“If I ever saw myself saying I’m excited going to Cleveland, I’d punch myself in the face because I’m lying.” —Ichiro Suzuki
- Date: Monday, July 25, 2022
- Weather: Another round of t-storms rumbled through overnight, but this time they left cooler and slightly drier air behind.
- Starting Point: Monroeville, OH
- Departure Time: 0634 CST
- Miles: 71
- Moving Time: 3:52
- Total time: 4:20
- Overnight Location: Towneplace Suites by Marriott, Solon, OH!
Raindrops may well be pebbles falling on an RV. Last night’s storm, they were boulders. Sleep was at a premium.
Bleary-eyed and legs sore from the spirited century the ride before, I tended to the day’s readiness. Doug had agreed to join for part of the morning, and I wanted it to last as long as possible.
He escorted me along the rolling country roads, past Milan, Ohio, Thomas Edison’s birthplace, and Birmingham, where Sharon was waiting for us to arrive with the Schwenk Tank crew.
I’m not one for goodbyes, especially when there is plenty of roads left to ride and my legs were already confused by the delay. Regardless, no amount of formality would express the gratitude we felt for our warm and gracious hosts.
Sharon wouldn’t have wanted to hug me in that condition. I rolled and tried not to be rude.
Unfortunately, the roads didn’t care about kindness the further I got from farewell, and this was as close as I wanted to get to Cleveland. It felt like a Groundhog Day game of Frogger, and I was the frog. A high score would be getting through it with nothing more than a nasty headache—the fun leveled up by throwing in some obnoxious climbs. I needed a cheat code.
I learned everything that needs to be said about Cleveland as a frequent participant in the DIRT Sunday Morning XLR ride, also known as the Best Ride on Zwift. There was no sense in finding out firsthand.
Since there are no RV parks in the area, only mobile home villages and all the highway underpasses were spoken for, we spent the night in another hotel. All’s good again! Except that I didn’t stray from the secure confines of the campus to get beer.
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Forty-Seven—Wayne Chasney
Here is what Wayne had to say—”Often join you on the DIRT Scenic Ride on Fridays. I would love to ride with you on Day 47 with Doug Mastroianni, which goes within a few miles of my home.”
Sorry, it didn’t work out, Wayne!
Amount Raised to Date—$9,179
Thank you, Wayne!
Now off to North Kingsville, OH!
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.
