Features, The DIRT Dad Fundo Across America

DIRT Dad Fundo Across America- Day Thirty-One

“The cyclist is a man half made of flesh and half of steel that only our century of science and iron could have spawned.” — Louis Baudry de Saunier, 19th-century French author

Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022
Weather: Fog!
Starting Point: Neligh, NE
Departure Time: 0610 CST
Miles: 63
Moving Time: 3:35
Total time: 4:04
Overnight Location: River Park, Wisner, NE

The day began like the last few before it. The fog was thick, the road was the same, and there were no turns. It felt like I was cycling in a sensory deprivation chamber, and I was good with that.

It is easier to take without an extended view of the roads and scenery that’s the same as far as you can see. Not that Nebraska is hard to take. Let’s say it isn’t the most stimulating place to pedal.

The sunrise revealed incredible images of the dew rising from the adjacent fields. The scene remained the same. It was a little hard to take.

Norfolk, Nebraska, is a city of almost 25,000. My excitement peaked when I rode by the local Walmart and noticed the Schwenk Tank crew parked in the lot. I knew we didn’t need anything except one thing. Had they found a solution to my cyst situation?

The website shows that they did. The store in this town doesn’t carry chamois cream. As I mentioned, it’s not a hot commodity in this part of the country, and neither are bikes. I haven’t seen one in days.

I’ve never found the stuff the crew picked up near a cyclist’s chamois. They called three other bike shops within a 150-mile radius. Two didn’t know what chamois cream was, and the third was out of business.

Not that I would have signed on for that two-hour drive anyway. I’ll drive all day and night to experience a park or other natural interest, but once my ride is through, so am I. I’ll deal with it.

During the final 25 miles of the route, I encountered the first set of hills I’ve found in days. I was happy to see them. It gave me something to do. The wind rustling the leaves on the corn stalks beside the road was a unique sound, and when I reached the top, the view was new too.

It’s not my first rodeo. It’s actually my second and technically a barrel racing competition. I’m in awe of what these cowgirls and their horses can do. A fine way to finish another great day!

About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Thirty-One—Dan Wisner

Dan is one of my OG teammates and is as supportive off the racecourse as he is selfless and sacrificing on it. Dan is a devoted family man, and I admire his love of life and his children, both with special needs. Thank you for always being there for me, Dan!

Here is what Dan had to say—”I love the competitiveness, fun, and brotherhood of DIRT.”

Amount Raised to Date—$7,048

Thank you, Daniel!

Now off to Fremont, 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.

Chris Schwenker

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.