Last week I chatted about the Veteran’s Ride and how its my favorite. My next favorite ride is the Old School Ride, which was on Saturday, July 29th this year. These two rides are quite similar in many ways, in others not so much.
Shannon Flynn (pictured here in the black and red shirt, addressing us before taking off) is a former Navy SeaBee and actually trained Seal Team 4 before he retired this past year after 20 years of service. He’s related by marriage to my son, Zach, and this is how I came to know about the Olde School Ride.
Shannon began this ride five years ago because he wanted to support his fellow veterans in some way. This year the money raised is being donated to Honor Flight. Shannon also owns Shannon’s Cycle Service which is located in Oconto Falls, WI.
Money is raised in many ways; each biker pays $15.00, unless your bike is twenty years old or more, those bikers pay $10.00 each. Hence, Old School. Those bikes twenty years old or more are entered into a competition and at the end of the day, the winner is chosen and announced. Basically, each person on the ride (bikers and passengers) are given a ballot and they vote on the old bike they like the best.
Money is also raised by soda sales, raffles, etc. Area bars are also joining Shannon and offering special events at their bars during the summer to add to Shannon’s donation for his chosen charity. The support of this close knit community for one of its own is heartwarming.
We usually know very few people who attend this ride, but my son and his wife, Tab and their friends usually keep us entertained throughout the day, and of course, we always meet new folks along the way.
This year, the day of the ride was also my honey’s birthday, so its always extra special to be able to ride with him when the weather is gorgeous and the company is fantastic. All in all, a good day, spent doing what we love and donating to a good cause.
We finished the day off with dinner at home with the rest of the family, minus Eric, since he’s off doing Army things this past two weeks.