“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring” – Desmond Tutu
- Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2022
- Weather: Glorious!
- Starting Point: Omaha suburbs, NE
- Departure Time: 0640 CST
- Miles: 49
- Moving Time: 2:55
- Total time: 3:15
- Overnight Location: Shelby, Iowa
Relaxed, rejuvenated, and refreshed, I rolled from Lake Cunningham to negotiate my way through the city of Omaha and out of Nebraska, finally! What a comfortable ride it was!
The Riverfront trail made winding my way through the city and into Iowa a comfortable breeze. Without cars and the coefficient of chamois friction to focus on, I was free to take in the sights.
Everywhere I turned, there was something to grab my attention. The time flew by, even though it took much longer than it should for stopping to admire and store the memories. Before I knew it, I was on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge and over the Missouri River.
Once I made my way into the Iowa countryside, it was plain to see that it was different. That wasn’t corn. It was different.
There was corn, but it was grown alongside roads with signs designating cycling routes. There were bike paths and bike lanes. The shoulders of the streets had a cycling conscience. What I have seen of Iowa so far is much different, and I like it.
Music streamed from speakers mounted on every light pole in Neola in welcoming celebration. It was country music, but still, it was nice, and different.
As I rolled into Shelby feeling good about the day, I was comforted by the thought that Iowa cared. I hope that remains the same.
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Thirty-Four—Douglas Auld
Here is what Doug had to say—”I cycle every day, it keeps me happy and well. I enjoy the DIRT community and the team keeps me motivated. All the best wishes on your trek across America!”
Amount Raised to Date—$7,848
Thank you, Douglas!
Now off to Adel, Iowa!
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!
