Keith and Patsy Shealy a Terrific Tandem CKAP members since 1977 CKAP Director - Promotion Southern USA So you thought you were a bicycle fanatic! Probably not compared to Keith Shealy a Freewheeler from Newberry, SC Since becoming an avid cyclist in 1974 at age 39, Keith has logged over 247,000 miles on ten different bicycles! His most prolific year was 1984 when he rode a total of13,647 miles on three of his bikes, including 3,754 with his wife Patsy on his favorite, a Santanna Tandem that he brought in 1983. Since 1980, Keith and Patsy have ridden over73,000 miles together on their tandems. Keith began his cycling career because of the oil shortage in 1974. His oldest son had a ten speed in bad repair that he did not ride. Keith got it out, got one gear working, and started commuting to his job at the Newberry Highway Department about two miles from his home. He'd be weak and winded when he arrived. After finally getting five gears working, his son reclaimed the bike.

Keith and Patsy Shealy Notice the older style hard shell helmets.

So Keith went to a department store and brought a fine new bike - an AMF! He thought he had really done something when he was then able to ride to his mothers's, ten miles away. On the road one time, he met Phil and Keith Connelly who talked him into getting a much better bicycle from the bike store. With their coaching, Keith was able to complete his first century in September 1974. A little latter, he joined the Carolina Cyclers and became a regular on their weekend rides. At one time he was a member of the Greenville Spinners, Spartanburg Freewheelers, Coastal Cyclists of Savannah, Southern Bicycle Leaque of Atlanta and others. Keith quit tallying his many centuries several years ago. His longest ride in 24 hours was 238 miles. He has done fiveTOSRV's ( 216 miles on a weekend ), Mt. Mitchell once, and eight BRAG's, seven on a tandem with Patsy. He and Patsy did Cycle South Carolina last year and are registered for CSC 2000.

Keith and Patsy Shealy CKAP members, 356 and 354 Shown wearing their new CKAP jerseys Photo taken : Newberry, SC USA Year 2003

"I continued to commute by bicycle until my retirement in 1992," Keith says. "The only time that I did not commute was when it was raining or snowing starting out, and I'd resort to a car. I have also used my bicycle over the years to visit folks, to run errands and chores, to stay in good physical condition, and for entertainment. At one time, if I had business in Columbia, Greenville, or Spartanburg, or any other city within a reasonable distance, time permitting, I'd ride my bicycle. It is really great to be out on a quiet country road with just your bicyle and mother nature." But the most amazing part of Keith's bicycle history is that, in spite of very serious health problems, he never quits! He had back surgery in 1981, and still put in 9,542 miles. Kidney stone surgery in 1985 -- 12,236 miles. Thyroid surgery in 1989 -- 9,542 miles. Kidney cytoscoped in 1991 -- 7,943 miles. Heart attacks and two angioplasties 1993 -- 5,195 miles. 1994 -- 9,791 miles. Heart surgery (sextuple by-pass) in 1997 -- 4.476 miles. As of May 15th, he had already logged 2,690 miles in 2000, 1,724 on a tadem with Patsy. Patsy had several minor strokes early that year, but was back on the bike in a few weeks. Keith keeps meticulous records of his cycling exploits on a color coded chart that includes all his mileage on each of his ten bikes year by year from 1974 to the present.

Keith and Patsy Shealy Team Tandem USA Photo taken : 24th. March 2001 Dreher Island State Park 20 miles south of Newberry, SC USA

I had been sending Keith and Patsy complimentary copies of The Seat Post since becoming Editor last year. They joined the Freewheelers again in October and have since come to several meetings all the way from Newberry. They met us at Wise Barbecue near Newberry on my Century rides in 1998 and 1999. We had met them for lunch two times on my Old Folks Ride, once in Whitmire and once in Clinton. If you haven't met Keith and Patsy yet, you are in for a real treat when you do. They are two of the warmest, friendliest, finest people on earth -- true examples of what true cyclists should be.

Keith and Patsy Shealy Note that Patsy is always the Stocker.

Update from James Wilson - CKAP Coordinator : Keith just keeps riding through his medical problems : Years: 1998 = 12,783 km 1999 = 15,377 km 2000 = 08,253 km 2001 = 14,947 km 2002 = 13,612 km 2003 = 07,076 km 2004 = 12,489 km 2005 = 11,758 km 2006 = 09.525 km 2007 = 06,834 km 2008 = 08,283 km 2008 Grand Total = 449,062 km Both Keith and Patsy have had their medical problems this year but as always they are biting at the bit to get back on their bikes. Patsy has had both her knees replaced over the last years but is doing well. Keith has had back surgery again and wrist. He has also had his shoulder replaced and had a mild heart attack as a result. Yet Keith is about to mount up again. So keep a eye out and you may be rewarded with seeing TEAM TANDEM USA cycle by.

"THE BEST DOCTOR I KNOW" by : Arthur Hardy. It was received by Keith in 1982 from Hugh Hewes then CKAP coordinator, when Keith was recovering from back surgery. Arther Hardy"s health history read out of context would probably convince you that he is by now poling up and down Bournemouth seafront in a wheelchair. Not a bit of it. Despite scarlet fever in his childhood, chest problems later on, then broken bones Arthur has never given in, His greatest ally has been his bike "Doctor Cycling"! Childhood was unlucky for me. I seemed to be dogged by any and every ailment, culminating at seven years of age with rheumatic fever following scarlet fever a disease now almost unknown. As a result I suffered valvular disease of the heart and was ill on and off until a second bout at 12 years of age. Schooling was conspicuous by its absence, but caring parents made up the deficit with books and talks, and inspired me with a love of open air. Cycling began for me at age 14 in 1935 on leaving school, because I had to learn to ride a bike, having secured "a good safe job" as a telegraph messenger in the GPO. Almost at once I commenced my lifelong love affair with wheels, and it opened up a vista of endless journeys into the Herts and Essex countryside from the East End of London's crowded streets, (As an amusing anti-climax, I never had to cycle for the GPO - I became a deliverer of telegrams afoot.) By 17 I was an addict, riding to and from the City and spending weekends awheel. Then came the blow: another severe dose of rheumatic fever, no job, and forbidden by the doctor to cycle or do anything Strenuous because of heart damage. Sorrowfully I sold my "iron" and for three endless months lived like everyone else. It was unbearable, so I made up my mind to die happily and brought a James club machine and rejoined a club - "The" Club, the CTC. Despite all medical gloom I thrived - from a Loiterers section joyfully graduated to a long - distance rider, defied all opinion by racing which I enjoyed from a longmarker's standpoint, and indulged in all aspects of the game. Touring and club riding were my life, and work became simply a means to make possible the hours awheel. this was not altered by the outbreak of war, and I was fortunate to remain to enjoy my pastime even though it meant daily rides across London's blitz-stricken streets. There are vivid memories of our Section's rides, often through air raids and smoking ruins, to haven of youth hostel weekends. After the war I married, moved out to a cottage in Essex and in due course, with two kids awheel from six weeks old in a sidecar, spent happy days with the old Epping Forest Section. never at any time did I suffer from heart or rheumatic problems, though I rode thoughout the year an average 10,000 milage, for quite a long time on shiftwork on the railway with a daily journey of 22 miles. Tours came and went, kids grew up, and then in 1967 a chance visit to a mass radiography unit revealed a growth in the chest cavity the size of a cricket ball. Pleading to be allowed a quick tour with the Club first, I was hospitalized, and a fortunately non-malignant growth removed together with two ribs, leaving me feeling weak with a cut on the back from neck to waist. Again unwilling to take medical advice to literally, I painfully returned to cycling on release and built-up my strength and mileage in order to go with friends to Norway for a cycle tour the following early summer. Never did I enjoy a better time, had to ride all the hills from the saddle and frequently got dropped, but "Doctor Cycling" had won again and the return to heath was complete. My last episode came on Christmas day 1979 when fate overtook me nine feet from a pub door going in! with a pint almost within my grasp, I fell on a frozen puddle and broke my thigh (femur) and was carted off soberly to hospital for a "pin and plate" operation. Release on crutches, I determined not to miss the good weather and fun out with the Section in Shropshire where we now lived. A good clubmate, more power to his pedals! Lent me his tricycle conversion set because I reasoned that I could remain seated on a "barrow" where ever I came to rest or in traffic, and even ride uphill with low gears and one good leg. My first ride of one mile took place nine long weeks after the operation and after a lot of hard work on crutches and a physiotherapy-the latter is most important: so is a grand partner. Within three weeks I returned to two wheels, and after Easter 1980 made contact awheel with the Section for tea. Good clubmates that they are, I had been continually visited and encouraged by them during the previous long weeks. From then onwards a steady build-up has taken place, keeping up with the Club and riding as much as possible during the week. Rose and I have enjoyed a tour in the Lake District and contemplate a six month cycle-camping adventure in New Zealand in the near future. It's possible that the pin and plate will be removed, but this prospect doesn't offer any worries other than a temporary setback soon to be put right awheel. Be guided by your medical advisers, of course - consider carefully what they have to say about your physical condition. But trust your own instincts too, and get back in the saddle as soon as you feel able. "Doctor Cycling" has given me health and happiness, offering me a cure for bodily problems and even more important providing me with good friends, relaxation, companionship and love of the open air and countryside around, plus a respect for its ecology. It is more than a pastime, it's a complete way of living - offering joys that never end, like the winding lanes we endlessly traverse with new pleasures at each bend.

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