Weekly bike ride keeps growing

Mon August 04 2008
Posted Aug 4, 2008
5,792

Weekly bike ride keeps growing BY ELIZABETH AHLIN WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Taco Ride may be the most popular cycling event most people have never heard of. Riders approach the exit to Mineola, where dinner will be served.Nearly every Thursday, a group of diehards, beginners and Sunday afternoon riders gathers at the Council Bluffs head of the Wabash Trace trail to be part of the phenomenon. Ahead of them is a 10-mile trek to Mineola, tacos and drinks, and a good time. Recently, one of those nights ended tragically. An Omaha man was at the end of his 20-mile round trip on July 10 when things went wrong. Just off the trailhead, heading into the parking lot toward his car, Greg Anderson missed a small turn on his bicycle and tumbled 3 to 4 feet into a culvert. The fall left Anderson, 48, with bruised and fractured vertebrae — he is fighting paralysis at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha. It could have been much worse, said his wife, Terri Anderson. She credited his cycling helmet and the group of riders around him with saving his life. "I think that's important that people know that," Terri Anderson said. "He would probably not be here today if he didn't have a helmet." It was 11:30 p.m., and, according to a police report, Greg Anderson did not have a light on his bicycle when he headed north on the Wabash Trace from Mineola. His friend and riding partner, Earl Justice, 42, did have a light on his bike, said Terri Anderson. It's not uncommon for cyclists on the Taco Ride to ride without lights, even though lights can help on the dark path back to Council Bluffs, said Greg Losh, one of the ride's founders. Over the years, the lack of lights has contributed to some tumbles, Losh said. What was unusual is the severity of Anderson's injuries. The ride historically has yielded relatively few serious injuries. Each summer, Losh estimated, fewer than 10 people are hurt badly enough to require an emergency call. Local emergency officials agreed with that estimate. In the almost 14 years since Losh and a friend launched the Taco Ride, it has grown significantly. What began as a small weekly ride became a way to meet new friends. A lot of new friends. On the busiest Thursday nights, the Taco Ride has been known to draw as many as 1,000 cyclists. Most times, between 300 and 500 people take part. It's not surprising that people sometimes get hurt. The path can be crowded on the way to Mineola Steak House, where cyclists stop for food, drinks and conversation. Losh said some cyclists have a couple of tacos and head home. Others make a night of it. Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Sgt. Dwayne Riche is an avid cyclist who takes part in the Taco Ride. Riche said he hasn't seen anything alarming. "The Taco Ride itself is very good," said Riche, who on occasion brings his father along. "It's positive. It's a good time for cyclists to go down and have some fun." Local rescue officials say they are prepared for injuries during the Taco Ride. Scott Bryan, Lewis Township fire chief, said his rescue crew expects cycling-related calls on Thursday nights, but no more so than they do on the weekends. Randall Tallman is the fire chief for Oak Township Fire and Rescue, which serves the trail around Mineola. This year, he said, he hasn't been called to the Taco Ride at all. Last year, he was called out once. Most Thursday evenings, Losh stands at the trail head in Council Bluffs, collecting trail pass fees from riders and reminding them to wear helmets and partner with someone who has a light, he said. Arrangements are made to have drivers in Mineola to take people home, if needed. Terri Anderson said she doesn't blame the Taco Ride or anything else for her husband's fall. "It was a freak accident." Now she's putting her faith in "time and prayer and patience." "It's going to be a long haul, but we have a lot of support from family and friends," she said. "We know that Greg is going to get through this." Contact the writer: 444-1310, elizabeth.ahlin@owh.com