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Revenge! By David Bowling
I’d always
wanted to do something for charity so when a coworker told me a bike ride to Key Largo I told her I was in. How
hard could it be to ride a bicycle 150 miles in two days? Well, when you’re 45 years old and you
have a cheap mountain bike, pretty hard!
We
started from Miami Dade College South Campus at 6:00 AM. While everyone else was checking over their $3,000
bikes eating energy bars and drinking Gatorade I had my Cuban coffee and smoked a cigarette. I noticed
a guy pointing at me, when I looked over at him he said something to the girl he was with and they both laughed.
The horn sounded
and we were off, the first day would be Kendall to Key Largo. But not in a straight line, they had to make
sure it 75 miles.
The
first thing I noticed was my bike was quite a bit slower, almost everyone was passing me. Every 10 miles
there was a rest stop. I got to the first three pretty easy but as the day went on it was getting more
and more difficult. Eventually we arrived in Homestead, I knew if I made it that far I could go all the
way.
We
started down Card Sound road, the long way around. After an hour in the sun on this long desolate road
I started getting stomach cramps and I stopped sweating. I was out of water, there was no shade, and I
had serious heat exhaustion. My riding partner had a little water and was pouring it on my head.
A rescue vehicle pulled up and started to help but I wouldn’t let. Once they touch you you’re
done. No way was I quitting now. I got back on and tried to ride but couldn’t
do it. By this time there were paramedics, event personnel and a pick up truck for my bike along side encouraging
me to drop out. After a few minutes I pulled it together and started riding again. After
a short time I came upon the pick up truck that had been beside me. He was helping a guy who had dropped
out and putting his and his girlfriend’s bikes in the back.
He didn’t look
as happy as he had earlier while pointing and laughing at me.
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