Two Things

Nick at a recent ride support gig.

 Two things: The "Heroes" You Otherwise Won't Hear About.

Today's "Two Things" focuses on two cycling stories with some folks who you will never hear about anywhere else. But their stories deserve to be told, in my opinion, so here we go...

Nick Arendt: 

The Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective has a board made up of around seven or eight folks. One of these memebers is Nick Arendt. Nick was the volunteer for the most recent Bike Valet service the Collective provides at downtown Waterloo, Iowa events like "Fridayloo", which features a live band on the riverfront stage.

RAGBRAI is going on right now, and people come from all over the world to participate in this, the largest recreational bike ride in the world. The ride started this year in the Northwestern corner of the state of Iowa. Since Waterloo is on HWY 20, the fastest, most Northern route across Iowa, it would stand to reason that we may have a few travelers coming through the city on their way to RAGBRAI's start.

On Saturday we had a big complex of thunderstorms move through the area and everything was soaking wet. I was at the Collective by 7:30am to get the day rolling as we are open from 8:00am - noon on Saturdays. Not long after the doors opened in came Nick to bring back the Bike Valet supplies and gear we use for this service. But he had a wheel in his hands. And this was no ordinary wheel!

Image courtesy of Hunt Wheels

This was a carbon fiber rim with a nice 30mm road tire on it. A disc rim with a through axle, so whatever it went on must have been a fairly nice road bike. We surmised this wheel, which Nick found in the motel parking lot behind the shop, was probably left behind when a person was loading their bike onto a rack which required front wheel removal and then inadvertently left it behind.

We also guessed this was likely a RAGBRAI rider heading out to the start who had stayed the evening in Waterloo on their travels. So, I suggested to Nick he go to the two neighboring motels and put in a word at their front desks about him finding this wheel.

Nick left and not three minutes later a frenzied young man entered into the Collective asking breathlessly if anyone had brought in a wheel. I immediately connected this young man with the wheel Nick had in his possession, so I texted Nick. Nick was quick to return and the young man was overjoyed.

Claiming we had "saved his RAGBRAI, he exited and that was that. But this could have gone very wrong for that young man had Nick not shown up on the scene when he did, and not some other person who may have just figured it was a "bicycle wheel" and taken it as a prize they had found. Nick, you are a good man!

Charlie Farrow (Image from social media)

Charlie Farrow - An Upper-Mid-West Hero.

Not long ago here on these digital pages I wished Charlie Farrow a safe and successful ride on his Tour Divide attempt. Well, now news comes to me that on the 19th of July, Charlie finished his ride in Antelope Wells, New Mexico in 37 days and some change. 

I've lauded Charlie on his legendary status in Trans Iowa  before. However, what many may not know is Charlie has accomplished so much in his endurance cycling pursuits. Tour Divide is just another feather in Charlies very feathered helmet.

Trans Iowa saw some very outstanding performances from Charlie, but these are but a pittance in his palmares.  Charlie has attempted and finished the Iditarod in Alaska, the Arrowhead 135 winter ultra, the Almanzo 100, other gravel events, several 24hr MTB events, and probably more stuff I don't know about.

Those who know Charlie hold him in high regard. He is humble, erudite, and quick with a good word. It is hard not to like Charlie if you meet him. So, when you add his excellent character with his amazing cycling accomplishments, it is an example of one rare human being. I know I will always think of Charlie as a "hero" of cycling, especially in terms of the long-distance, ultra-cycling events held off-pavement.

Congratulations Charlie on your latest long-distance triumph!