Here's some good publicity for cyclists from today's Cap Times. http://www.madison.com/captimes/features/27677.php
Meals roll in when cyclist pedals out Al Miller, 73, a giving guy By Bill Dunn June 17, 2002 Al Miller and his Trek 820 are a key part of the food chain on Madison's far east side, aiding digestion while cutting congestion. The 73-year-old's suggestion, without question: Use the bike's lower gears and keep the chain tight. Since 1995 Miller has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for Home Health United's Visiting Nurse Service. Weather permitting, his deliveries are powered only by his own internal combustion engine. He averages 12 to 14 deliveries on a 10-mile roundtrip that starts at his Homberg Lane home and includes meal pickup at the San Damiano Franciscan Friary on Monona Drive. "It's better to be on the giving side than the receiving end," says the Madison native, who married his high school sweetheart, Carol Lynch, on June 10, 1950. Their 52nd anniversary included a trip to Ho-Chunk Casino (but not by bike). Miller started meal deliveries in the slow lane after he retired from running the supply room at University Hospital for 16 years. Before that he worked at the Kroger grocery store on East Washington Avenue, right out of high school, and stayed for 17 years. Then he and Carol operated Mound Street Grocery in the Vilas neighborhood for a similar time span. "It was a little mom-and-pop place. I was papa," says Miller, who's also dad to daughters Gail Sullivan of Madison and Sue Steinhofer of McFarland, and the proud grandpa of three. He's long been a biking enthusiast and says he never had a parking pass at the hospital. "It was either take the bike or take the bus." The 9-mile bike commute took him about 45 minutes. Miller credits Del Henning of Williamson Bicycle Works for getting him set up to do meals on wheels. At first Miller tried a "kiddie trailer" but he ended up with a Kargo Van made by a La Habra, Calif., company called Kool-Stop. The firm donated the trailer because of its charitable use. Miller likes the human touch that the route fosters. He tells how a 92-year-old meal recipient was so glad to see him at the funeral home for her husband's visitation. "You become good friends," he says. And more than that, it's a way of "giving back to society. I've had a good life." Volunteers are always needed, says Jane Snowden, Meals on Wheels director. (Call 257-6716 for route information.) Miller's is the only bike route she's aware of. Most are too spread out to facilitate bike delivery. Another fringe benefit for Miller is the exercise. He has Parkinson's and earlier had a quadruple heart bypass. "I've had a lot of challenges in my life, and they add some gray hairs, but they can be good for you. One of my idols is Lance Armstrong. He's a fighter too," says Miller, whose pleasure bike is a 10-speed Sekai 2500. He keeps plenty busy despite his official retired status. "I guess I could go out and get a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart, but I don't want to be that committed." Last changed: 10:43 AM 6/17/02 _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
