SPORTS , f - Page 11 Friday, August 9, 1985 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor bikers wheel through U.S. By LESLIE ANNE HAMEL Michigan plhilosophy major - it is Reed Perkins isn't just spinning his way of life. wheels. He is going places. Following Perkins took up the sport with th a three-month tour across the coun- intention of becoming a touring try, Perkins is not yet ready to slow cyclist, one that rides non- L down after returning to Ann Arbor. competitively over long distances. Cycling is more than a sport for this "MY SIGMA Phi Epsilon fraternity brother, David O'Dell, and I decided that we wanted to get away, he said. e "We chose to go to Colorado - to conquer the Rockies, and to go white1 water rafting. The bikes were our only1 mode of transportation. We weren't: prepared to spend a lot of money." y Perkins and O'Dell began their journey in Battle Creek. They traveled south, first thinking it would be more pleasant to approach Colorado from the bottom up. They carried everything they needed on their bikes. Clothes, camping equip- ment, food, and even a small stove were packed in bags attached to the hikes. "Every day we rode about seventy- five miles," said Perkins, describing a typical day. THE PAIR would wake about 5 a.m., and would be on the road by 6 a.m. Morning was their favorite time, as there were less people on the roads. "We would first ride for about fif- teen miles, then stop for breakfast," Perkins said. "Then we rode until lunch. At about 6p.m. we would try to find a place to sleep - somebodys backyard, a ditch, we'd sneak into a state park - we weren't above trying anything." Surprisingly enough, weather wasn't a problem while on the road. One night in Kentucky, Perkins and O'Dell slept in six inches of rain. "WE HAD a sponge mattress that I swear attracted moisture, rather than keep us dry," Perkins said. "We woke up and dumped our bags that had been left open over night. They were full of water. "The main problem on the road was the cyclists' all-time worst enemy - the wind. Cars were rarely sym- forget that you are on a bike. You th- "PACK riding goes just so much ink about other things. Food, for faster," he said. Everyone drafts off example. Ina car, the window can get of everybody else. The air resistance to be a big, boring T.V. screen. On the goes down" bike it is just you and the country it- self." Both Perkins and Mueller admit Perkins still trains now that he has that cycling has changed their lives. returned to Ann Arbor, riding thirty- They have found themselves in tune five to fourty-five miles every day on with their bodies. Perkins has seen the roads outside the city. There is a the difference in his eating habits, and 'in a car, the window can get to be a big, boring TV screen. On the bike, it is just you and the country itself.' -Reed Perkins, touring cyclist high interest in the sport in the Ann has taken to eating health foods. Arbor area, due to the scenic areas "IF YOU eat crap one day, you can and outstanding bike shops. Dexter feel it in your riding the next," he and Manchester are two of Perkins' said. favoite lace to our.Mueller sees it as an incredible favorite places to tour, exercise in self-discipline. Cycling is easier in groups. Perkins "You have to force yourself to make now rides with Ann Arborite and your ride every day, but you feel great University of Indiana student, Marc when it is over," he said. Mueller. Although Mueller is a racing As for their ultimate goals in cyclist and ?erkins is a touring cycling "." ' pes to one day win cyclist, they can tranug.; I 1r. They the Litte ,,v, wni. e Perkins dreams of push each other for speed, .,nd take riding along the entire border of the turns riding in the lead to cut down on U.S. - including Alaska! wind resistance for the other. But most importantly, both Perkins MUELLER rides competitively in Bulmor igrtanthy, h kins Indiana. He has represented his and Mueller agree that hiking is their fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon in favorite way to stay in shape and to Indiana's famous "Little 500."The fif- relax. It is a means of escape, a ty-mile race takes place on a quarter freedom to choose speed and direc- mile track. About thirty teams of four tion. It is a time to think. riders each qualify for the 200 lap Wherever the roads and the in- relay race. According to Mueller, the clination may take them - may the race is an exciting experience. wind always be at their backs. RALPH'S MARKET Complete line of Deli, Beer, Wine & Groceries 709 Packard (Near State) OPEN.TELEPHONE 10 A.M. to 12:30 A.M. 313-665-7131 Fri. & Sat. 10 A.M. to 2 A.M. 8-pack 1/2 liters 2 liter bottle $1.79 plus deposit $I2 59 plus deposit 3 liter bottle $1.99 plus deposit Good Thru 8-30-85 peii Associated Press pathetic, and pot-holes posed a threat w hat .i . . . to their equipment. Doug Tewell watches his birdie putt roll in the hole in yesterday's first BWoredom wasn't a problem either. found of the PGA Championship in Denver. Tewell finished with a seven- was riding," said Perkins. "You under par 64. A page from the Guadalcanal Diary (Continued fromPage8) P: It's a real convenient term, you D: So it's not necessarily going to from Marietta." Is getting lumped in know, especially for the press and mean instrumentals on every record with the Athens crowd bothersome to people who don't care to really listen from here on out. you? to a band that much - they'd rather P: I don't know. We've always en- P: Not so much me personally - just listen to the music and enjoy it joyed instrumentals, really. Jeff probably only because I'm the only without having to think about it. It's [Walls, lead guitar] particularily, is one that's not from Marietta. I'm just a convenient thing and it draws influenced by John Barry, who did a actually from Atlanta and I live in attention to us, I imagine. So I really lot of the 007 soundtracks. We all en- Athens. But the other three - I can't criticize it because of that. And joy that. Except for Murray, whose believe it does bother them to a for us, we are an American band, strongest point is vocals. He might serious degree. And that's mainly even though we take a lot of influences feel a little left out. But then the rest of because we'd never been a part of any from European and American music. us get to show off a little bit. Athens musical movement. So now for :I can't say that we're strictly everyone else to put us into that American. D: What question would you like to movement is kind of - I wouldn't say D: Something that I find unusual in be asked that no one's asked you that insulting - but it is simply not true. your records is that you are a band you think would endlessly enlighten We are from the Atlanta-Marietta who devotes a considerable amount of your fans as to what Guadalcanal area. Marietta is the home base, and time on your records to instrumentals Diary was all about? there is a difference - there's no - two tracks on an album is quite a P: Maybe I should ask you that. movement at all in Marietta that I bit for records today. Is there any par- What makes Guadalcanal Diary ap- know of except for us. ticular reason for that? pealing? But I really don't know the D: Do you lay a whole lot of stock in P: That's a good question. I think ideal question to ask us. What we eat the American Music thing that they're it's just that we had two good in- for breakfast might be interesting, harping about - and including strumentals, and we just wanted them because we all have different tastes in Guadalcanal in - in the music media? on there. everything. Not just music.