My Buttless Chap


Tim is out! 





His old rebuild bike, the one he purchased at a used bike shop to put on the back of our van -  the okay to steal one for when we are on the road is disintegrating. Butt the real stopper is just that....his rear end is skin to bone. He bought a new Brooks leather saddle for this race that is too new making it way too hard.  Uphill is ok, and down hill and single track is ok, but the flats are deadly because you need to sit. He never really doubted his endurance and everything that comes with it and he enjoyed every minute of it. 


I asked if he'd do it again and I didn't get a no. He said the best part for him was the changing scenery, every corner drawing him onward with one more mountain and another valley. I could tell how much fun he was having until today. I heard pain, but still with laughter on how crazy challenging this race is. It goes against all the philosophies of mountaineering. The methodical way of approaching your goal finding routes that provide the best passage. The Tour Divide is completely opposite, the race route is designed to lead riders through the hardest possible terrain up and down through the continental divide, without any tolerance for deviation all while doing it the fastest and lightest they can.  


I’m so proud of him for even wanting to give it a shot. After all he turns 62 in two weeks. I do believe he was the senior out there. He did over 1000klm in 5 days. 

 

I’m on my way to Helena, Montana right now to bring his sorry "---" home. It’s not the first time I’ve rescued him, and I’m sure it’s not the last. 


Dave continues to carry the torch- dot to Mexico for himself and to raise money for Parkinson’s.  The duo were inching ahead of the racers and now Dave is able to put it full gear. It's going to get pretty exciting.

He doesn't know this yet, but when he's back on Quadra Island Tim is going let him know that now it's his turn drag him up Everest. 


Tune in following Dave's dot and cheering him on and keep the donations rolling. It’s pretty exciting to follow. If you want to see where in the race everyone is go to tracker.com and click on Tour Divide 2023.  Warning- it’s pretty addictive. 


Keep checking in on this blog. It's not over till it's over. Over will be when a cure for Parkinson's disease has been found. 



Follow Dave

http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide23i.php?name=Dave_Rutledge



Please donate and pass it on.  

https://donate.parkinson.ca/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=2781&px=1288130



@beckyrippel for Instagram  and @timrippel for Facebook 











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