Tandem Weekend 2003

Mel knows how to throw a "do". Sixty+ teams gathered at The Country Inn in Millville, NJ (and nearby) for a weekend of riding and eating. I counted at least thirteen DOGS teams present. The rides covered generally flat (note to Alan Cudworth: this is flat!), lightly trafficked, well-maintained roads in Cumberland County. Great for tandem cruising.

Early arrivers rode took a 28-mile ride to the Bellview Winery for a tasting. Saturday there was a choice of routes (28, 50, 60 mi.) that led to a park in Bridgeton for an enormous barbecue lunch spread. But first, for two of the routes, there was a stop at the Methodist church in Newport for our first crack at some of Barbara's famous home-baked goodies. Sunday's 40-mile ride included a trip to the East Point Lighthouse on Delaware Bay, where more of Barbara's goodies were available.

Other meals were at the Elk's Lodge about a mile from the hotel. On Saturday there was a demonstration from the local tribe of Leni Lenape Indians about their history and culture, including dances in full regalia.

There were a few mishaps along the way. A team from Brooklyn got four flats on their Bike Friday Family Tandem, including one that really (ahem!) nailed them. (See photo.) We got a flat just a few miles from the end of the Sunday ride.

Strangest of all, Team Henderson was attacked by a dog. A woman opened her front door, and her golden retriever fired off like a missile, running full speed across the front yard and directly into the Henderson's rear wheel. John barely managed to keep the bike up; a car was passing them at the time. Amazingly, the dog was unhurt. A spoke on the wheel was bent, and its threads were stripped. The owner declared that we bicyclists should notify people when we're going to be riding past her house. Mel is asking for volunteers for next year to knock on each and every door along the routes to let dog owners know there will be bicyclists coming. :-)

Dave Kristol