Motorized cyclist headed for Cleburne

09-21-2006

Cullman County resident Paul Crabtree expects to arrive in Cleburne County sometime between Sept. 21-27 as part of a five or six day tour during which time he hopes to set a motorized bike time record for climbing Mt. Cheaha. Crabtree says motorized bike riding is an emerging "Made in America sport”. He intended on riding the Chief Ladiga Trail in northern Cleburne County but learned that the trail there is unfinished. "I am not only showing 250 miles per gallon fun, but then reporting back to three motorized bike groups a travelog of my journeys. So, the bridge is out, I’m still coming to Jacksonville for sure, Mt. Cheaha, then probably head back up toward Mentone," he said in a statement to The Cleburne News. As for his Mt. Cheaha climb, Crabtree explained, "I am mainly wanting to check out the Rails to Trails mentioned in Trailexpress.com, as well as timing my climb up Mt. Cheaha, to set a “motorized bike” standard time for others to match or beat. I use my camera to certify start time at the base/stop time at the peak. Clubs and groups are doing the same thing all over the country, the hottest competition is over the San Francisco Bay Area Bridge, passing commuting cars like a picket fence. My reason? I am an “unauthorized/but pretty official” scout for the next “hula hoop”, motor assisted bicycles. I have been involved in the industry for about a year now, and in 2006 took two solo/without support bike adventures, in March to Daytona, Florida and back (850 miles on 3.5 gallons of gas), a preparation for my May/June trip to Denver, (2,000 miles on 8 gallons)." He adds, "It is a “Johnny Appleseed” type adventure, I stop in small towns and colleges each day along the way, showing what it is, how it works, and usually the article writers get a lot of feedback. The article also becomes part of the Motorized Bike archives. So this “scouting trip” of the general area around Chief Ladiga Trail/Cheaha/Lookout Mountain Parkway/Mentone is to inform fellow bikers of the terrain, plus loop around Atlanta to check out some secret 150 mile eastbound route that originates around Stone Mountain. The Australians are very serious, and by my calculation, I can do it in 15 days minimum, about 15 gallons of gas. The Stone Mountain boys will help me shave precious hours in this “Around the World in 80 Days” type adventure.As the idea becomes more and more popular, turns into sort of a sport/recreational group, Anniston/Smyrna/Ft. Payne axis and the surrounding areas are looking more and more like the prime place to think about regional rallies. I am picking up a new side saddle rig from my bike supplier Wednesday, and as soon as I get loaded up, am heading whichever way the wind blows, Jacksonville University is a definite appointment, and Smyna, Georgia looks like a target, as does Ft. Payne/Scottsboro on the return leg. I want to try the Lookout Mountain Parkway, a north south route worthless to my coast to coast preparations, but important to the rally idea. Crabtree adds, "I juggle livestock production with this hobby business, I do not want to build thousands of motorized bikes, nor have a payroll interfere with spur of the moment touring. I am not selling anything but a partial solution to energy addiction, and a really fun exercise. I am seeing America at 30-35 miles per hour, ten dollars per day ($ 3 in gas, plus mom-and-pop all-you-can-eat lunch buffets.) I boycott Wal-Mart and franchise foods, keep the money local, see the small towns and avoid the metro areas. It seems to be a guiding principal, we’d rather spend our money with home-owned businesses. The types of towns groups of bike enthusiasts (to lazy to peddle) want to partner with. What I did on the return from the Denver Trip is stop at headquarters (or casinos) of 11 Native American tribes. I assist them with hints and tips I’ve found building nearly 30 bikes I’ve assembled for folks in 11 Alabama counties. They can then use that as a template/measurement device to sell/assemble bikes for their friends. It is just like having a horse, without having to buy oats. Before it gets cold, I’m going up to Tullahoma Tennessee to checkout the personal sized ethanol kits they sell at Dogwood Enterprises. Then this winter I’ll go all the way to the Florida Keys, plus revisit the Hurricane Katrina area, where Golden Eagle has begun product introduction." rode up to a newpaper office, college campus, Indian tribe or bike shop, but now I’m getting ready to defend American pride versus these Australians, who if they win the challenge, will probably change the rules like they did to football. I haven’t worn a watch in my entire life, but would happily be at your office Friday/Saturday or early next week at some point, give or take a half hour for getting lost, if you are interested. The story writes itself, I’m just a traveling ambassador who wishes somebody would write on all the OTHER aspects besides my adventure. Motorized Bike Jousting? I GUARANTEE ANY ARTICLE WOULD DISPERSE QUICKLY THROUGH OUR REGIONAL CONTACTS, plus reach thousands of customers World Wide. Those Stone Mountain Georgia folks will start streaming to Mount Cheaha and Mentone to beat my climbing time. That Mt. Cheaha challenge will bring them like surfers to Santa Cruz. The highest points in 50 states is a whole ‘nother challenge, I already hit the highest point in Oklahoma in June. Paul Crabtree

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