Free Range Conversations, Episode 54
RISON - Common interests in biking and fitness brought together a group of friends across Cleveland County. What started as casual bike rides gradually rolled into the formation of the Cleveland County Cyclopaths club.
Three of the clubs members, Les Walz, Bruce Grubb and Alicia Woody, sat down for the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast with hosts Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse.
Roughly four years ago, Walz began riding bikes with Travis Bell, alongside Lauren Threlkeld who was training for The Broken Sword sprint triathlon in Clarksville.
Knowing Bell had a multitude of bikes, they did a few test rides with Bell before going all in and buying their own bikes.
Over time, more friends started joining them, including Julia Meyer, Grubb and most recently, Woody.
Both Grubb and Woody joined looking for exercise that did not put as much wear and tear on their knees.
An avid runner, Woody set a goal for herself last year to run 100 miles in half a year.
"About mile 86, my knee said no more," she said. "That's when I went and got my bike. It's so much easier. It's a lot less impactful on your, especially your lower extremities." Grubb echoed a similar path to getting on the bike. After a few 5K runs, the arthritis in his knee halted his running. On the bike, he no longer deals with knee pain.
The Cyclopaths aim to ride at least twice a week, typically Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings prior to attending church.
According to Grubb, the Wednesday rides range from 8 to 12 miles, but the Sunday rides go longer around 20 miles.
Looking for longer rides, they have been frequent riders in the Cruisin' Cleveland County Bike Ride, which held its third annual event this past June. The local group of riders will be part of the planning for next year’s event.
A planning meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Rison City Hall with lead organizers Mayor Charles Roberts and Darren Austin. Anyone interested in learning more about the bike ride is encouraged to attend. The organizers are exploring new routes for 2026.
Following the meeting, the Cyclopaths are planning an introductory ride for potential new riders of their club. If anyone is interested in riding, Walz said to post in the Cleveland County Cyclopaths Facebook Group to connect with any of the members.
The Cruisin’ Cleveland County ride is not the only one the group participates in. During the podcast, the riders share stories from other rides such as the Wampoo Roadeo in Keo, or the Big Dam Bridge Ride in Little Rock.
The Cyclopaths emphasize their inclusive and supportive environment by welcoming all ages, men and women, and all experience levels of riders.
Woody praised the group's acceptance: "I can surely attest to our group being a variety. I mean, we have some that have been doing it all their lives and that we have some that have just started, and we have some with bikes that cost thousands, and we have bikes that cost $100.”
The sense of community is a significant motivator for all of them.
"I genuinely look forward to those rides. And it's not just the ride. But it's also the camaraderie, the fellowship," said Walz.
Grubb agreed, stating, "If I was by myself and there's no way I'd ever made it to 50 miles by in six months last year, I wouldn't have made it that far,” he said of the motivation and accountability from his fellow riders.
The group also stresses the safety aspect of riding together. Grubb explained, "You feel safer when there's at least a couple, because you feel like people will see you. You know, if you've got 3 or 4 of you, and your lights are all flashing and you got your bright colors on, you know, people see you better."
According to the riders, a significant barrier for potential new riders can be the cost and availability of a bicycle.
However, the Cyclopaths have a unique solution: Travis Bell possesses a "stable of bikes" with all different styles, including road, hybrid, and gravel bikes, and in various sizes. This allows prospective members to test the water without a significant financial investment.
Grubb recounted his own experience, "When I showed up that morning, I didn't have a bike, I had nothing... they put me on a bike and I started riding, and I rode a couple different bikes of Travis'."
Beyond just providing bikes, the experienced members assist with bike fitting, which is crucial for comfort and performance, especially on longer rides.
Grubb said "They had to get me sized up. You gotta get your seat right. You want your legs just to the right length and all that, so it's more to it than just jumping on a bike."
The full episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ClevelandCountyHerald.com