It was a weekend for coming together and celebrating the cycling life. When I saw the announcement for Dale Miksch’s last ride I didn’t have any idea how many riders would show up. It was great to see that a good crowd met up and rolled out to support Dale’s wish for one last ride. Dale has ALS and with a little help from from a Pedicab, a Madonna van, and the Grace Space, that dream came true. We rolled down the Jamaica North trail south to 14th St. and back on a perfect day. Dale never stopped smiling the whole time. He even had a twinkle in his eye when I went to pass him, daring me I think, to sprint. He was surely reliving epic rides of years past.
Helping cyclists fulfill wishes seemed to be the theme for the weekend. I’d been trying to coordinate a date to ride with Warren, a cyclist who happens to be blind, for months. Sunday was the day that worked for us both. I could have ridden marathon support, which is always good to do, but this Sunday I was Warren’s eyes and extra legs. Warren loved riding bikes before losing his eyesight. Some blind cyclists ride tandem with a sighted rider, but Warren prefers to have his own “quad” e-bike that he knows well and can adjust himself by feel. He’s always on the lookout for “drivers” to ride with, so if you’re interested, contact Trail Ramblings and I’ll put you in touch. He likes to test the limits of his battery charge and has ridden as far as Cortland. He’d like to ride to Elmwood for the Pie Ride June 6, and some day on to Beatrice and Springfield, but first he’ll need a second battery. Warren understands well that people with disabilities often have difficulty getting exercise and socializing. He thinks getting more people out on bikes, whether it’s a pedicab or pedaling together on a bike is just what the doctor ordered.
The third event of my cycling weeked was the ride to honor the life of Dylan Wall. Dylan was an exceptionally kind human being who I had the pleasure of riding with when I was starting to really pile on the miles and had a lot to learn. It’s always sad when one of us is taken too soon, but a comfort to be with others who shared his life.
Thanks go out to those riders who did ride marathon support this past weekend. It’s important to help the running community stay safe by being their eyes on wheels. Support riders watch for signs of distress and any problems that come up that need to be reported while making sure to stay out of the way of the runners. Designated riders also escort leading runners to the finish line.
I hope you all were able to get out to ride and enjoy the exceptional weather. In Nebraska, where the wind, storms, cold or heat can seem to take center stage, spectacular weather is not something to take for granted.