Oklahoma Bicycle Society
The Early Years
by Jim Nelson

1974 -- President Kristi Gray. Grand Tour June 1-9 555 miles OKC - Enid - Ponca City - Stillwater - Tulsa - Muskogee - McAlester - Ada - Shawnee - OKC. Gov, David Hall started the ride and declared June 9 Oklahoma Bicycle day. 2nd annual Greater Oklahoma City Century Run 9/8/74 fee was $2.00. 50 mile distance was added. 200 entrants. OBS membership: 250. Gene Hall & Red Callaway were observed at night without helmets. Helmets, gloves & clipless pedals were discovered, however the use of helmets did not appear to be a common practice.

1975 -- Pres Red Callaway. Grand Parks Tour 600 miles. Tour Dir. Joe Griffin, Sat. 5/31/75. South steps of State Capital to Okemah - Arrowhead Lodge - Robbers Cave - Wister State Park - Greenleaf State Park - Checotah - Seminole - OKC. Gov. David Boren declared the week of the tour "Bicycle Week".

1976 -- Pres. Red Callaway. "Oklahoma Grand Tour" June 5-13 start at State Capital - Seminole - McAleste r - Antlers - Valiant - Hugo - Stewart - Lake Murray Lodge - Pauls Valley - OKC. Tour Dir. Owen Sutter. More people discovered helmets, but not accepted by all. 9/12 National Century run - 100-50-25 miles Lake Overholser - Red Rock. Registration was $2.00.

1977 -- Grand Tour start 6/4 Tulsa - Oklahoma City met at Stillwater 6/5 - Enid - Ponca City - Bartlesville - Miami - Pryor - Muskogee - Tulsa - Oklahoma City. 700 miles. Tour Leader: Bill Schindler of Tulsa. 9/24&25 OBS Annual Century - 25-50-100-200-300 completed in loops around Lake Overholser lap counter sticks were handed out (tongue depressors). Completion times had to be within 3-6-12-24-36 hours for LAW Patches 6 riders finished 300 (Bill Sullivan, Red Calaway, Hene Hall, Bill Graves, Carl Jones, and Tony Scott)

1978 -- Pres. Bill Lavallo. Grand Tour nine days 600 miles. Coordinator: Carl Jones. Began & ended in Tahlequah. Tour went throu Ark-MO-Meno, Ark was only town mentioned in newspaper. Fridayland - club within a club. Gene Reynolds & Red Calaway et al: Mention of the fall Century. Helmets becoming common. 13-cent Bicycle Stamps issued.

1979 -- First Freewheel 6/10-6/16 431 miles. Texas side of Denison dam - Tishomingo - AdaSeminole - Okmulgee - Sand Springs - Bartlesville - Chetopa - Kansas. 250 riders. Nothing in scrap book, but menu from "Hobo Joes" in Sherman, Texas signed by 1979 Grand Tour Participants (39 signatures). Most expensive meal $10.75 - least expensive $2.70.

Click here for a list of past presidents.
Can you help us fill in the blanks???

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Click here for a look at the very first OBS Pathfinder (September, 1973)

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