A couple in his wife’s class was bringing an out-of-town friend to the bike ride. “He rides your class,” they told him. “It would be great if you two can ride together, since he will not know anyone.” As it turned out, they did not connect.
Nothing could have prepared him for the events of that Century bike ride. Just seven miles into the ride, the rider in front of him crashed hard, tumbling head-over-heels several times before landing against a fence.
A handful of shocked riders (including an ER nurse) were the only ones at the site of the crash. They administered CPR while waiting for the EMTs to arrive. The gravely injured man had to be airlifted out, and later was pronounced dead. He was 62, and had just retired.
All but one other of those who had been at the scene opted to give up on the ride. They were just too shook up to go on.
“My wife is riding the short route, but she will be working SAG (support and gear) until 3:00. We came in one car. I would just have to sit and wait for her. I may as well ride,” he said.
“I came with friends who are doing the same thing. I may as well ride, too,” the other man added.
Introducing themselves, they discovered they were the two who had been intended to meet and ride together….
As the nurse picked up her bike to load it onto the SAG vehicle, one single, beautiful, flower was perfectly poised in the spokes of her wheel.