I was particularly touched meeting Kim Saks, whose husband was killed last October while training for the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge (a 7 day, 600 mile charity bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego) an organization that raises money to provide prosthetics, hand cycles, and a variety of services for challenged athletes. I met a group of Kim’s friends at the Ride of Silence earlier this year and was touched by the story. Putting a face with the “story” deeply saddened me. Brett’s accident left behind, a wife and two small kids. I know Kim struggles from day to day and it was hard for her to be there Saturday. It turns out that Arizona has a 3 feet law that requires vehicles to give at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist on the road. Unfortunately, that law is seldom enforced. Brett and far too many others have had to pay the ultimate price for this. I wish I could do more to help her family and others.
On a happier note, on Sunday, the kids decided that they wanted me to pull them around the neighborhood in the bike trailer. We have split them up in the past due to them growing and the occasional “disagreement”. They promised me that they wouldn’t argue if I’d pull them both in the same trailer. We rode for a while and Emma decided she had to potty. Once we got back to the house, the kids encouraged Terri to get her bike out and we rode up to the store and picked up a few things for dinner. It was really nice to be out on bikes as a family again. That is one thing I really missed over the summer is riding with my wife with kids in tow. I was very happy to be able to do it again!
Overall a great cycling weekend. Not many miles (20), butu it’s the quality not the quantity that count.
Here are some pictures from the event:
Opening ceremonies
Starting out
Not the most flattering
Ghost Bike
Heading back
My next Jersey
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