“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever” Lance Armstrong
- Date: Friday, July 8, 2022
- Weather: Foggy, overcast, and muggy, but cool with only a light breeze.
- Starting Point: Stuart, NE
- Departure Time: 0636 CST
- Miles: 70
- Moving Time: 3:31
- Total time: 3:48
- Overnight Location: Riverside Park, Neligh, NE
Mark it down! Today is the day! The day I officially ran out of chamois cream! It’s a big problem. I mean VERY big!
A saddle sore the size of a marble big. Yes, I know some of you don’t use chamois cream. I don’t know what kind of nether region resistance you have, but I’m not one of those people.
I like my saddle to smell like you’d want to ask it out on a date. I thought four tubes would be enough based on my pattern of usage. I didn’t account for this.
I also know this is a rookie move. In my defense, Amazon delivered a bulk amount of the slippery stuff to my house in time for Conor to bring it to me. The TSA had other ideas. There is someone at Laguardia Airport with an appealing and irresistible car seat.
Anyway, the situation is critical! I’m okay with pain. I’m not OK with this kind of pain.
The weight-weenie in me makes significant sacrifices. It usually involves depleting my resources. Although, comfort is also not a factor when making bike and component choices. If it’s lighter than it was before, I don’t care.
Now I care, and with most of the significant elevation already in my legs, and perineum, I’m going to do it. I switched to my just-in-case saddle.
It has padding! What? Doesn’t that weigh something? Nevermind.
It does feel better, I must admit, like riding a bike while sitting on your couch if your couch had teeth and wasn’t happy with the arrangement.
Let’s just say I need some chamois cream. It’s not a hot commodity in this part of Nebraska.
The road doesn’t care about my miscalculation, and the schedule doesn’t make self-cycling-induced cyst concessions. I would have to grin and bear it! See, I’m smiling, kinda. I’m also not sitting, yet.
Once I settled in, the ride was a nice one. The Elkhorn River and the checkerboard of hay and cornfields are a wonderful diversion. As I rolled into Neligh, the sun finally fought through the heavy fog and cloud cover. Just in time for us to enjoy and experience it all!
Like the laundromat.
The breakfast skillet platter at Mama’s and Nana’s diner. It hit the spot!
My two month hair cut only lasted four weeks. Thanks to Sherry for taking care of that.
It was a good productive day on the road!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Thirty—Martin Heintzelman
Here is what Martin had to say—”DIRT has been very important community to me since Fall of 2018. In it I found a supportive group of cycling friends who I may have met in a virtual world, but whose friendship with me is very real.”
Amount Raised to Date—$6,922
Thank you, Martin!
Now off to Wisner, NE!
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!
