“Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to” – Dr. K.K. Doty
- Date: Saturday, June 25, 2022
- Weather: 65F and sunny with light winds as I rolled out, but the further I got from Moab the hotter and breezier it got!
- Starting Point: Moab, UT
- Departure Time: 0615 mst
- Miles: 99
- Moving Time: 5:48
- Total time: 6:40
- Overnight Location: Monument RV Park, Fruita, CO
Recovery days are essential, and I reluctantly admit they have their place. However, a place like Moab has too much going on, and the temptation is impossible to resist. The rest was exhausting. I was looking forward to getting back to the task at hand.
Whenever I see a hot air balloon in the sky, it brings me back to my younger days when Uncle Rudy would take us for long flights in his. There was something wonderfully serene about floating weightless at the whim of the winds. I’m not a fan of the wind’s whims, but I smiled and considered it a good omen.
For 45 miles, I enjoyed stunning views of the Colorado River gorge and the sixth-longest natural rock span in the US. Utah State Route 128 is a National Scenic byway that vies for tops on the list each year. I can see why. The scenery was jaw-dropping. It gets my vote!
It was like someone flipped a switch. When I crossed the Colorado State line, the scenery shifted from lush river beds and intriguing rock formations to endless plains and degraded soil.
The temperature rose twenty-five points, and the wind gust did the same, pointed directly in my face, as you probably guessed. It didn’t seem to bother the prairie dogs. On the other hand, I found it an energy-sapping way to spend the latter half of a promising ride.
A long gravel road inadvertently found me, too. The deep holes, repetitive ridges, and loose rocks shook my bones and rattled my teeth. I was a few feet from pulling the plug and jumping into the RV when it opened up, and presentable tarmac presented itself.
Thousands of RVs filled the fields on my run-in to Fruita, CO. They weren’t there to see me. It was Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, and others they came to see. Country Jam was in town! I’ll pass!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Seventeen—Tim Malloy
Here is what Tim had to say—”Runner turned Triathlete turned Cyclist. DIRT allows me to train with like-minded people who share similar lifestyles. Couldn’t be thankful enough for DIRT!”
Amount Raised to Date—$3,580
Thank you, Tim!
Now off to Rangely, CO!
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.
