Floyd Landis wins Tour de France  or did he?  He was first across the finish line; I believe I'll let courts and judges decide whether he gets a title.  Anyway, his performance is no surprise if you’ve traveled through Pennsylvania Dutch country.  Floyd is originally from Farmersville in West Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He was a Mennonite with a passion for cycling.  And he is very very good at it!!!

BREAKING NEWS MAY 20, 2010


Among the plain folks, the oldest order Amish that moved as far as possible from the east coast might frown on the use of bikes, but many of the various Anabaptist spin-offs around Reading and Lancaster make frequent use of bicycles, in-line skates, and coaster-scooters.  Sometimes you’ll see a kid hanging onto the back of a buggy getting a tow while on a scooter or a pair of in-line skates.  But, you might also see more bicycles than buggies parked at a worship service.  It’s a pleasure to ride through an area where everybody, young or old, takes the bicycle seriously instead of regarding it as nothing but a child’s toy.

Any Pennsylvania Dutchman, plain or fancy, loves bicycles and uses them.  Floyd, a Mennonite originally from Lancaster County, crossed the finish line first at the Tour de France.   Like I said, that doesn't surprise me.
Antique bicycle  Ronald Schmeck on a bicycle. Melanie Schmeck on tricycle.

    Hey, I'm fancy dutch, and I love bikes.  That's one of my old bicycles on the left and then my brother (the big guy) and me in the middle and my wife Melanie on the right.  We like cycles -- bi  or   tri  !!!

    By the way, it’s a real trip riding a bicycle over a covered bridge.  Most of them have the floor planks lengthwise, and you have to be careful not to let you’re tire slip into a crack.  A few have the planks run crosswise, and you feel like you’re riding between the rails on a railroad bed.

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