“One Thing That Cycling Has Taught Me Is That If You Achieve Something Without A Struggle It’s Not Going To Be Satisfying” – Greg LeMond
- Date: Friday, June 10, 2022
- Weather: Rolled out to dry and 70s and the temperature continued to rise into the 90s which made the exposed slopes of Priest Grade even more harsh.
- Starting Point: Dutchman Vineyards, Ripon, CA
- Departure Time: 0630 pst
- Miles: 62
- Moving Time: 4:19
- Total time: 6:00
- Guest riders: DIRT Jason Long
- Overnight Location: Air bnb, Groveland, CA
For some reason this ride seemed a lot harder than it should have been. The extremely high temps and the course profile were likely the cause. Priest Grade is a formidable climb. When coupled with the hot sun beaming down on the fully exposed grade and relentless long stretches of 6-8% while dodging RVs, I was happy to see it end!
We spent the rest of the day taking in the majesty of Yosemite. It never gets old! When you turn the corner and get your first glimpse of the valley the stunning vista and magnitude of the landscape takes your breath away. Like a kid on Christmas morning. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the privelage to behold. The pictures do not do it justice!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Two—Joy Murphy
Joy is a personal trainer and cycling coach from Jacksonville, FL.
“I am short and fiesty and love bikes. I think biking across the US is pretty awesome so I want to donate.”
Amount Raised to Date—$798
Thank you, Joy!
Now off to Lee Vining, CA!
To support Chris in his effort to raise awareness of The DIRT Dad Fund, the non-profit he created to assist members of the worldwide cycling community, check out this link to learn more.
Find out where you can pledge a donation and subscribe to The ZOMs newsletter to follow along on the journey.
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.
