Oklahoma City Bound Sunday

"THE RIDE"

Get to fly out Sunday AM to OKC.  I have the pleasure of driving "THE RIDE" for one week with the final destination being St. Louis.   I am very excited to have the opportunity to support these riders.  I also know that I have big shoes to fill after Alex, Rob and Doak and I am a little apprehensive about that task.

One of the stops that I am very excited about will be on Tuesday in Joplin, Missouri.  My mother's side of the family was from Joplin and I spent many youth vacations there.  Some of my relatives (Uncle Jim and Aunt Mona) are still there and I will be seeing them again after many years.  Even with the recent devastation from the Tornado,  Joplin has reached out to the "Ride for 911" and I am sure that Tuesday is going to be an emotional day. 
Strange how this Ride for 911 has evolved for me.  First of all, I want nothing to do with road bikes.  I don't understand the desjre to sit on a rock hard seat, with no suspension, on skinny little tires for hours on end with cars whizzing by.  And did you notice that most of them have no meat on their bones?  Isn't that Hambly's nickname?

Hambly

Never figured I be following a group of them across the midwest in a motorhome.

During a mountain bike ride in February in Sycamore Canyon, Jorge explained the whole thing to me.  After listening to him speak about it, I couldn't wait to get involved.

Jorge

 Like Rob said in an earlier post, "There is no place that I would rather be".

Thank you guys for giving me this opportunity and I am honored to be a part of this!

Jim(in black) and Jorge(in white) can be seen crossing to the dark side in February:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114lbcz7V_s&feature=player_embedded