Bluffton’s Mike Rhonemus was recently awarded the 2021 High Mileage Award for 21,005 outside miles ridden, an honor presented by the Northwest Ohio Toledo Area Bicyclists. His goal was to ride the number of miles around the equator and--with indoor miles added--he did.

But Rhonemus wasn’t always so enthusiastic about exercise. It wasn’t until his doctor warned him that a sedentary lifestyle was seriously affecting his health that he transitioned from a casual cyclist to one with a sense of purpose. He notes that he always enjoyed cycling, including riding around town with the family. His doctor recommended gradually adding to the distance he was riding. 

Bluffton’s Ride to Remember introduced him to the idea that riding 100 miles was something achievable. He began participating in the ride its second year and has since participated in six of the seven events, including two virtual rides during the pandemic. The Ride to Remember is “close to his heart,” he says, having known Ropp and Mary Em Triplett, in whose memory the ride was created. (Details on the July 16 Ride to Remember.) His children and son-in-law have all participated in the ride at least once, and his wife Tenna has participated in several.

He notes that the ride has several different loops, from 10 miles to the 100-plus mile Triplett Challenge. His first solo Ride to Remember “was a bear” during which he focused on how many riders were passing him. In the end, however, he was astounded by his accomplishment and now enjoys the event with others as a more relaxed experience.

When the Icon met with Rhonemus for a chat, it was on the Triplett Path near College Avenue, the first segment of Bluffton’s Bike and Pedestrian Pathway, created in 1990. Another photo accompanying this article shows Rhonemus on a tandem bike with Tenna on another segment, between County Line Rd. and Comfort Inn. These are the pathways that the Ride to Remember, a program of the Blufftton Lions Foundation, helps build.

Advice for new riders? The key to riding regularly, Rhonemus notes, is getting a good bike. His first bike quickly fell apart and was difficult to repair, making it a poor investment. He also encourages riders to wear a helmet anytime while on a bike.

Rhonemus has raised four children in Bluffton and is now a grandfather, which is "another reason to stay healthy," he says. He works in maintenance at Blanchard Valley Medical Associates.