By Michael C. Hernandez
On an unseasonably warm weekday afternoon in February, our town seemed to spring to life. I recall driving down the road, windows down, soaking in the sun and joy surrounding me at every turn. Neighbors were catching up with one another on porches; runners, walkers and cyclists were out in force sporting shorts and T-shirts; and children ran barefoot on grass with giggles and laughter chasing them. It was a glorious day. A day that revealed the first sign of a new season ahead and a community filled with renewed spirit.
As founder of The Good Ride, a cycling event whose sole mission is to raise funds for cancer survivorship programs by bringing people together for fun and fellowship, that day in February got me thinking about the sport of cycling and how it seems to have weaved itself into the fabric of our community. No matter what the season, you’d be hard-pressed to drive anywhere in Charlotte and surrounding areas and not spot cyclists. They seem to be everywhere. Why the surge in interest?
Cycling doesn’t discriminate against race, religion or gender. It doesn’t matter what you wear or what kind of bike you ride, you will always have a place to belong in the cycling community. It’s a sport that’s open to everyone whether you are short, tall, skinny or thick around the middle. You can choose to wear Spandex or gym shorts or one of those fancy, tight-fitting cycling kits with logos all over it. It doesn’t matter, you’ll fit in.
While technology in all of its efficiency efforts seems to only increase the pace and confusion of our everyday lives, cycling has a tendency to slow it down. Sure, there are cycling computers to gauge your speed and distance, and lighter frames to make you go faster, but the modern bike has remained basically the same for almost 150 years.
In a world of changing times in which we crave the familiar, the modern bike gives that to you in spades. It brings you closer to people and facilitates conversations in real life. No exchanging texts, tweets or Facebook posts. The word “social” suddenly takes on a new meaning, one that takes us back to basics.
One of the best things about riding a bike is that most of us already know how to do it. It wasn’t too long ago that riding a bike was a habit. We pedaled to our neighbor’s house, dropped the bike in the yard or the front drive and ran to play. It’s a pastime that is almost a rite of passage in childhood. You really can’t say that about too many sports.
The Good Ride (formerly the Char-Heel Classic and Second Best Charity Ride, according to Endurance Magazine) took place May 10 and was a tremendous success. We doubled participant registration from 210 to 497 and increased event revenue nearly 400 percent between 2013 and 2014. We’re looking to capitalize on our success and will now be producing The Good Run this November with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Center and The Good Fund in Charlotte.
From our early success we think our events will be two of the most highly anticipated local running and cycling events of the year, and with Novant Health at the heart of it all, we are excited to provide a fully integrated experience for running, walking and cycling fans.
As always – have fun, pedal hard, and give back!
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Michael C. Hernandez is a TrySports Ambassador and Founder of The Good Ride and The Good Run. He is a passionate Go-Giver interested in making a difference in the lives of others by utilizing his expertise in business, communications and new media development and execution.
