DIRT Do Work Challenge Partners with the DIRT Dad Fund to support its virtual cycling community!
The DIRTy Pretzel Challenge p/b The DIRT Dad Fundo Across America is an iTT of the Watopia Pretzel Route (44.9 miles). There will be points for each timed banner and the finish. Points table is as follows.
- To qualify, the route must be ridden solo – No group rides or events.
- Participants will submit their Strava activity for the ride.
- Points will be based on Strava segment time.
- Use the bike of your choosing, but please No DRAFTING. It’s the honor system.
Prizes Awarded to top Male and Female Overall Finisher and a few others along the way compliments of The DIRT Dad Fund!
A bit about the partnership with The DIRT Dad Fundo Across America!
An Indoor Specialist Literally Bikes 'Cross the Country in Support of the Virtual Cycling Community!
San Francisco, CA to Long Island, NY!
3,500 miles in 60 days, give or take!
June 9 through August 9, 2022
All to raise awareness of the DIRT Dad Fund!
Well, that’s not entirely true. The real reason is that it will be EPIC—a cyclist’s dream come true! I’ll be blogging along the way so you can join me on the journey too!
Here's How You Can Get Involved
I am looking to get 60 supporters to motivate and power the journey—one for each day!
Before I roll out each morning, I will pick a name out of a hat and share it and my thoughts for the day over FaceBook live!
Then we’re off to experience the adventure together. You’re generosity fueling my motivation!
Follow this link to the DIRT Dad Fundo form, where you can pledge to donate per mile for each mile we ride together as a team on your day.
An extremely generous (I wish he would let me tell you who it was) anonymous donor has contributed a new Garmin 1030 and asked that I award it to a member of the DIRT community who has pledged to support the ride.
A random drawing will take place after the ride, and I will award the unit to one lucky person who was kind enough to pledge their support of The DIRT Dad Fundo.
On behalf of the DIRT Dad Fund committee, I’d like to thank you for your overwhelming generosity and support! The DIRT Effect is REAL, because of you!
Go DIRT! Chris Schwenker
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
