New Dispatch: NBA Star Charles Barkley Thanks Road2Recovery Cyclists, Peddles Part of Ride

Here is Karey Harris' report on Tuesday's ride featured on Patch on Aug. 25. Her was posted on Sept. 10. The next on.

The trip began Sept. 11 in New York and will continue through historic Pennsylvania via Philadelphia, Lancaster, Gettysburg, and Bedford, to the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, PA. The tour will end on Sept. 18 at the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, DC. Harris is cycling with 300 others to raise money for wounded soldiers.

"Today, I almost ran over Charles Barkley. Yes, the NBA player. Keep reading.

Charles Barkley came to wish us all well and thank us for raising money for such a great cause. He rode a bicycle with us to Valley Forge, which was about 10 miles from our start point- The "Rocky" stairs!  To anyone who rides a bicycle in large groups, it's well known that the phrase "it's just like riding a bike" is WRONG! 

Mr. Barkley figured that out quickly today, and I give him a lot of credit for hanging with us.  The group generally stays 2-by-2 and is easy to stick with.  Until we get to hills or turns. Everyone slows down and it tends to bunch up-- you find yourself going 5mph, uphill, with 10 riders around you, and you are trying to not touch anyone else.  It can be nerve-wracking if you haven't done it before. It can be nerve-wracking if you HAVE done it before! 

He took a spill going up a hill during a turn, and I was two bikes back from him. 

At this point, everyone wants to stop because... Charles Barkley fell! This dude got right back up, and was trying to get back on the bike so quickly that he kept fumbling with it.  As we passed (because we're on a hill... stopping is bad), we told him to calm down, and relax. He struggled, and was obviously impressed with our skill/knowledge (I have skill and knowledge??), but we were all impressed at what a trooper he is! Nice job, Charles Barkley. 

You're welcome back anytime.

Aside from that very exciting morning, today was long and hard.  It was our second longest day of the ride, with 77 more miles under our belts.  (The total is now up to 190 miles.)  Long story short, lunch was very late, we spread out according to speed and ability, and I was very tired by lunch. 

The last 20 miles or so of my ride, I owe to a retired USAF man by the name of Eric.  He let me draft off of him with no complaints and only a few breaks.  I told him to go hang with the group ahead of us so he could catch a break, and he said no, that he doesn't leave anyone behind for any reason.  Now... I'm in what I assume to be the middle of a group of 300 people.

Surely, there are people behind me who will pass me, or that I could tag along with for a while.  That said... I am SO thankful he stayed with me today.  I was struggling; although I feel a little guilty, it's great to be on the receiving end of help when I need it. I'm noThanks, Eric!"

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Ride2Recovery creates custom bicycles for wounded soldiers. Ninety cents from every dollar raised will go to building specially-equipped bicycles for the wounded soldiers to ride in the Road2Recovery event.

To make a donation, visit http://www.ride2recovery.com/sponsor-a-rider.html, type "Karey Harris" on the left hand side where you are asked to choose a rider to sponsor.