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  • AMBUCS' Tour de Trykes racers begin their trek Saturday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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September 5, 2010

Tour de Trykes helps raise money to buy AmTrykes

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Three hundred bicyclists stared at a strip of yellow caution tape in front of David Allen Memorial Ballpark Saturday morning, waiting for the signal to take off for the fifth annual AMBUCS Tour de Trykes.

As Tour de Trykes co-chair Mike Stuber said, the riders were free to go, and the ride started with the blare of a police siren, roar of a lead motorcycle and cheers from the waiting crowd.

The riders took off in groups, depending on the length of ride they were in. The first group to take off was riding 100 miles, followed by the 58-mile riders. Each following group was in a shorter race, concluding with the two-mile fun ride.

Leading off the group of fun riders were two recipients of AmTrykes — Korben Shelite and Wayne Miller.

Korben has had his toddler AmTryke for a little over year, said his mother, Bobbi Shelite.

“He had a hematoma at seven months, exactly. He was born early with the cord wrapped around his neck and he has cerebral palsy from that. His therapists requested the tryke for him,” Shelite said.

Korben enjoys riding his tryke and didn’t want to stop Saturday morning.

“He likes it but he just doesn’t like the helmet and having his feet strapped in,” Shelite said.

The other lead rider for the Tour de Trykes fun ride was Wayne Miller, 34, from Wellston. Miller was fitted for an AmTryke during Tryke Fest Friday evening.

“Wayne had an injury as a child. He had a plate in his head and a rod in his back,” said Anna Blubaugh, former local and national president of AMBUCS. “We met him Friday night after the ride and we fitted him for a tryke. Wayne is 34 and this is the first time in his life to be on a bike.”

Miller was riding a loaner tryke but will be receiving his own tryke in a few weeks.

“This tryke is going to help me go a little faster,”  Miller said. “I think I’m getting the hang of this. I think I can do a bike race.”

Blubaugh was happy AMBUCS was able to provide another AmTryke to some one in need.

“Meeting Wayne was great. His life is changed forever,” Blubaugh said.

Stuber said he was pleased with how Tour de Trykes went this year.

“The weather is just perfect. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Everything has gone pretty smooth. We are really happy,”  Stuber said. “As this event grows, we really encourage people to come out and participate and enjoy the event.”

Blubaugh said Enid should be proud of the Tour de Trykes event and the money it raises for AMBUCS to give out AmTrykes.

“Enid should have found today to be inspiring, after seeing the AmTrykes given away Friday night and the AmTryke rider in today’s ride. As AMBUCS we appreciate all the support to continue providing AmTrykes.”

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