“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein, genius
- Date: Sunday, July 3, 2022
- Weather: Delightful, when it was delightful, which was the last 15 miles of the ride. Delightful!
- Starting Point: Edgemont, SD
- Departure Time: 0640 mst
- Miles: 58
- Moving Time: 3:40
- Total time: 4:09
- Overnight Location: Mt. Rushmore KOA, Hill City, SD
Riding a bike requires balance. Being a cyclist takes balancing. Cycling, especially bike racing, is often selfish and solitary. An undertaking like riding your bike across the country is no different, perhaps moreso.
Juggling your priorities is as essential to staying upright as pedaling itself. Training and racing take a lot of time and travel, often at the family’s expense. Placing my family first can sometimes be a tricky balancing act, but it is essential.
Sacrifices need to be made, and if that means spending 60 days in a 30-foot rolling tin can to share the experience with the ones I love, so be it. It hasn’t been easy, but the most challenging part of the trip for Kristin and me was the distance from our kids.
We would restore part of that balance today, and it was all I was thinking.
I’ve learned that the shorter route plan didn’t mean more manageable. There was a lot of climbing, and it was tough! It was also exciting and beautiful.
While the Schwenk Tank was parked on the side of a lonely SD road waiting for me to make my way up another stiff climb, a local approached the crew in an antique pickup. Bob Dudding was his name and he was entralled by the story of our plan and that it was rolling by his door.
That kick was tough, and unwilling to relinquish my momentum, I rolled on through, unwittingly. Shortly thereafter, Bob arrived with his wife Trisha and their bikes. My haste denied me the pleasure of riding with them, but they did make a generous donation. Another couple added to the balance of the DIRT family. Thank you, Bob and Trisha!
A few bikes made their last stand in Custer, SD!
We visited the monument at Crazy Horse!
The crew wanted to learn more about the legend, and I didn’t want my legs to seize up from the wait. They stayed, and I continued on my way. The wind and terrain were a gift for the final 15 miles, and I arrived at our final destination sooner than anticipated. I found a place to cool off and think.
We grabbed a bite and a brew and set off to do the thing that was at the top of all our minds. Jared, his wife, and the staff at Sick-N-Twisted Brewery in Hill City were awesome! So were the food and beer.
Conor flew in later that afternoon and we did some exploring and catching up. There is a lot to share.
Balance restored, almost! Our daughter, Kayla, will be joining us later in our journey!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Twenty-Five—Uncle Tom McAdam
Here is what Uncle Tom had to say—Supporting a wonderful family member for a great cause!”
That’s what it’s all about, Uncle Tom! Family first if you want to stay balanced and keep moving.
Amount Raised to Date—$5,595
Thank you, Tom!
Now off to The Badlands of SD!
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.
