Skier pedals 100 miles to the Birkebeiner start line
Steve Clark is no hypocrite.
He preaches pedaling and rides his rhetoric.
In one of the more extreme examples, he strapped his skis onto his bike and pedaled more than 100 miles this week to the start line of the American Birkebeiner ski race in Cable.
I came upon Clark late Friday afternoon pedaling north on Highway 63, a few miles south of Cable and his destination, a camp spot in the woods somewhere near the start line.
I recognized him from the presentation he gave Tuesday at the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Bike Summit, in Madison.
Clark has been a leading advocate for cycling for decades and now runs the Transit for Livable Communities’ walking and biking program in the Twin Cities. His life's work has been devoted to encouraging people to bike rather than drive.
His wife called him out on that a couple years ago, and accused him of being a hypocrite for driving to races, including the Birkebeiner.
Clark wouldn’t let that stand, devised a ski carrier and set out on two wheels, with his sleeping bags and gear along for the ride from a family farm in Cushing, Wis.
He acknowleged biking 100 miles to the start probably won't get him a PR in his 10th Birkie, but it gives him a clear conscience and a marital victory.
8 Comments for "Skier pedals 100 miles to the Birkebeiner start line"
madcoca Feb 24, 2012 5:36 PM
Tyrell Track Master Feb 24, 2012 8:09 PM
KurtPortmann Feb 25, 2012 4:30 AM
ChronicWhiner Feb 25, 2012 1:49 PM
milwaukeedoc Feb 26, 2012 9:33 PM