Tom Weber
This is Tom Weber. If there was a Fuller Center Biking Hall of Fame, it would be named after Tom. He’s a legend who rode across country 9 times, 5 on a regular bike and 4 on an ebike. He did his first ride when he was 69 years old. In addition, he epitomizes the values of the Fuller Center. He is kind, empathetic and humble. There is nothing he won’t do for a friend….or a stranger, who needs help.
I met him when he picked me up at the airport on my first ride in 2016. I was a nervous wreck, terrified and extremely doubtful that an out-of-shape 63 year old would be able to pull off this mad adventure on which I was embarking. He immediately put me at ease.
Now, this doesn’t mean Tom is perfect. He does have a mean streak. I developed saddle sores on the second day of the ride, which forced me to ride with one cheek on and one cheek off the saddle for two weeks. He teased me mercilessly about my “riding form” for the whole ride and for many years after.
He made a surprise visit to our camp in Moab and rode with us on our first day’s ride to Green River. He’s 81 now. It was so good to see him
The Wind!!
The ride from Green River to Price was brutal. The entire route was a 60 miles on a single two-lane highway through the desert. The beautiful red rocks of Moab were gone and the scenery was pretty dull, just dry, brown scrub vegetation and rock formations with no real color. Like this. The sky’s not too bad.
But most of all was the wind. Oh, the wind! Right into our faces. If you stopped pedaling, you would go backwards. Average riding speed about 5 miles an hour. As one rider said, “It’s soul crushing.” Sadly, another rider was blown sideways into another biker and crashed. He’s in the hospital as I write. He had to have hip replacement surgery last night. We’re anxiously awaiting news on how it went. It took 3 and a half hours to get to the first rest stop. At which point, most (but not all) riders of my generation hopped the van for the rest of the way into Price.
Luxury
The accommodations in Price are magnificent. We’re in some kind of Christian charter school called Pinnacle Canyon Academy. They’ve given us the run of the place. Plenty of space, in-house showers and even laundry facilities, which is huge for me, since I’m on the laundry chore team. Usually, that means dragging everybody dirty clothes to some dingy local laundramat and spending an entire evening watching the spin cycle. Here, we don’t have to leave the site and just go get the clothes when they’re done.
Also, the host community hosted us for spaghetti dinner at a local park with a live band.
Here’s were I’m sleeping. By the standards of Fuller Center accommodations, I’d give it a 5. The flag is a bonus.
Today, is a build day and I believe I’ll be rebuilding a porch for a man who recently had his legs amputated.
I'm not perfect? Are you sure? Thanks Bill, you are a sweetheart, and a delight to ride with.