cover the Cuban Boatlift. Kid Two was about two months away and she was washing dishes in the bathtub.
Kid One’s due date was give or take about 15 minutes from when I was due back from doing a story about a cheerleader academy in Leesburg. Matt’s birth was announced to the world over the company’s two-way radio system.
I’d list more, but I think I’m better off if she is isn’t reminded about some of the incidents.

We’ve got a great family

Along the way, we’ve had two great kids who have married the greatest daughters-in-law in the world. They’ve somehow or another managed to find wives who have been as understanding about their flaws and foibles as Lila has been of mine.

(Although, from all appearances, they seem to score a little higher on the husband desirability chart than I do. It must be their mother’s influence.)

I’m one lucky guy

P.S. Baby, the Rain Must Fall is still a lousy movie.

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John & Wyatt’s Father’s Day Fishing Trip

Ken Steinhoff — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:27:00 +0000

My brother-in-law, John Perry, is one of those guys I really admire.

If the world ever goes to hell in a handbasket, John and the cockroaches are going to be the last ones standing. There’s nothing he can’t build and hardly anything he can’t fix.

John can fix anything

We save up all of the stuff we either don’t know how to do, don’t want to do or would panic trying to do and beg John to leave Jackson, MO, to bail us out.

Nothing fazes him

When he came down to remodel our kitchen, he wasn’t all at bothered when he came eye-t0-eye to a family of possums living under the kitchen sink.

Note: no possums were injured in the remodeling project. I think John’s shorts may have needed another pass through the washer, though.

Wyatt came with him

His son, Wyatt, came with him this time. Foodie Jan Norris set them up with a neighbor for a father’s day fishing trip on the Coconut Rum II because they spent most of the week remodeling her bathroom.

Father’s Day Fishing Trip

Lots of fish going back home

John and Wyatt had a great day on the water. They caught (and released) a whole slug of fish and they brought back plenty to pack in dry ice and ship back home to Jackson.

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Gone with the Schwinn

Ken Steinhoff — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:48:46 +0000

My virtual friends over at Let’s Go Ride a Bike and I share the same sick appreciation of puns. Here’s Kermit riding his bike in a classic movie scene. The last line makes it all worthwhile: “If frogs couldn’t jump, I’d be gone with the Schwinn.”

Do frogs bunny hop?

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Wib’s Drive In BBQ – A Five-Generation Favorite

Ken Steinhoff — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:30:54 +0000

Jackson, Missouri’s, Wib’s BBQ Drive-In was born the same year I was, 1947. I don’t think my parents took me straight from the St. Francis Hospital to Wib’s, but my grandson, Malcolm, below, was still in diapers when he made his first pilgrimage.

My buddy, Chuck Keefer, has been bragging about South Carolina BBQ, so I felt it was time to write about the best barbecue sandwiches in the universe and set him straight.

When we were in Cape Girardeau last fall, I managed to make four visits to the place, much to my mother’s chagrin. We figured that at least five generations of our family have eaten there over the years.

I practically lived there

I practically lived at Wib’s when I was working for The Jackson Pioneer in the mid-60s.

The sandwiches were cheap and they made the best shakes in town. (Unfortunately, they quit making shakes several years ago and the wonderful homemade pies are history, too.)

Best of all, it was located just down the road from the newspaper and courthouse and almost right next to a small park with a municipal swimming pool that was a great source of wild art.

(Nah, Jackson wasn’t THAT wild. Wild art is newspaperspeak for pictures that can run without a story. Think cute kids and animals.)

What’s special about the BBQ?

I don’t know. My mother claims that no pigs are hurt in the making of the sandwiches, and I have to concede that they are a little light on meat.

On the other hand, what’s there is nicely smoked and touched off with a peppery sauce that doesn’t overwhelm the taste of the meat. If you order a Brown Hot (the brown, outside, smokier part of the shoulder) with hot sauce, you’d better have a drink handy.

Smoked with Hickory wood

A short history of Wib’s is printed on the back of the menu. It was founded by Wib Lohman, who had a trucking company. He started out selling barbecue sandwiches to his drivers.

The original smoker used hickory and nothing has changed.

The outside doesn’t look like much

It’s just a concrete block building painted white. There’s plenty of parking and a walk-up area on one side. The front door was always notoriously hard to open, but that was solved when a local teenager ran into the front of the building June 17, 2008, doing about $25,000 in damage.

He fessed up to his parents and restitution was made. The front windows were changed to deeper ones and the balky front door was replaced.

One wag remarked, “That poor kid will have to leave town. He’s going to be known as the boy who drove into Wib’s for the rest of his life.”

Wib sold Wib’s in 1948

Wib Lohman got tired of running a seven-day-a-week, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. business and sold it to Jack and Sweetie Hoffmeister, who ran it until 1972, when it passed on to A.D. Hoffman. It stayed in the Hoffman family when A.D.’s son and his wife took it over in 1986.

300 sandwiches go out at lunchtime

Wib’s opens at 8:30 a.m. (mostly for coffee drinkers; they usually sell less than 10 sandwiches before 11 a.m.) and stays open until 6:45 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Saturday they’re open 9 – 6:45. They’re closed Sundays and Mondays.

Prime time is the lunch rush when about 300 sandwiches are served.

Wib’s had four car hops

In the Old Days, the place had four car hops to handle drive-up orders. If you don’t want to eat inside, these days you can go inside to a walk-up window to place your to-go order.

Every kid in Jackson must have worked there at one time or another. Many started in high school and continued through college. At least one couple met while working at Wib’s and the proposal took place in the parking lot.

Wib’s even has a Facebook Fan area with 500 members.

Wib’s Drive In, 1204 N. High St., Jackson, MO

Wib’s

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