After topping 90 degrees during the week, temperatures in the region barely made it into the 50s with rain and wind to greet the eight brave souls who made good on their commitment to participate in the second occasional CoeBRAT (bike ride across towns): Flunk Day 50 on Saturday, May 14.
Sponsored by the Coe College Alumni Office and Team CoeBRAI, this 100th anniversary Flunk Day event challenged participants with a half century of biking with recovery breaks at Odie's Bar and Grill in Ely, Joensy's in Solon, Sutliff Cider and Chameleon’s in Mount Vernon. Clark Racquet Center on the Coe campus served as the start/finish line.
While two-thirds of the early registrants opted against riding in the inclement weather, Bob Beer '83, Chris Paasch '06, Josh Stanek '02, Ron Van Hoeck '82 and myself were not to be deterred. Postponement was not an option after Stanek came all the way from Milwaukee for the ride. Joining the alumni were rising Coe seniors Amanda Knutson '12, Mary Kramer '12 and Austin Lloyd '12.
In addition to Coe bike bells, there were enough door prizes for everyone. Beer was the big winner with his pair of kings winning the 2011 Coe biking jersey.
Look for some sort of ride in conjunction with Homecoming in mid-September. Also, CoeBRAT 2012 will likely be pushed back a week to May 19 to avoid conflict with the Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament (which the Kohawks just won!) and to provide a little post-Commencement breathing room.
