Bryson Edwards came speeding up to the park after school to collect his prize for third place in the Youth Division of Most Miles in May. When asked why he entered the competition he said, “I just wanted to get out and get some exercise.” Edwards, a spunky second-grade student at Broad View Elementary School logged 57.71 miles on his bike in May.

Two ninth-graders at Oak Harbor High School took first and second place. Toren Wood, son of Whidbey Bicycle Club founder, Brian Wood, came in second with 194 miles. Elise Still kept an eye on Wood’s bike log on the Whidbey Bicycle Club website. Whenever Wood posted more miles, Still leapt on her bike to log more. In the end, she pulled ahead with 219 bike miles in May.

Still certainly isn’t still, she’s training for a triathlon later this month. She is the first female to finish in one of the top three spots.

“It definitely feels like I accomplished something big. But I wouldn’t have ridden as many miles if Toren weren’t riding,” she said.

Most of these young cyclists made miles by riding to school but they also added routes just for fun. Wood’s favorite route is between Oak Harbor and Coupeville on Boone Road, to Hastie Lake, Zylstra and Madrona Way. Last year his father, Brian Wood, claimed the top prize commuting from Oak Harbor to Coupeville every day in May despite the cold, wet spring weather.

Brian Dowling took the top prize in the adult division this year with 1,016 bike miles. He just squeaked by Navy Bike to Work Team Captain, Harold Edwards, Bryson’s dad, who logged 1,014.97.

Kurt Jaehning placed third this year with 931.75, which is nearly three times more than he logged last year. These were extraordinary miles for both divisions. Jaehning requested a 60 and over division next year when he comes of age.

“I sure wouldn’t have ridden so many miles on bad weather days if I weren’t into this competition,” he said.

Prizes were donated by Popsies, Yummies Eats and Treats, the Clyde Theatre, the Whidbey Playhouse, Sweet Rice Thai Restaurant, the BBQ Joint, Zorbas Greek Cuisine and People’s Bank.

This is the fourth year of the Most Miles in May competition. The record holder is still the first winner, Mike Merickel, who set a high standard with 1,030 miles in May of 2009. Many of his miles were logged on a tandem bike with his wife, Nancy. They’re a familiar sight around Oak Harbor.

The contest was initiated by Maribeth Crandell, environmental educator for the city of Oak Harbor, to promote National Bike Month in May. The most efficient form of transportation ever invented is a person on a bicycle. Forty percent of trips we take in America are within two miles of home, the perfect distance for walking or biking.

“Bikes are the clean, lean, riding machine,” said Crandell. “And a lot more fun than driving.”

For more information visit www.whidbeybicycleclub.org.