2011.07.20
In what has become a yearly tradition, I drove the support vehicle for my dad in the Ride Across INdiana on Saturday. The ride follows U.S. 40 for more than 160 miles from the Illinois border to the Ohio border. My dad, at 51 years old, is rockin' the bicycle like he did more than 20 years ago, and I couldn't be more proud of him. The best part of his ride was shared in an email exchange between him and the other two riders, Lige and Ron (Ron writing):
Cyclers ride past a farmhouse near the end of the Ride Across INdiana on July 16 west of Richmond, Ind. The ride, in its 25th year and organized by the Bloomington Bicycle Club, stretched more than 160 miles west to east across U.S. 40 in Indiana.
Alex Farris
My dad's bike and equipment sit at the foot of his bed the night before the ride. We stayed (for cheap!) at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, on the west border of Indiana.
Alex Farris
The ride is most certainly a ride, not a race. Because these are people riding, not unfeeling machines, participants like to be up front. They like it so much that, ahead of this start line, a group of bikers headed out a minute before the official start of the ride.
Alex Farris
This is the real start.
Alex Farris
Almost 1800 people rode through that gate at 7 a.m.
Alex Farris
The path took riders past the Clay County Court House in Brazil...
Alex Farris
...down U.S. 40 west of Plainfield...
Alex Farris
...next to a lot of corn fields.
Alex Farris
We called this the Jelly Bean.
Alex Farris
My dad texts during a stop. There were four sponsored stops along the route, each with water and snacks for those who wisely didn't ride the trip straight through on a near-90-degree day.
Alex Farris
Ron reflects from his rear-view mirror during a stop.
Alex Farris
Riders Bill Higgs and Mike Parsons rest with their supporters in the shadow of Liberty Baptist Church's sign at the final sponsored stop in Dunreith, Ind. Dad didn't stop at this sign, but he did stay inside the air-conditioned volunteer fire department for a well-needed hour.
Alex Farris
Dad, after resting, rides past a corn field outside Dunreith. He got a second wind.
Alex Farris
Quintin and Zoe Miles cheer for their father, Craig Miles, as he finished the Ride Across INdiana on Saturday at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. I didn't hold a sign like that, but I still carried the same sentiment.
Alex Farris
Tom finally arrived [in Dunreith, 30 miles from the finish, and] looked pretty bad. We all thought he should stop, concerned about his safety. Lige and I continued on, thinking Tom would drive with the sag [support and gear vehicle]. ... We talked with Dave and Alex and they informed us that Tom a.k.a. Lazarus, was riding. ... He finally got in with about 10 minutes to spare. He said he felt great after the rest and was riding the best he had all day. There must be magic dust at Dunreith.
Cyclers ride past a farmhouse near the end of the Ride Across INdiana on July 16 west of Richmond, Ind. The ride, in its 25th year and organized by the Bloomington Bicycle Club, stretched more than 160 miles west to east across U.S. 40 in Indiana.
Alex Farris
My dad's bike and equipment sit at the foot of his bed the night before the ride. We stayed (for cheap!) at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, on the west border of Indiana.
Alex Farris
The ride is most certainly a ride, not a race. Because these are people riding, not unfeeling machines, participants like to be up front. They like it so much that, ahead of this start line, a group of bikers headed out a minute before the official start of the ride.
Alex Farris
This is the real start.
Alex Farris
Almost 1800 people rode through that gate at 7 a.m.
Alex Farris
The path took riders past the Clay County Court House in Brazil...
Alex Farris
...down U.S. 40 west of Plainfield...
Alex Farris
...next to a lot of corn fields.
Alex Farris
We called this the Jelly Bean.
Alex Farris
My dad texts during a stop. There were four sponsored stops along the route, each with water and snacks for those who wisely didn't ride the trip straight through on a near-90-degree day.
Alex Farris
Ron reflects from his rear-view mirror during a stop.
Alex Farris
Riders Bill Higgs and Mike Parsons rest with their supporters in the shadow of Liberty Baptist Church's sign at the final sponsored stop in Dunreith, Ind. Dad didn't stop at this sign, but he did stay inside the air-conditioned volunteer fire department for a well-needed hour.
Alex Farris
Dad, after resting, rides past a corn field outside Dunreith. He got a second wind.
Alex Farris
Quintin and Zoe Miles cheer for their father, Craig Miles, as he finished the Ride Across INdiana on Saturday at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. I didn't hold a sign like that, but I still carried the same sentiment.
Alex Farris
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