4 minute read
PAGES
Cyclists gather at the start and finish line the morning of Sept. 25 Cyclists head down South Whittaker Street Taking a break at Oselka Park
Advertisement
In January 1974, 12 people joined a bike club that was started by Bryan Volstorf.
“I first rode around Lake Michigan a couple times and some local guys said, ‘Let’s form a bike club so we can all go for rides all the time,’” Volstorf said, adding that none of them ended up joining his club.
One of the first events the club had was a heart fundraiser, which cost $1000 to put on. Over $4,000 was raised, which Volstorf, not realizing that he could use some of that money to pay for the expenses, sent to the organization. This left the group with $300 in the bank account.
“I said, ‘Why don’t we have another ride in the fall?’” Volstorf said, adding that he’d been on 100-mile rides and observed what was “done right” with them.
When he asked a local orchard when he could get apples and cider, he said “not until the end of September.”
“I said, ‘Okay, we’ll have the ride in September – and it just evolved from there,” Volstorf said.
On this year’s 49th annual Apple Cider Century, which took place Sunday, Sept. 25, there were a little over 3,200 registered cyclists.
Having been around for so many decades, the annual ride is known by cyclists across the country. Volstorf said 33 states represent the ride every year, and that Canada and European countries are also represented (although not so much in the past couple years due to Covid).
This year, he said they had 15 cyclists from California and another 15 from Colorado. Usually, 70% come from Illinois, while 500-some cyclists are from Michigan, and 400-some come from Indiana.
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Directng traffic on Elm Street Cyclists do some quick exercises before hitting the road
Roy Brown, Dan Dunham, Cindy Melchor and Brian Aschenbrenner serve ice cream at Saturday’s ice cream social
Cyclists head down North Whittaker Street Cyclists take the country roads in Three Oaks
Having been around for so many decades, the annual After meeting at Three Oaks Elementary School at the start/finish line and fueling their bodies with a pancake breakfast put on by the Three Oaks Fire Department, cyclists then strap on their helmets and head out on a tour of the meandering backroads of southwest Michigan. The ride is put on by the Three Oaks Spokes Club (of which Volstorf is president) – the evolution of that 12-member bike club that Volstorf formed so many years ago. After Covid, everything was pretty much business as usual, although Volstorf said the prices on items for the ride went up “astronomically” this year. “Instead of $120,000 to put it on, it was more like $180,000 to put it on,” he said.
The route, which is marked by Volstorf and one other volunteer, takes two and a half days to set up. This year, there was a 15-mile route (for families and kids), 25 miles for those who are a little more advanced and then a 50-, 75- and 100-mile route for the advanced set.
Cyclists could stop at designated SAG stops, where they could refuel themselves with a snack of bananas, apple cider, Gatorade and water served by a hired nonprofit group. A bike repair man can assist them with any repairs, and an EMT and HAM radio operator is also present in case of emergencies.
Policemen are hired to direct traffic at dangerous intersections.
Once they’ve completed their ride, cyclists celebrate with an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at the elementary school.
Of course, the 78-year-old Volstorf still makes time to hit the road himself.
“I go every Wednesday and Saturday – the club rides 20-25 miles,” he said, adding that he used to do centuries, but 25 miles is fine for him now.
Next year, the Apple Cider Century will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, during which Volstorf said that the club will be doing “some special, special things” to mark the occasion.
Lt. Mark German and Matt Keller cook sausages at the pancake breakfast Cyclists refill their water bottles at Oselka Park Cyclists depart from the elementary school Sunday morning
