The Captain Takes the Final Leg of the Journey

My journey started in 2015 on my first bike ride. In 2016 I became a Shasta Wheelmen. In 2,019 my first May Challenge I placed 2nd place on Strava and 1st place nationally with 4003 miles. In 2020 I took 1st place in nation with 2,859 miles, In 2021 I placed 1st in Strava and 1st place nationally with 4,559.5 miles.

I’m going to start at the end of 2021 Challenge with my first 1st place Strava win and my 3rd national title. I had invited members of my family to visit me down on the course in Anderson throughout the Challenge. I thought it would give me strength and deep inside. I wanted my boys to have a picture of their father on top of the world and succeeding. All through May, day after day nobody that I invited within my family showed up. I was devastated emotionally. Day 28 is when I realized my family for whatever reason was not going to show. I had a good cry, wiped my tears and finished the challenge. This fueled a lot of what-ifs in my head and in the months ahead they became stronger. I was at an all-time low about the situation with my family for not being there when I had asked them and they all agreed to come. My Club and Strava were giving me the encouragement and support that I needed and not from those closest to me.

Somewhere around August of 2021 at a Wheelmen meeting I realized that I wanted to give back and get involved deeper with the Club. We were at a place where our lead rider stopped riding and we as a club were figuring that out. One meeting Patty Shackleton addressed the club and introduced the Ride Captain position and a motion was made to adopt this position. We voted and it passed. Then it seemed like the room turned and looked at me. I was offered the position and I quickly accepted. Looking back that changed everything for me. Now I’m the Shasta Wheelmen’s Ride Captain. Over the next few months I tried to figure it out and little by little I did. Safety was the first thing I wanted to work on. I work and train extremely hard so this would be no different. In trying to figure the best way to manage the moving line, I was riding extremely hard and soon felt I was in the best shape and stronger than I had ever been. Soon I had a ride Calendar and that was a learning process but soon adapted, and I was doing my best to be there for everybody. I was building many relationships and was soon throwing around the Family word because that is what the atmosphere was within the group. Moving on about 3 months before the 2022 Challenge, I decided to make one last effort to what I wanted. Love to Ride switched the parameters of the Challenge and I thought that sucks at first. But then I started to see some excitement with the Club as we formed 3 teams of 10 people per team.

Now it’s May and my goal was 5,000 miles or nothing; that is how confident I was. I must do 161.2 miles every day to complete the task. It was 440 miles more than the prior year. This Ride Captain guy was not the same person that rode in prior years.

May 1 Ride Captain was not going to be denied. This year started with a different atmosphere than years past! My Club made their presence known to me from day one. Day one Keith Elzner and I rode out to start. There were 12 riders that first day to support Keith and I. Keith opened with 130 miles and I was getting all the encouragement and support that I so longed for. Also, my son Zachary came out to see me. It was a very emotional day and it was that day I said to myself, “Yes, I can and Yes, I will”. With 27 miles into the ride it started to rain not too hard and lasted 2 hours. The storm brought in high winds 16 to 17 mph with 20 mph gusts for the second day in a row. Saddle sores started that first day and they burned like sin. I finished the day in great spirits.

May 2 3 am sitting in the car I said “it has started, I’m tired and legs have started to get sore”. I just shook my head and said just go to work Gary.

May 3 I was riding around thinking about things, thinking of all the good things I’ve done for people like Madelyn and Brenna, making sure they get a good start. This morning I texted Lisa Creps and said I sure could use a hug as things are tough. She sent me a text encouraging me with a few bear cartoon hugs. Everything is going to be ok. That day Keith and I returned to our cars, and there were paper messages from the club with signatures. We were touched. I reached my mileage for the day easily after that.

May 4 This was a bad morning, feeling sick and folded like a lawn chair. I went back to bed. A text of encouragement came from Lisa and woke me. I felt guilty, grabbed my stuff, and went to work. I started at 6am so I would need to ride until 8:00 pm to finish. Lisa had snapped me out of what I was going through. Saddle sores were burning all day. A hot 93 degrees today. My wife was bringing me dinner at 4 pm and I was really excited about that. It ended up being a good day.

May 5 I changed the starting time to 6 am and I’m pushing hard. Keith started slowing and we split, riding alone doing our own thing. My palms bruised and hurting but was wearing my Shasta Wheelmen armor and had a wonderful day. I got snickers and an encouragement on my car with messages making me emotional. As I was standing at the car crying I noticed Nancy Cook and she got out of her car and gave me the biggest and longest hug. Nancy is the best riding partner you could ask for! I finish with an extraordinarily strong the day. Rides are beginning to feel like a regular workout.

May 6 Today started with me dancing by the car. Today I dedicated the ride to all the people out there watching me. I’m extremely focused on this dream and can’t believe what I’m doing. Scott Edwards and Lynn Holmquist came out to ride with me today. I pulled us out to Palo Cedro and was feeling great. I loved having our club riders come out to help me. 102 miles into today the wind came out of nowhere stopping me hard with even a little rain. Had to go back to the car and get my Shasta Wheelmen armor (my jacket). Had something in my eye and I stopped to ask a neighbor for help. He took a Q-tip out and got it. That’s the power of community.

May 7 It is the last day of hell week. Yes I can, and yes I will. Today I realized that I am truly blessed to have the Shasta Wheelmen organization behind me. I was asked, “Do you have an S on your chest?” and I said “yes I do, it stands for Shasta Wheelmen”.

May 8 It started at a very cold 36 degrees. Went around the block and had to retreat to the car to get multiple jackets on. As I passed a downs syndrome girl and her parents I said hello and rode past. Something made me go back and I asked parents, “she doesn’t smile much does she?” I turned and talked in my Donald duck voice to her and she made a loud sound and smiled. The parents started to cry saying they have never heard there girl make that noise. Next a dog attacked me, a first in all the years I’ve ridden here.

May 9 Today Patty came out and brought Keith and I food and a few hugs. After all the training I’ve done riding in the winter storms and rain has come to fruition. I’m now amazingly comfortable riding in the rain.

May 10 I started at 29 degrees in 3 jackets. My legs were burning from the severe cold and only rode 2 miles before going back to the car to warm up. I got another candy bar today as my body is totally craving sugar. Late afternoon it started to hail but passed over quickly. I did a lot of thinking and I figured out the direction I wish to proceed with the Captain’s Calendar.

May 11 It was a great day and my spirits were high. I rode through severe weather warnings in morning.

May 12 Today was life changing. I dropped all the emotional baggage I’ve been carrying since I could remember and just decided to let it go. I felt like my soul was cleansed. Jim Bush, Ann Wright, and Lisa Creps came out to ride with us. Lisa rode with me and I was in run mode, so sorry Lisa lol. Then later that day Nancy and Madelyn came out and put me in the middle while escorting me to Palo Cedro and back. Was a wonderful time with the girls. I’d been riding with Nancy for some time and then the last 4 months with Madelyn. To watch their mother daughter bond was something special. The last lap of this evening I rode through my favorite neighborhood. A home I say hello to was having a party. As I rode by I thought nothing of it, but as I came back through, they were out on the street in two lines cheering me on.

May 14 Penny (my bike) was in the shop for tune up so I rode Rose. I have a lead ride today to Coleman Fishery with Jim, Nancy, Madelyn, Ann Marie, and Brenna and was a great ride. It helped me forget about the challenge for a bit.

May 15 Paul Peterson came out after work and pulled me twice to Palo Cedro.

May 16 My granddaughter Faye James Nelson was born. Also, Scott Edwards came out to visit and set up a ride with me.

May 17 I picked up Penny and all was good. Nancy and Madelyn tagged my car again. Dave Vandermeer came out and pulled me out to Palo Cedro and back (18.9 mph avg). He is a bull, so very strong.

May 18 I did my fastest 100 today 6:06. Nancy and Maddy came out after work to help me. Hands were hurting and Nancy massaged them. She is so thoughtful.

May 19 Scott came out to pull me to Palo Cedro and back twice.

May 20 I fought tough wind all day. An older woman stopped me in the park and gave me a flag saying she watches me every day.

May 21 I had lead ride today. Eric, Lynn, Ann Marie Dave, and Christy rode with me. Dave, knowing that I was tired, went back to ride with Christy who had fallen off so that I could stay in line. That is teamwork.

May 22 Paul came back out to ride 2 more trips to Palo Cedro after work. I was really impressed with Paul’s lead riding safety skills.

May 23 It was a hot day so I started early. Had a bad tire and changed it out for new rubber. Benny Adams came out to visit. He is the best role model a young man could have along with Jim Bush.

May 24 I started at 2 am due to the projected heat. When I came to this club, I had a lot of holes in my life. This whole riding experience has changed me. All through my life I have had bad friends and bad role models. For the first time I’m surrounded with great friends and great role models. Back at the car I found chalk writing. You guys are good!

May 30 This was a very big day for me. Nancy and Maddy pulled me out to Palo Cedro and back and when we returned to the car my oldest son, his wife Kelsey, and grandsons were there after 3 years. They came to fulfill my dream. The girls got to meet them. It was very emotional for me. After that I got to ride with Tyler Compton, lead rider for TNT. What a rider (18.7 mph)! I slowed us down or we would have broken 19 mph avg.

May 31 The last day of the competition! At 7am I rode with Jon Roberts, a great guy as are all our riders. Jon pulled me out against the toughest wind, yet he pulled his guts out for me (18.6 mph). At 8:30 am Dave came back out and pulled me again but I did not have any legs left (18.6 mph). When he saw that I was spent and could not focus Dave told me to just follow me, I’ll get us there and back. Total team player as are all those who pulled me out to Palo Cedro. After that I realized that this all would soon come to an end so the rest of that day I rode and reflected. I was so very tired but 5:30 pm came and I met Keith at the car to get ready for the Shasta Wheelmen’s first Bike Month Challenge Potluck Party at Anderson River Park. At the car Keith and I shook hands and shared a hug. We had just finished an amazing journey together. I was so proud of the way Keith just hung in there and gutted the bad days out. We rode to the park and saw all our Brothers and Sisters. The sight for me was the icing on top of the dream I had for years. We were greeted with claps, hugs, kisses, and Ian Canner, thank you, handed me a beer and I just downed it. I felt better quickly from the alcohol lol. The reception we received was overwhelming for me, a culmination of 4 long seasons with the rainbow at the end. It was everything I could have ever hoped for! I LOVE MY SHASTA WHEELMEN! Thank you so much for all you have done for Keith and I.

This year’s dreams came true for me in more than one way. My club rallied behind me, I inspired people to ride further, I achieved my life long goal of 5000 miles. But in the end this ride was not about the miles. It was all about healing Gary from the inside filling all the holes that life had left. I feel whole again, surrounded by a great bunch of friends and great role models here with the Shasta Wheelmen. In closing, when I die, if I am smiling it will be because I was thinking of this May and Friends/Family here at the Shasta Wheelmen.

Yours Truly,
Ride Captain Gary Nelson