At the very beginning of creating a website devoted to the Avatar, I knew that I wanted to incorporate a section devoted entirely to Len Vreeland. Len was solely instrumental in enabling me to define my relationship with bicycling. I may not have maintained my life-long interest, had it not been for the opportunity to ride the Avatar. Len, in my opinion, validated this type of recumbent that so many “real” cyclists are quick to denigrate.
Many people knew Len far better than I did. I welcome input from anyone that knew Len so that we can add to the record of his memory. Here, I can only scratch the surface by mentioning some of his accomplishments:
In his early twenties he overcame a serious bout of osteomyelitis, an infection – usually bacterial – of the bone or bone marrow. There was contemplation of amputation, but fortunately he responded to medications. His right leg exhibited permanent minor disfigurement. In his thirties and forties Len participated in bike races, many in the New Jersey area.
- His younger brother Al was an extraordinary athlete and bike racer, having profound influence on Len. At one point, those two rode from Florida to Pennsylvania. Both harbored dreams since the early 1960s of riding across the entire country at a record pace.
- Len was an instrumental member of the Lehigh Wheelmen Association and contributed untold hours to helping the young become acquainted with safe bicycling and racing.
- While not receiving the official recognition he deserves, Len was one of the key people who worked directly with Bob Rodale and others to help bring to fruition the then-novel concept of a world-class velodrome at Trexlertown, PA.
- On the ceremonial opening day of the Trexlertown Velodrome, Len rode a set of rollers to a new world record, besting the old record set by Jack Simes, an ex-Olympian and professional bike racer.
- Len was a long-distance runner in addition to bicyclist. At age fifty he organized, ran, and completed a 50-mile marathon.
- Attempted an east-to-west cross-country record ride in 1980 (on his conventional Fuji bike), challenging the reigning record holder (John Marino). Len made it to New Mexico before being forced to abandon the run due to strong headwinds.
- Successfully rode his Avatar recumbent across the country in 1981 from the West Coast to New York City in 15 days at age 52; not a bicycle record, but a record on a recumbent.
- Participated in and/or helped organize three or four rides across Pennsylvania as fundraisers to fight cancer – in the memory of Donny Yatko, brother of Greg Yatko (Len’s son-in-law).
Len Vreeland – A Reminiscence by Ed Kay (pdf)
Record Attempts – Photos and Logs
Len Vreeland – Obituary / Condolences