Our Oldest Rider

Day 8, June 29
Thompson Falls, MT, to Missoula, MT
101 miles
Cumulative miles: 569

Scenic Clark Fork, with the Rocky Mountains in the background.

This was supposed to be a long century ride, but Montana is rebuilding a portion of US 93, so Adventure Cycling set up a shuttle service to get us past the portion impassable to bikes. For most riders, this meant an 87-mile ride. But once I hoisted the bike to the top of the van, I elected to take the last part by car. Even so, I had a fast, 66-mile ride along picturesque Clark Fork, which is rimmed by mountains with slivers of snowbanks still on their peaks. State Route 200 is a single-lane road with a 70 mph speed limit that is filled with trucks whose drivers do not believe that bikes belong. The glorious scenery more than made up for the sketchy road.

Our destination, Missoula, is a layover day. We're staying in college dorms, two to a room, a good chance to get to know another rider. My roommate for the night is Martin Berndt, the oldest rider on the trip. Martin, a tall, lean, delightful gentleman with a neatly trimmed white beard, will be 73 on July 29. He's an expert biker, with a steady fluid pace that takes him up hills a good deal faster than I can manage. He rides a beautiful, elderly Italian racing bike that he found in a dumpster several years ago and carefully restored to its original glory. "I'm grateful God gave me the health to be able to do this," he says. "I hope to finish without injury."

Martin's from Palo Alto, California, where he was for many years before retirement a staff engineer at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, the university's hard-working atom smasher. He stayed in good biking shape by riding to work every day. He still does some consulting for the accelerator center. Martin's family name and slight accent suggests that he's originally from Germany, but he's really from Argentina. His parents were German, he spoke German at home, then Spanish in school, and he learned English when he came to the U.S. at age 16. "English is still my foreign language," he says. For the World Cup match tomorrow between Argentina and Germany, he's torn, but "my gut tells me to root for Argentina."

Martin has been well-trained by his wife. Before we retired, he warned me that he sometimes snores loudly. If that happens, he said, "Just say, 'Martin, turn over,' which is always what my wife says." At 2 a.m., I heard mighty snorts from the opposite side of the room. I called, "Martin, turn over!" He didn't wake, but he muttered, "Thank you," turned, and that was the last I heard sound I heard. A true gentleman.

Martin Berndt, the oldest (and perhaps most polite) rider on the trip.

Comments

[Jean Webb]

Hi Bill,

I am enjoying your adventures very much though it sounds like you are experiencing the worst in American drivers. Take care of yourself and have fun.

Jean Webb

[Heidi Berndt]

Thanks Bill,

This site is a treasure for me. I enjoyed your comments about the Oldest Rider, my husband Martin Berndt. I also had some trepidation seeing Martin leave for the trip, but it looks like you both are keeping healthy and enjoying the adventure. What more can we ask.

Heidi Berndt