“You either love spinning the pedals and watching scenery whiz by, or you don’t. And if you love it, not much can sour you on the idea of riding your bike.” -Keith Mills
- Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022
- Weather: Comfortable with overcast skies kept the temps moderate, but the breeze was stiff and picked up throughout the day to gusts of near 50 mph.
- Starting Point: Apple Valley, UT
- Departure Time: 0630 pst
- Miles: 43
- Moving Time: 2:30
- Total time: 2:37
- Overnight Location: East Zion RV Park, Mt. Carmel, UT
Met by another beautiful morning, I rode away from our temporary Apple Valley Tiny House residence. It was fun while it lasted, and time to move on and find what is waiting around the next corner and at the next destination. The cross country ride has been amazing and is exceeding my expectations in every way, but I can’t help but feel sad that we can’t stay longer in all of the unique and interesting treasures.
The longing wanes as my thoughts turn to what’s ahead. Every day a new road, a different landing-place, and the opportunity to explore and uncover the country’s nuances you can only find on a bike.
The wind is not new, and I could do without investigating it further. For the first ten miles, I rode into a direct 15-20 mph dead-on headwind that gusted over 25. Stretched flags and sandstorms marked the uncharacteristic blustery weather.
After a couple of left turns, I gained the favor of the breeze and a chance to take in the wondrous beauty of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. It’s familiar landscape conjured the first thoughts of home. The powdery-fine pink sand glistened in the sun as I cruised the rolling roads without care.
The only categorized climb on the route was a nice way to end a beautiful ride. My efficient work left plenty of time for the next adventure of the day.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Awe-inspiring and breathtaking! No words!
I’ve come to appreciate the basic functionality of the country’s remote RV parks. No bathrooms or laundry facilities, but with fresh water (not hot), electricity, and a way to shed our waste, all is good!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Ten—The Eat DIRT Crew
You likely aren’t aware that the Eat DIRT crew is more than a tight-knit sub-team community of fine cyclists and fun-loving characters. Since its inception, they have committed to supporting The DIRT Dad Fund and have never wavered.
I adore the Eat DIRT logo and proudly wear my t-shirt whenever I have the opportunity, like when I visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon today (see above). Check out their online store here if you want a cool 3/4 sleeve like mine.
Here is what Mike Dodd had to say on behalf of Eat DIRT—”Eat DIRT is a group of Dads, non-dads, and Moms from all over the world who ride and race together in the early eastern US time zone. We believe in supporting one another through life’s challenges and pushing each other to be better everyday.”
Amount Raised to Date—$2,493
Thank you, to the Eat DIRT Crew!
Now off to Panguitch, UT and Bryce Canyon National Park!
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.
