Avid cyclist says he just does it to have fun

Approaching 70 years old, Larry Larkin is still having fun on a bicycle. A lot of fun.

Last year, the senior member of the Shoals Cycling Club estimated that he rode about 7,000 miles last year. This year, at 68 years old, Larkin said he's at about 3,000 miles and still going, as long as it's still fun.

"I just do it to have fun," said Larkin, perched on his bike outside the Oakland Cafe during a break from a brisk 50-mile June morning ride. "As long as it's fun, I do it. If it ain't no fun, I'm going home."

Larkin, a six-year Shoals Cycling Club member who rediscovered cycling in 1996, represents one extreme of the diversity found in the club that also includes college students.

Men and women, ages 22-68 fill the 26-year-old club's ranks of more than 50 members.

Shoals Cycling Club was born from a preceding group of members of the League of American Wheelmen, a national organization now known as the League of American Bicyclists that promotes cycling.

Steve Patterson, an original SCC member, remembers when area cyclists had to travel more than 300 miles away to Pine Mountain, Ga., to participate in a century ride, which consists of 100 miles.

"When we came back, we said, 'Why can't we start a club and do things like that?'" Patterson said. "We had a public meeting and 25 people showed up. A year or so later, we started the Handy (100-mile) ride. Really, we started the club so we could get the century ride."

The club hosts up to three events a week, with regular rides on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Its banner event, the W.C. Handy 100, a ride where cyclists can choose circuits from 21 to 102 miles in length, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in July.

While those distances may seem daunting, Patterson said it's the most fun one could have while working out, and he jokes about it with his friends who prefer to run.

"It's a lot more fun than running," he said. "You see people smiling when they're on bikes. You hardly ever see them smiling while running, which should tell you something."

In all seriousness, there's truth in that for Larkin.

"It doesn't hurt my knees like running," he said. "That's one thing about cycling: As long as you've got you're balance, you're good."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.