OKC Bicyclist » Oklahoma City

OBS Streak on September 12th

Nathan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:04:58 +0000

It’s that time again, OBS Streak time. It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden this one, but it remains one of the staples of the OKC cycling community. This year the ride will be held on September 12th at 7:30 AM at Mitch Park in Edmond. There will be 25 mile, 40 mile and 100K routes along with a Family Fun Ride within the park. Registration is $20 ($25 if recieved after 8/30/2010) for each adult and $10 for children.

Full details along with route maps can be found at the 2010 Streak website.

Hit-And-Run Investigation Goes On

Nathan — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:41:38 +0000

News9 is reporting on the families personal investigation into the hit-and-run killing of Alan Spencer three weeks ago:

In the three weeks since the crash no one has come forward with information regarding the crash and now the Spencer family is desperate for answers. Today, friends and family, with help from the community, are gathering at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in an effort to gather information about that day.

via Family Searches for Answers in Bicyclists Hit-And-Run Death – News9.com

I’m hopeful that someone will eventually step forward and do the right thing, but after this long it is becoming more and more unlikely . . .

Oklahoma Racing History

Nathan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:32:36 +0000

Another completely random article. This one about two cycling friends and competitors in the 1930’s.

During the Depression, two Oklahomans spent three years on the semipro bike circuit. Earl Bigelow and Carl Spencer were notorious for setting sprint-worthy paces in long-distance races. They were teammates, competitors and friends.

. . .

As teens, these two developed strong calves and thighs while competing as messenger boys in Oklahoma City. Bigelow delivered telegrams for Western Union, Spencer for rival Postal Telegraph.

“We became not only close friends,” Spencer said, “but we became a team.”

Today, Americans like Lance Armstrong can gain fame as cyclists. But these reputations are forged in overseas races, most notably the Tour de France. Bicycling has never held a dominant position in American sport, but it had a higher profile in the Depression. Bigelow and Spencer were regional stars when they formed the Oklahoma City Cycling Club in 1937, a year after Bigelow placed in the Texas Centennial race and Spencer won Oklahoma’s state championship.

The course of a friendship