Cyclist victim of hit-and-run driver

What started as a grand adventure has ended in disaster for a long-haul bicyclist. Al Friebe, 46, of Springfield, Virginia, left his home June 2 on his ?super bike? with intentions of bicycling solo from Washington, D.C. to Duluth, Minnesota and back. That dream stalled when Friebe, a senior instructor of computer science at Alchemy in Springfield, Virginia, ended up in the ditch along the southbound side of US-23 north of Rogers City after a vehicle hit his bike Monday afternoon.

Sheriff?s Department spokesmen said the accident occurred around 3:40 p.m. under sunny skies on a flat stretch of road just north of the intersection of Highway 646 and US-23. The driver left the scene of the accident and is being sought by the department. Friebe was knocked unconscious and transported to Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City for treatment of several broken ribs and a broken arm.

He was awaiting surgery Tuesday afternoon, but remained upbeat about completing his trip, given his health and the repairs needed on his bike.

?It depends on what the doctors say and how the plates and screws work in my arm,? he said via telephone Tuesday from Munson. He was making the journey on a $2,500 Easy Racers ?Tour Easy? long wheelbase recumbent, which includes a 24-gear, triple chain wheel with special modifications.

WITH MORE than half of the journey behind him, his day started Monday in Mackinaw City with Alpena the goal for the day?s journey. He had been updating friends through his website (

www.catspace.com) and had planned to make several days of entries Monday night upon arrival at his hotel. His crash changed all that, with plans now hanging in the balance as he recovers from the hit-and-run accident.

He arrived in Duluth June 17, a journey of 1,354 miles from his starting point. The trip west went north and west through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin before reaching Minnesota.

AS FOR continuing his trip, it is too soon to say, but the cyclist is determined to do what he can to continue. ?The ribs are OK and my arm doesn?t hurt that bad,? he said.

Sheriff?s deputies found evidence of a broken mirror, with possible damage done to the passenger side of the vehicle that hit Friebe. Anyone with information on the accident is encouraged to call the sheriff?s department at 734-2156.