The Alfred University “reunion bikers,” a group of alumni who spend the week preceding Reunion Weekend bicycling to Alfred, have announced initial plans for their return trip to campus this year.
Join us in a tradition that was started by a handful of adventurers from the class of 1958 who decided to bicycle from the Philadelphia area to Alfred University for their 40th reunion in 1998. They did it again for their 45th and 50th reunions choosing different routes in most years. By 2010 the ride had become a tradition (and was opened up to other classes) and has continued each year since except 2020, when the reunion was canceled due to COVID-19.
The group has chosen Cooperstown, NY, as their pedal off point. Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is located in the Catskill Mountains in southeastern New York State. The group will begin gathering Saturday, May 31 in Cooperstown. Terry Kiff ’84 will be planning three days of biking in the area starting on Sunday, June 1. After Tuesday’s bike ride the group will move on to the Finger Lakes and bike around Keuka Lake or Conesus Lake on Wednesday, June 4. On Thursday, June 5, the group will decide to bike around another one of the Finger Lakes, bike the challenging Park Road in Letchworth State Park, or bike a new route in the Alfred/Almond area riders discovered last year. On Friday morning, June 6, the group will celebrate with their “Victory Ride” from Hornell into Alfred with an anticipated arrival at the King Alfred Statue at high noon.
This year’s group includes veteran bikers, Dave ’61 and Kate Perry, Larry ’68 and Denise ‘69 Ploetz, Mary Bouchard ’73, Birdy Auerbach ’74, Harry Wilhelm ’74, David ’77 and Regina Holleb, Jim Randall ’77, Terry Kiff ’84, Donna Bruschi ’84, and Conor Walsh ’91. We welcome AU staff member Kevin Adams to his first reunion ride.
We welcome students, alumni, AU staff, and friends to join us as we ride through your local area, or for part or our entire trip. We also enjoy having lunch or dinner with friends of the University throughout our travels. Anyone interested in taking part in Friday’s “Victory Ride” that needs accommodations in Hornell is encouraged to make reservations early as the area hotels quickly fill up. Stay tuned for updates every few weeks. Please email Jim Randall ’77 at [email protected] for additional information.