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An Ode To: The Wise Old Man - Woody Graham, Bicycle Bum

Updated on August 26, 2010
Woody Graham is still riding strong today!
Woody Graham is still riding strong today!

The Wise Old Man


"Come ride with me", said the wise old man.

I'll show you things that no-one else can.

I'll show you sun-ups, sun-sets, and the noon-day sun.

And all the while, we'll be having fun!



I'll teach you to fly, together we'll soar.

We'll fly as high as birds and sometimes more.

We'll see plants and animals and scenes sublime.

I'm quite certain we'll lose all sense of time.



I can't say it will increase your wealth,

But what do you have, if you don't have health?

His friend said, "No, but you do as you like.

I'm not inclined to ride a bike."



"You think I've got time to pedal around?

Besides, my favorite ball-club is coming to town.

And what about all this pollution today?

Do you know I was stuck in traffic, by the way?"



"But you know, I can't get our kids to do a thing with me?

They spend all their time just watching TV!

Buy them a bike? You must be kidding?

I'd rather just have them around, just sitting."



"I'd have to be a millionaire, to buy one of those!

By the way, how do you like my new clothes?

But how can you ride on the road anyway?

You know, I saw a cyclist today! In MY WAY!"



"To impede my progress is really absurd!

I blew my horn! I shot him the bird!

But not the toot nor the Rockefeller salute,

Could sway this stubborn brute!"



"This guy certainly must have been from Mars!

Doesn't he know the roads are for cars?!?

I cursed him with all the words I could say!

I was in a hurry, to get to church, to pray!"



The Wise Old Man said, "Come with me.

We'll go for a ride, and you will see,

Talking to God is not so rare.

You can talk to God, anywhere"



"Get your bike.

Let's go for a ride.


You know, God is also,

On "our" side!"


by Micky Dee

August 1997

Woody has done so many bike rides that we would need Woody here to tell of them all.

Paris-Brest-Paris (750 miles), Boston-Montreal-Boston (750 miles), Pac Tours,

He's ridden all over and logged in hundreds of thousands of miles.

He's won mileage records for years. These actual records require documentation.

He's ridden most of the classic bike rides that long distance cyclists are aware of.

He's ridden across France, Australia, America.

The pics above pertain to Woody Graham, Randoneur Extraordinair!

The links below take to various awards to Woody Graham.

One award is named the Woody Graham Olympic Goal Trophy.

This trophy is given by a Canadian but named after Woody.

Woody was winning it every year back in the day.

The above trophy is named after Woody Graham.

He won the trophy so much that it was finally named after Woody.



The bike ride below is typical of many rides I have taken with Woody.

We often rode a northern Orangeburg, SC area ride.

The ride below is a popular southern Orangeburg, SC area bike ride.

I liked making the distance about 86 miles or so.

Woody always likes 100 miles.

These pictures were taken 12-08-08.

We leave Orangeburg County for Bamberg County and Hunters Chapel Road.

We leave Hunters Chapel Road and now ride west and into the wind toward Ehrhardt, SC.

You can expect Woody to have a great bike ride and expect him to find some food along the way. Woody has been known to leave a 100 mile bicycle course to check out a restaurant in another town out of the way. On this day in Ehrhardt, SC, Woody found some ladies frying up some chicken. I can't eat this on any day and I sure can't ride on it. Woody has no problem!

Olar, SC

It's a typical beautiful ride with Woody Graham,

Randonneur Cyclist Extraordinaire!

I always enjoy spending a day and a bike ride with Woody.

I know of no people who have enjoyed cycling more than Woody.

Woody Enjoys riding without a helmet.

If it's just Woody and I, I go helmet-less too.

Most accidents are caused by other cyclists.

There is more keeping us here than helmets.

It's the way we were.

Organized events always require helmets. FestiVelo 2008
Organized events always require helmets. FestiVelo 2008

Woody knows "flight"!

The man knows his purpose!

Still riding strong today.
Still riding strong today.

He's the same kind man every day.

He's the same "Woody" every day!

MD, Woody Graham, Nick Dolbe
MD, Woody Graham, Nick Dolbe

Woody is the holder of many distance awards.

Nick is chasing MD for Assaults On Mount Mitchell..

You know- I've not appreciated this picture much.

It is a little crooked. I put the camera on the ground and let it be.

So I looked at it and thought I could give it a little something.


So I straightened it and added a little sign.


I just saw a different "background" than we were feeling that. day.

It wasn't euphoria, as we were tired. Maybe a little at ease at the "oasis"!

Woody is a great riding buddy!
Woody is a great riding buddy!
working

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