Thousands TRAM into town

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Tents packed Todd Park Monday as more than 1,300 bicyclists in the 13th Annual MS TRAM, Multiple Sclerosis Ride Across Minnesota, set up camp for the night after biking more than 70 miles from Faribault.

While many were making the trip for the first time, hundreds were veterans, but were just as excited and as enthusiastic as the rookies.

Father Stan Wieser, a Catholic priest from Wheaton, was taking part in his 13th TRAM ride. He says he decided to be a part of the first TRAM after returning from a trip to South America to discover he had gained 110 pounds in 10 months. He knew he needed to exercise and was interested in bicycling. He says he also knew many people in his parish with MS, so he figured he'd do two things at once: exercise and ride for a cure.

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Wieser says he signed up for the TRAM, rode for 12 miles the Friday before and didn't do any more training. When he finished his first TRAM, he says, laughing, "I hurt."

He "met a bunch of good people," who helped him through the ride and says the camaraderie is one of the reasons he continues to come back. "That first year we had 18 people and we would always talk about how nice it was that it felt like everyone was so close and knew each other so well," he says. "But then, when a group of us got T-shirts on the fifth anniversary of the ride, we got in line and looked at each other and said 'who are you?'"

Still, he says he did make many lasting friendships. "It's also a fun ride and it's well supported, well set up. You never feel as if you're off on your own, because there are always people riding with you," he says.

This year Wieser was part of a 16-person team who called themselves the "Leinie's and Curds" team, after Leinenkugel beer and cheese curds -- a homage to their upcoming stop in River Falls, Wis.

Last year, his team was called "2001: A Space Odyssey" and four years ago, they were "Team Stan." That was the year Wieser says he had "all sorts of people come up and ask me weird religious questions they'd always wanted answered. They didn't want to know about my bike or how long I had done this or why I was doing this, they just wanted a chance to ask things no one had ever answered for them."

Pam Carlson, of Bay Port, says she's semi-retired and has made the TRAM ride nine times. She says she started riding in bike tours "when my oldest son graduated from college and I realized I had time for myself. We had a bike in the basement and I decided to start going on bike tours.

Like Wieser, the camaraderie is one of the reasons Carlson continues to make the TRAM ride. "I have met the nicest people in Minnesota on this one. I come alone most years, but I never feel like I am alone," she says. "I feel like I've missed out on something if I don't go."

Today, the TRAM will continue to Lanesboro, Wabasha, River Falls, Wis. and will end Friday in Lake Elmo.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com