Here's the story of why I'm riding across america

Hello, I’m Dave Nowlan. I cycled from Encinitas, Calif., to Cape Cod, Mass. from April 22 through May 28, 2012 in an effort to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and to help fund research for a cure. My wife, Claire, and daughter, Julia, both have MS. I broke my back in a sledding accident almost three years ago; I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have recovered without being paralyzed and was able to ride this long cross continent adventure. Click on this link to “my story” for more information and why I continue riding. Here is a link to Information about MS

Friday, May 11, 2012

Day 20 - St. Roberts MO

Thanks to all who have been commenting and sending your encouragement.  It brings great positive energy to my ride.  I'm feeling really well from a health perspective and my body has been holding together thanks to good physical therapy on my knee and good advice from Cape Cod Rehab.  I'm icing my knees at the end of each day's ride as a precaution.

What can I say?  Every day brings its own special adventure.  We headed out of Springfield, MO with spirits high, following Rt 66 for yet another day.  Navigation was working for us today without any detours or wrong turns.   I did experience two flat tires this morning.  After the first flat, I decided to install the tire liner, we picked up in Joplin, MO, designed to prevent flats. Within 2 minutes the same tire went flat again. I was thinking the flat preventer caused the flat, how ironic.  I replaced the tube again and this time it held fine, so I suppose I had a bad tube...

I did lots of hill climbing today and everything went well until late this afternoon while climbing a hill something made a big bang noise and a piece of metal went bouncing across the road.  Then my rear tire began rubbing against the bike frame (seat stay).  I pulled over and immediately identified the problem. One of my rear wheel's spokes broke rendering the bike un-rideable.  So I called Claire, my SAG vehicle driver and she came to the rescue.  We were planning to stay in St. Roberts MO, the next town, and we were very lucky to find a bike shop. 

James Wilson, the owner of Epic Adventures Outpost was at the shop and willing to help. My wheels are unique because they have only 14 spokes, which stresses the spokes more than a wheel with a higher spoke count.  James found a spoke that would fit my wheel and he replaced the broken one and trued both wheels.  James also sponsors a MS 150 cycle ride in Springfield MO in September very year.  Graciously, James provided his services at no charge as sponsor to my ride and cause.

After the repair James, Claire and I had dinner together.  We discussed James' business, and everything cycling.  James was an angel keeping us moving forward on our journey.  We could have never done this trip without the help and assistance from people like James.  Thank you!!







James Wilson - Epic Adventures Outpost

You'll See Anything on Route 66

2 comments:

  1. Love following your adventures. You're meeting such interesting people and it's so great how many stories are interconnected.

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  2. Wow Dave I think your breaking a record on tires and tubes - sounds like Route 66 loves to chew on tires - Glad you and Claire are running into great local bike shops to support your cause! It's a beautiful day on the Cape and we're all cheering you on - Doing great, how many miles do you have in...? ~V

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