“It Really Is All About Believing In Yourself. 80% Mental, 20% Physical” – Victoria Pendleton
- Date: Monday, June 27, 2022
- Weather: It was fine.
- Starting Point: Rangely, CO
- Departure Time: 0525 mst
- Miles: 115
- Moving Time: 6:57
- Total time: 7:49
- Overnight Location: Baggs, WY-almost, actually Craig, CO
Plans changed when I arrived in Maybell, CO, with over three hours in the saddle and 3,500 feet of vert in my legs—already. The locals in the general store looked at me cross and said, “The only reason why someone would use those roads is if they were trying to bag an elk.” Thanks, Strava!
I continued on the road I’d been on all morning and arrived in Craig, CO, after two more hours and another thousand vertical. I made it another hour, twenty miles, and another thousand when it happened. I couldn’t pedal another stroke. I was done. I didn’t bonk. I was plain old exhaustion.
I left my mark so I knew where to roll from in the morning. We found a campsite in Craig and canceled the reservation in Baggs, WY, our intended overnight destination.
My legs spasm every time I try to straighten my knees. I have a saddle sore the size of a mountain oyster, and it feels like I have a tumbleweed in my bibs. I want to pee but can’t—another 99 miles for tomorrow.
That’s all I got. I’m out!
Someone had some energy! Schwenk Tank support crew strong!
Craig, Colorado is pretty cool! I snapped out of it in time to make some new friends and have a few beers! Not in that order! The KOA is nice too! Sometimes things happen for a reason.
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Nineteen—Jose Wence
I can’t thank Jose enough for all the support he has given me, The DIRT Dad Fund, and the collective DIRT community during the 3-plus years I’ve known him. He is always there to offer words of encouragement or to step up to a challenge. He is fiercely loyal and tells it like it is when necessary. I admire that most about him. I appreciate you, Jose!
Here is what Jose had to say—”I’m a dad to 3 kids, a runner, and a cyclist. Cycling has been my means of building and maintaining fitness over the past 5 years while dealing with various running injuries. DIRT has turned what was just a cross-training necessity into a passion. The camaraderie and support within the DIRT community has had such a positive impact on me. For me, this virtual cycling team has become more of a brotherhood. I’m so thankful to have found DIRT and grateful to be a part of such an amazing group of people.”
Amount Raised to Date—$4,095
Thank you, Jose!
Now off to Rawlings, WY!
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 as owner and director of his private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice after over 20 years, Chris is blessed with the freedom to pursue his passion for virtual cycling and writing. On a continual quest to give back to his bike for all the rewarding experiences and relationships it has provided him, he created a non-profit. Chris is committed to helping others with his bike through its work and the pages of his site.
In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to New York to support the charity he founded, TheDIRTDadFund. His “Gain Cave” resides on the North Fork of Long Island, where he lives with his beautiful wife and is proud of his two independent children.
You will read him promoting his passion on the pages of Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. Chris is co-host of The Virtual Velo Podcast, too!
