One part of a Supervisor's job is to approve special event permits. This past May, a request from a group came through that caught my eye. It was from Couples on Wheels, or COWs, a Wisconsin tandum bike club. They were holding a bike rally and part of the ride would run through Grand Chute. Intrigued, I did a little more research, and found out the group (and then some) will be back over Labor Day weekend for the Midwest Tandem Rally. Once again, the route will take them through Grand Chute. Mark Dobberstein, spokesperson for the group, was kind enough to answer some questions.
How long has your group been around?
My wife and I have been involved since the early 1990's. The COWS were already loosely organized years prior, in the 1980's.
Around how many COWS to you expect to attend the Midwest Rally Labor Day weekend?
MTR will be involve the COWS, PIGS, HOOTS, CATS, and many other such names, likely 400+ teams.
Will there be a specific bike route? Will this route pass through Grand Chute?
All riders start near the Paper Valley Hotel and bike routes will be followed. Riders travel through Grand Chute on Capitol Drive, Saturday, 9-1-07 around 9:15 AM
How many miles is an average bike ride?
Routes range from 30 miles up to almost 70 miles.
Do tandum bikers pride themselves as being a litte "different?" I would imagine a lot of people in your group have a good sense of humor.
I suppose some may see them as different, but we are all bike riders, who enjoy riding with our wife, husband, partner, significant other.
For some reason, not know to me, the various groups have taken on these special names. COWS - Couples on Wheels, PIGS - Paired Iowans Going Somewhere, CATS - Chicago Area Tandem Society, HOOTS - Hoosiers Out on Tandems, MUTS - Michigan United Tandem Society, and many others.
I would agree our gatherings are fun and a good time is had by all.
What kinds of people are in your group? Serious bikers, people wanting to have fun?
The riders are at all different levels, some extremely fast and others just out for a leisure ride. My wife and I are in our early 50's, and often feel young in comparison to many riders. We ride about 1000 miles per summer, which is nothing in comparison to many of the riders. A group of riders are taking the ferry from Michigan and riding to Appleton from Manitowoc.
