Buddy Boren, a 62-year-old Texan who was cycling Route 66 to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, was forced to stop of his trek about 1,000 miles short of his goal because of a sore knee, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Boren feared that if he kept going, he would inflict permanent damage to the knee. It was his fifth such ride for the foundation, but the first he wasn’t able to finish.
From Boren’s Tour de Route 66 Web site, the July 26 journal entry:
It is with deep regret that I have to report that this ride has come to an end. I am just outside of Amarillo 1,057 miles from where I started in Chicago on July 8.
Yesterday, my day from Shamrock to Conway was 65 miles. The wind was from the south at 25 mph. It was almost headwind and I could not ride much over 6 mph. It took me almost 9 hrs to cover the 65 miles. At one point I had Buzz Bars every 15 ft. for 20 miles. I also had my second flat at 8:45 A.M. There is nothing like changing a tube on the edge of the Interstate with the semis roaring by every 30 seconds. While I made it to my goal, the extra work caused more problems for my right knee. This morning the weather report was for more of the same, hot and windy. It was only 52 miles to Vega but it has started raining in New Mexico. The day after Vega was to be 75 miles. I was very concerned about my knee and having to start the uphill climb in New Mexico while it was raining. I had to listen to my body and it was telling me that the condition I was in may cause bigger and more permanent problems if I continued on. I hate having to stop at the halfway point, but this ride is not worth getting myself into some real trouble.
I hope I haven’t let anyone down by not completing the ride, but I think everyone will understand I tried my best. I want to thank everyone who has supported me on this ride. Nick De George is on his way from Dallas to pick me up and I should be back in Dallas late tonight. I will do a more complete final report after I have had a chance to rest up for a few days. Love you all.
Buddy.
P.S. After deciding early this morning not to continue on, I did change my mind at 8:30 A.M. and attempted to leave the motel for Vega. That’s when I discovered my rear tire was flat again. I took that as a sign that I had better stick to the original plan and listen to my body. Probably a good thing.