Lake Orion residents might know Sylvia Koon as the bright, smiling manager inside Ye Olde Stuff & Antiques.
What they might not know is that she is an avid biker and has participated in several trail rides throughout Michigan.
Most recently, Koon, a mother of four, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of seven, participated in the Michigander 2008 last month, an event sponsored by Michigan Trails and Greenway Alliance (MTGA).
According to Koon, the ride is a ‘moneymaker? for the MTGA, with their main focus being on converting rails (i.e. old railroad lines) to trails.
Koon has been participated in the event since 1996, missing a couple years here and there, with this year’s event being her 10th.
‘I was always working on getting my family to go with me,? Koon said, noting she previously did the rides by herself, but was finally successful in convincing her daughters, Sheri St. John and Linda Koon, to participate.
This year, the women participated in the two-day ride, camping overnight and biking a total of 64 miles.
Not only was it a fun mother-daughter memory for the women, but it’s also been a great a way for them to stay active and healthy.
‘You could do the ride without training, but you’d be sorry,? Koon said, noting that she bikes at least three to five times a week.
According to Koon, bike riding is also a great way for her to enjoy nature.
?(Recently,) we saw twin fawns and an egret fishing,? she said. ‘It’s just so nice to be out in the air.?
Along the way, Koon said she has learned several lessons about nature.
‘Don’t camp on ants, rocks or sprinklers,? she said. ‘That’s an important lesson.?
‘One group decided they would camp where it was nice, green grass, and they found out why,? she added with a laugh, noting the group awoke to the sprinklers spraying their tent.
Koon enjoys bike riding and has since a young age.
‘I was the only child on a farm growing up,? she said, ‘so bike riding was one of my biggest entertainments.?
Now, she lives right next door to the Paint Creek Trail in Rochester, making it easy for her to continue to bike.
‘It takes me a minute-and-a-half from my garage to get on the trail,? Koon said, noting sometimes she even bikes to work.
‘It’s 10 miles by car, but only eight miles by trail,? she added.