This last weekend I was in Thousand Oaks, California, for the Breakaway Ride presented by Specialized. It was a pretty cool event. The riders in this event could ride the same course as the pros will ride in Stage 8 of the Tour of California. I had an interesting lesson in diversity and perseverance during packet pickup. Our standard message to participants is for them to put our ProChips on their left ankle. This gentleman, who was standing next to me as I gave him our instructions, asks me “What if I don’t have a left ankle?” I thought to myself “What a joker” and looked down. He had a prosthetic leg! I have worked with wheelchair athletes in the past, and know how to help then get their ProChip placed correctly, but this was a first. We discussed placement of the chip, and it worked out for him. The cool thing about it is he completed the medium ride, 67 miles with two grueling hill climbs. I was pretty impressed… I know, I scoff at all those talking heads who broadcast from big sporting events and dig up all the stuggles the athletes have gone through to get where they are. But when you see it in real life, it’s different. Way to go!
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