Cruising around Cape on two wheels

Larry Cleair can't get enough of his bicycle.

The 50-year-old Gordonville resident acquired his first bike during college, but never used it regularly until he reached the age of 30. Sixteen years later, in 2000, he became president of the Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club, a position he still holds.

Now Cleair can be seen four to five times a week riding on the flat land in Chaffee, tackling the hills in northern Cape or biking across the new bridge. He generally rides about 25 miles during the week and up to 60 miles on the weekends.

"Usually I have to work and don't have that much time," he said, "but on Saturday or Sunday, especially when the weather's nice, I can get a lot done."

In addition to riding solo, Cleair has enjoyed rolling with other members of the club. Velo Girardeau was founded in 1979 and consists of more than 30 members.

The regular season recently started for the bikers and will continue through November. Trips generally begin at Southeast Missouri State University's Dempster Hall and extend into surrounding towns or southern Illinois. In May, the club will begin biking on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the winter, bikers can participate in Polar Bear Rides with no planned route.

Although the organization holds time trials monthly, club members aren't all about speed. This year the club is offering rides once a month that will be paced by the slowest cyclist in the group.

"We're not out trying to break any records," Cleair said, "and hopefully this new ride every month will interest some people. We really encourage new people to try it."

The organization conducts meetings every month to discuss upcoming rides and other activities, such as a bimonthly cleaning of the Cape LaCroix Recreation Trail. Club members also volunteer time to help out in the Bike Smart program, providing bicycle maintenance for children.

Cleair said members look for opportunities to get people involved in cycling and to teach safe biking habits.

"Our goal is to promote biking and encourage people to come out if they're looking for a long-term healthy lifestyle habit," Cleair said. "We encourage safe biking, require helmets, obey the rules of the road, and bike in a manner that's courteous to traffic. Other than that, we just want to have fun."

While many members of Velo Girardeau are more interested in the social aspect of cycling, Cleair prefers the exercise to stay healthy.

"I love to ride," he said. "It's a nice fitness thing and a great way to keep in shape. It's something you should, at one level or another, be able to do way up in your 80s."