Last Saturday, our son, Fred and I rode the Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo bike race and rally. Over 1600 cyclist test their endurance in some challenging area roads across Lavon Lake.
Fred signed up for the 22 mile Ride 22 and I did the 41 mile Picollo Fondo. At one point I almost called it in and was looking for a sag wagon. For those of you that do not follow cycling, a sag wagon is a vehicle that will carry the riders and bikes back to the staging area in the event you can’t finish the ride for various reasons.
I stopped with 6 miles left to go. Juanita, my wife, was at the finish line and I text her saying, “I’m done”. Fortunately for me, another couple stopped in the same place as well. You may think 6 miles? But the we had already ridden 33 miles in some 5 and 6% grade hills and it was getting hot. At 11:15 am, the humidity was nuts!
After we talked, rested and waited, we never saw a sag vehicle and finally decided to persevere. I stopped a few more times on the way in but I finished!!
Afterwards we found the couple. They finished the ride too and the gentleman said he went straight to First Aid because he got chills. The temperature was in the mid 90’s and humidity was high as well.
Overall it was fun and I’ll do this ride again, but I will also prepare myself better next time.
Oh, I didn’t get my picture with Emmitt either.
Photographed by Fred: Parker, Texas 2019.09.14
Photos by Pody 