Tour de Fresh 2015 Day Two - The Uphill Battle
BETWEEN HICKORY, NC & ATLANTA, GA - It was an uphill battle for those that signed up to ride for salad bars in schools on day two of the Tour de Fresh.
Literally.
To give some scale to the trials this group is meeting, the hardest hill of the day that the crew observed was a 16 to 18 percent incline, after already having put their muscles to the test on day one.
Joined by industry members like iTrade Network's Ray Connelly, Church Brothers' Jeff Church, Lipman's Jen Kailich and so many others who range from riding only flat roads, to only riding leisurely, to having just picked up a bike last summer, it's humbling to be on the road for such a cause.
On day two, riders took off from beautiful Ashville, NC, in 42-degree weather, 90 percent humidity. While pedaling through the Smokey Mountains may be beautiful, riding through the thick humidity must have been grueling.
I have seen the group’s path be interrupted with construction and rockslides in an area with no bike lanes and narrow roads. One rider even experienced a scary near miss when she felt a vehicle graze her thigh as she road with the team.
Yet through all of that, I have handed water out to riders that crack jokes to me and comment on the beautiful countryside.
"It's about getting on your bike and just riding," John Castro, Duda's Director of Category Management and Research, tells me when I ask him what anyone who may be intimidated should know about the experience. "Don't be intimidated by the mileage or the elevation. In the end, you're with a great group that are all here for the same purpose, with amazing support."
And it's true that while it might be intimidating, the support is endless. Vans take up different parts of the line to ensure each rider has what they need, and mechanical support won't even let the tape on your handlebars go unraveled, all to make this an experience that all industry members can enjoy as they push to put produce in front of every student.
The ride hasn't been without its price, but a lively group is still headed into day three with the motivation of reaching the goal of salad bars in school.
As of October 21st, these riders have raised $139,923 to put salad bars in schools, with two days to go. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more for the road as we follow this powerful produce initiative.
