Cycling brothers to pedal in GOBA tour next week

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Saturday, June 16, 2007 (1 year, 2 months ago)
Print

Dave Berelsman and his brother, Mike, will ride through Delphos Monday during the 2007 Greater Ohio Bicycle Tour. The pair have each put in many miles in preparation for the recreational tour that begins and ends in Celina.DELPHOS— As summer moves into full swing, West Central Ohio is seeing a flurry of recreational activity. From swimming to riding bicycles, children and adults alike find various things to do as is one pair of brothers.
Mike and Dave Berelsman will ride the 19th Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) tour next week.
The event will begin and end in Celina, coming through Delphos on Monday. Though Dave, 56, now lives in Orlando, while Mike, 50, remains in Delphos, he returns to Ohio each summer to spend time with area relatives. The pair began thinking of this summer’s bike ride last year when the tour was in the Miami Valley.
“Dave picked me up last year and we drove to Xenia on the day everybody was coming in and getting ready for it. We talked to a few people and saw what it was all about. Just as a passing thought as we left, Dave said we should try it. Earlier this year, our other brother was in Florida visiting Dave and asked him if he was getting ready. Dave asked him why and he told him I was up here practicing and Dave said ‘uh oh’,” Mike said.
The local of the two began preparing for the ride when he learned it was taking place in this region.
“When I found out it was going to be in my back yard, I decided if I was going to try it, this should be the year. So I decided to give it a shot and ever since the first of the year, I’ve been riding practically every other day to get ready for it,” Mike said.
“GOBA suggests you do 350 miles before you do the event. Mike has done about 500 miles and I’ve done around 200 miles,” Dave explained.
The 350-mile tour will begin from Celina to Van Wert to Wapakoneta, with a layover day. Then to Troy with another layover day before the approximately 3,000 riders will peddle toward Versailles, then return to Celina. The tour will linger in Delphos on its way toward Wapakoneta on the ride’s second day.
“You can do the GOBA ride on any kind of bike but just like with cars, any bike that’s built a little better is easier to ride. Mike and I have bikes that are designed for touring,” Dave said.
“The bike I’ll ride is the third bike I’ve ever had. The one I was going to ride was one I bought when I turned 21. That was a 26-inch and I bought it new 29 years ago. Then I found one at a garage sale that’s a 27-inch Huffy that was a little better than the one I had and that’s the one I was going to ride until I stumbled across this last one, which is a much better Schwinn that I’ll ride now. Then, the exercise bike I rode through the winter was also bought at a garage sale,” Mike said.
While Mike reconditioned the bicycle he will ride for the adventure, his brother Dave will use one a friend gave him.
“I have a bike that was given to me by a friend whose hobby is collecting bicycles. He has a whole basement and garage full of bicycles and when I told him I was doing this particular event, he pulled one of his bikes up from the basement and mailed it to me saying ‘here, use this. This will be fun,’” Dave said.
GOBA is primarily a camping tour. Each rider brings a tent, sleeping bag, clothes and other necessities. Each morning, gear is loaded into a truck that goes ahead to the next town, leaving riders to ride at their own pace before arriving at their common destination and setting up camp. The tour includes approximately 50 miles each day from one camp site to the next.
“We’ll do the camping with 3,000 of our best friends, as they say. We’ll also do a parade with a costume contest and songs,” Dave said.
Dave has rode another tour in Ohio that rides from Columbus to the Ohio River and back that covers approximately 220 miles in two days. The duo rode a small tour together last year.
“The only other thing I’ve done was last July when Dave and I did the Harvest Moon Festival at Wapak, which was the 25-mile ride,” Mike said.
Cyclists are invited by GOBA organizers to visit the Canal Commission Museum, “deep cut” and the canal to “imagine the olden days.” They will “camp” in the Wapakoneta High School gym after their Delphos visit.

1 Reader Response to “Cycling brothers to pedal in GOBA tour next week”

Complete the form below to leave a response of your own.

  1. #1 — Added 1 year ago

    Hi Mike and Becky!!
    Good luck with your bike ride Mike! What a fun article to read in the paper today. Becky what is your email addy…I just sent out 30 Yr. Class Reunion Information today. It will start on 8/8/8 at the Rustic Bar on Friday and the Reunion & dinner will be on Saturday 8/9/8 @ Delphos Eagles after the 4;30 PM Mass. Can you help me pass the word?
    I will mail invitations out in November, but save the date now!

    Karla in Cincinnati 513-792-0852

    Posted on August 31, 2007 at 3:47 pm by Karla Gerdeman Bailey