“It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.
If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”
- Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2022
- Weather: Fantastic! Cool, crisp, and dry!
- Starting Point: Solon, OH
- Departure Time: 0631 CST
- Miles: 65
- Moving Time: 3:24
- Total time: 3:43
- Overnight Location: Village Green Campground, North Kingsville, OH!
I’d make that deposit any day if it were payback for yesterday’s ride. With one turn, I coasted through the looking glass and was Cycling in Wonderland! Fawns were frolicking, there were turkeys trotting, and people—smiling.
Under a canopy of majestic oaks, I winded along the babbling Chagrin River past sprawling horse farms and a patchwork of park space. There was a charming calm in the crisp morning air. Sharp pitches accentuated the rolling road, and I breathed it all in.
The River Road gets my vote as one of the Most Beautiful stretches in the Country. I felt like I should’ve paid taxes before I turned to head East.
With Erie on my left, I hopped from one quaint Great Lake town to the next. The distinguished character of the historic main streets caused my mind to wander to the days when America’s North Coast was a vital and vibrant hub of shipping commerce.
The ride into Ashtabula snapped me back into reality. That place looks and smells like its name sounds. The drivers have their heads in their Ashtabula. Not everyone or everywhere. I’m just sayin’!
With an exhale, I steered for the coast and into our overnight destination. The clear blue waters of Lake Erie were inviting, and I could use the refreshing relaxation.
As a native Long Islander, I’m fiercely loyal to the ocean’s brine taste and saliferous smell. The Great Lakes have changed my mind—a little. It was beautiful, I must admit.
Each time we sit to recall the meaningful memories of the adventure, the conversation lingers longer and longer. It’s been an incredible experience. My only regret is that it’s nearing an end.
Tomorrow I cross the border into New York. I may stop and sit there—forever!
About the DIRT Dad Fundo Pledge for Day Forty-Eight—Raoul Christian Raum
Here is what Raoul had to say—”Cycling always used to be my antidepressant, when in a bad mood, I’d head outside and quickly felt better after the ride. During the Covid pandemic I started zwifting more often and got to know DIRT. That was the best thing that could’ve happened at that time. I’m still impressed by all these cordial people in DIRT and that it is possible to experience that much comradeship and have so much fun riding together with people one hasn’t met in person (yet). That is truly something special and I can’t express how much it meant to me: I worked on the covid intensive care unit, my wife was pregnant and because I was fearing to infect her and the unborn I’d often isolate myself in between shifts. Riding with DIRT helped me a lot to endure those often rough times.
So thanks a lot to all who are involved in DIRT, people like you Chris. Good luck and some awesome experiences while riding across the US. Take care!”
Amount Raised to Date—$9,244
Thank you, Raoul!
Now off to Westfield, NY!
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.
