Following is a message from Jim Randall ’77 on the Alfred University ‘Reunion Bikers’ 2025 ride, which began in Cooperstown, NY, on May 31 and ended on the Alfred University campus on June 6 for the annual Alumni Reunion celebration:
Following is a message from Jim Randall ’77 on the Alfred University ‘Reunion Bikers’ 2025 ride, which began in Cooperstown, NY, on May 31 and ended on the Alfred University campus on June 6 for the annual Alumni Reunion celebration:
Alfred University Alums, Bikers, and Friends:
This year's ride was for and dedicated to the original members of the class of 1958 who biked back to campus from the Philadelphia area for their 40th reunion in 1998. Namely Elliott Lasky, organizer and bike leader, Russ Fahey, Andy Seaman, and Barney Hart. Stu and Marian Duff who are not alums but friends of Elliott and some of the other alums also biked that first year.
We also recognize Bonnie Lasky and Pat Fahey who provided sag support for this first ride as well as many other rides, and Roger Eiss '58 and Dave '58 and Tinker '57 Wilcox. While they did not participate in the first ride, Roger organized several subsequent rides and Dave and Tinker participated in many rides until very recently. We also appreciate the many years of dedication shown by Ed Law '58 in providing sponsor-at-large support and for biking in many of the rides.
We gathered in Cooperstown, NY, on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon May 31, 2025. Most of us stayed at The Inn at Cooperstown, a bed and breakfast style inn built in 1874.
On Sunday June 1, 2025, we biked the Portlandville Loop. Bikers included David Holleb '77, Donna Bruschi '84 and Michael, Jim Randall '77, Larry Ploetz '68, Birdy Auerbach '74, Terry Kiff '84, and Harry Wilhelm '74. Mary Bouchard '73 wisely opted out due to the cold and rain. According to our statistician, Larry Ploetz, we covered 29 miles in 2 hours and 42 minutes averaging 10.8 mph. We climbed 1,519 feet. The average temperature was 53 degrees with light main most of the trip.
On Monday June 2, 2025, we biked the Cherry Valley Loop. Bikers included all of those that biked Sunday except David Holleb who needed to get back to his business and Harry Wilhelm who decided to rest and save himself for Friday's Victory Ride. Mary Bouchard, full of energy after taking Sunday off, was out in front of the peloton much of the day. Per Larry's stats we covered 43.4 miles in 3 hours and 34 minutes averaging 12.2 mph. We climbed 2,487 feet. It was a nice day averaging 73 degrees.
On Tuesday June 3, 2025, we biked the Richfield Springs Loop. Bikers were the same as Monday's group. Larry's stats showed we covered 34 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes averaging 12.8 mph. We climbed 1,719 feet. It was another nice day averaging 80 degrees. We stopped off at the Brewery Ommegang in Milford for a refreshing beverage a few miles before our ending destination. While at the Ommegang we met a married couple with a newborn who were from the Albany area. Both were AU graduates.
We want to thank Terry Kiff for organizing the three Cooperstown loops we did in the Catskill Mountains. Terry did a superb job of keeping us off the main roads as much as possible and planned the routes carefully to avoid the steepest of the hills. Particularly noteworthy were the quiet and picturesque back roads that paralleled Route 20 and Route 28.
Some highlights of this part of the trip were the dinners we had at Mel's at 22 and at the Hawk-Eye Bar and Grill. Carl Dziekan '79 drove down from Utica Sunday night to meet us at the Hawk-Eye which is located in the Otesaga Resort Hotel which sits on the Otsego Lake.
After Tuesday's bike ride most of us packed up our things and moved on to the Hampton Inn in Penn Yan, NY, where we stayed two nights. On Wednesday June 4, 2025, we biked around Keuka Lake. Bikers included Mary Bouchard, Donna Bruschi and Michael, Jim Randall, Larry Ploetz, Birdy Auerbach, and Terry Kiff. Conor Walsh '01, who lives in the area, and Kevin Adams, AU staff member also joined us for the day. Larry's stats showed we covered 45 miles in 3 hours and 31 minutes at an average speed of 12.7 mph. We climbed 1,617 feet. It was a hot and sunny day with a temperature of 90 degrees.
There were a few mishaps that occurred on this day's ride. Jim Randall's left bike shoe would not disengage from the bike pedal. Dr. Donna and Engineer Terry did their best to disengage the shoe from the bike but to no avail. So, we decided to continue on and try to fix it at the conclusion of the day's ride. Well, that didn't work out as the single screw holding the shoe to the bike finally came loose and now the shoe and the pedal would not engage at all. We limped back to Penn Yan and Dr. Donna and Engineer Terry did some magic work with improvised new parts and the shoe and bike cleat are as good as new. Thank you, Donna and Terry! But that was not the only mishap. Larry had a flat tire shortly after lunch near Hammondsport. Engineer Larry made quick work of fixing the flat tire and was back on the road in no time.
One of the highlights to this year's ride was dinner at the beautiful Mansion on Keuka Lake (formerly Esperanza Mansion). The Mansion is a historic home in the Greek Revival style built in 1838. It sits high on Keuka Lake's bluff overlooking the lake. Attendees at the dinner included most of the bikers of the day and our guardian angel Denise Ploetz '69. Denise accompanied Larry for their entire trip and provided our sole sag support when needed. Also joining us for dinner were Alfred University Administrators Robin Mazejka and Jamall Lewis who drove over for dinner with Daryl Murray '78 a loyal AU supporter and longtime bike ride supporter. Professor Alexis Clare and spouse Blake Mayo also drove over from Alfred in support of the bike ride. Our special guests of honor were some of the original 58'ers including Russ and Pat Fahey and Dave and Tinker Wilcox who re-arranged their respective schedules to attend this event. The Alfred University Administrators presented the bikers with this year's bike shirt which was modeled after the original bike shirt worn at their 50th reunion in 2008. It was a great evening!
Thursday June 5, 2025, found the bikers traveling to familiar territory as they gathered at the McLane Center parking lot to begin the Alfred-Almond Loop of their ride. Bikers included Donna Bruschi and Michael, Jim Randall, Birdy Auerbach, Terry Kiff, and Kevin Adams. We climbed two miles up the Belmont Road to McHenry Valley Road and descended 7 miles to Almond continuing on Route 21 to Almond Lake before returning to Alfred on Route 21. On the climb out of Alfred Dr. Donna once again came to the rescue. This time Birdy had an equipment malfunction causing her to lose vertical resulting in a bloodied knee. Dr. Donna pulled out her medical kit and patched Birdy up. Birdy wore the bandage as a badge of courage for the entire rest of the bike ride and throughout reunion weekend. We biked 19.3 miles in one hour and 43 minutes and climbed 1,027 feet.
Friday morning June 6, 2025, arrived with the weather giving us a 50/50 percent chance of rain. With all the best laid plans things went a little haywire. Jamall Lewis had made arrangements to have a bike waiting for Dave Wilcox (the last member of the original 58'ers taking part in this year's ride) at The Bicycle Man in Alfred Station. Carl Dziekan drove in from Utica to participate in Friday's Victory Ride to King Alfred. Birdy, Terry, and Harry who were staying on campus set out in the rain from Alfred around 9am to rendezvous with the other bikers and the Maple City Best Western in Hornell. Well, the rain would not let up. Birdy got a flat tire in Almond. Birdy called Jim Randall requesting sag help. Carl immediately unloaded his bike and hopped in his car and rescued Birdy to the safety of The Bicycle Man shop where Pete Stull's '77 staff had her bike as good as new in no time. Meanwhile, Terry and Harry arrived on schedule at the Best Western. Out of an abundance of caution Dave Wilcox and Carl Dziekan decided to forgo biking due to the dangerous conditions. A wise decision, no doubt.
With a joint effort, working together, and a lot of teamwork and despite the rain that did not let up, we were back on schedule for a high noon arrival at King Alfred. Donna, Michael, Mary, Jim, Terry and Harry departed the Maple City Best Western at 10:30am. We stopped at The Bicycle Man to pick up Birdy and meet our cheerleaders Russ and Pat Fahey. We departed The Bicycle Man at 11:45am escorted by Carl in his car with the flashers on and arrived at King Alfred precisely at high noon. King Alfred, not to be outdone, was adorned with a "Bike Nuts" '58 long sleeve tee shirt thanks to Anne Cornell and her motley crew and night owls who dressed the King in the cover of darkness the night before.
Despite the rain, the bikers were cheered on and welcomed back to Campus by President Mark Zupan and a few dozen fans including many 58'ers (Lyle and Beth Slack, the Faheys and the Wilcoxes). Friday's mileage was 11.6 miles with a climb of 643 feet. For the week we biked 182.3 miles. Thanks to all for making this the largest attended reunion bike ride since the 2013 "Alums Along the Mohawk" ride.
Jim Randall '77
PS: Thanks to Pat Fahey we already have our first new recruit for next year's ride. Welcome Kathleen (Kathy) Granelli '85.