Introduction & Thanks

Hello sports fans. This is Tres Smith an avid recreational cyclist from by God, Ruskin, Florida and I am getting ready to assault Bubba’s Pampered Peddlers Coast to Coast ride, C2C, from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida from March 5 to April 25, 2016. PeaceI have trained extensively over the last six months and that round middle that everyone sees in that picture to the right has melted off and I have lost approximately 30 pounds since my decision to attempt this life long dream. It must be interjected early that there was no fast fix or miracle cure. It was a dedicated daily effort to manage a healthy diet and an extensive training program of riding and resting to ensure balance and recovery.

In my day job, I am a registered nurse with a certification in rehabilitation nursing and had spent 20 years in the clinical setting at the local rehabilitation center and now have worked almost 9 years as a catastrophic nurse case manager. The bicycle, among other activities: officiating wheelchair rugby, coaching wheelchair softball, sprint triathlons, kayaking, backpacking, hiking, snorkeling in exotic places and traveling, has been the sanity machine that allows me to keep on, keeping on. I had previously toured with the Alaska AIDS vaccine ride from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Make a Wish triple centuries weekend in Michigan and 8 Bike Florida rides.

Thanks

There are so many people to thank who have supported me in following my dream. The first and foremost appreciation of thanks naturally goes to my lovely wife, Mariella Smith, without her none of this would be even possible. She will be joining me along the way in west Texas and the Florida panhandle. I am so very grateful for her support along the route and in our home for over 29 years. My employer, Ms. Betty Reid of Rehabilitation Advisors, for even allowing me the time off to pursue this vision quest. I have a wonderful boss who understood me well enough to know how important this was to me. All my local friends and family for their ever constant unconditional support in this and any other endeavor that I seem to take on no matter how crazy it may seem to them. There had been some discussion amongst some of my closest friends, including the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, about a concerning lack of sanity in the past about some of my ideas. You KNOW who you are. I do believe they will change their minds after this journey.

There are a few quick shout outs that need to addressed. The community of friends, athletes and referees in the sport of wheelchair rugby, particularly the USQRA and USQRRA, that always have seemed to support me in anything I do. You are simply the best. The Tampa Bay Wheelchair Rays softball team for just being themselves and allowing me to hang out along the way. Must be Nationals! All my local hand-cranking road buddies, too.

The beautiful bike that Carl Strong hand built for me and that I have enjoyed for the last three years or so. There is a post on the blog about the build. The bike is custom and fits me like a glove. I have never enjoyed riding as much as I am now.

A shout out to St. Pete Bicycle and Fitness for getting my bike ready particularly, expert mechanic Ted Lee and also local fit guru at St. Pete Bicycle, Paul Williams for dialing me in. Thanks everybody.

The second-to-last shout out goes to my local bike club, Sarasota-Manatee bicycle club, SMBC. I moved to Ruskin 17 years ago and I had been involved off and on with this club and other clubs for that period of time. Last fall, I recently reestablished my presence and attendance at club rides and training and it has been the best involvement I could have ever wanted to prepare me for this trip. There are so many skilled and fit cyclists to train with and emulate, like Mike and Claire. I have done over 3,000 miles in training and easily half those mile were done with Jim Wheeler’s 14-16 mph group. I have met great people, some who had toured extensively and I could pick their brains for info. The club also had classes that I could attend about teaching bicycle safety and performing it. I leave my local club with fabulous training and a head full of safety. I heartily recommend to anyone to get involved in your local bike clubs for advocacy, training and support. Thanks SMBC.

The last shout out goes to Mr. Bob Ranta. Mr. Ranta is an elite age-specific marathoner and iron man triathlete. I met Bob when I first moved to Ruskin. Bob is the steadiest and smoothest bike athlete that I had ever ridden with, except for maybe Mike. Two birds of a feather. He is always optimistic, hopeful, positive and above all encouraging. He got my wife to do a sprint triathlon at Madiera Beach, Florida. No small feat. His mantra is “let’s start out slow and back it down from there.” Thanks, Bob.

12 thoughts on “Introduction & Thanks

  1. So, so cool that you’re doing this!!! I wish you good weather and the wind at your back. Enjoy the journey! xxxooo

  2. Tres
    Be safe may the wind be at your back, and the beauty of the world be around you the whole ride.
    Awesome Just awesome

  3. Tres-
    Have the best trip ever…and come back home safe and sound, ready to plan the next best trip ever.
    Love,
    Leslie

  4. Hey Tres,

    Really happy to see that you’re living your dream and biking across America! Enjoy every mile and take the time now to stop and explore the things that capture your interest.

    Safe travels and good weather my friend! Looking forward to following your adventures online… ?

  5. Best of weather to you as you ride .
    Let the joy of your ride bring you many good sights and many memory’s to remember as you peddle you way home.
    Happy ridding your friend and hair cutter
    Eat some good food for me !
    Joe in Ruskin Fl

  6. I finally got to my Paradigm stuff and fortunately found your send-off note to me. I miss you and so many of my virtual friends, but especially my kindred spirits in becoming good Earth Citizens. Please keep in touch and keep the beautiful words and pictures of your journey posted. Love to the Commish! You are both very blessed. Au revoir mon ami, Ann Marie Land (pandemic language acquisition project!)

  7. Hello there – this is a long shot – but I just *had* to reach out. Funny story, my name is also Tres Smith! I am a 20 year old college student here in Arizona. I had to do an assignment for my college class where I had to google my own name and write about the results, and it led me to your blog. What is even crazier, is that I live in Glendale/Phoenix area of Arizona, so what a coincidence that I just so happened to find out about another person with my name while you just so happen to be incredibly close for a brief moment! I have long talked about how I have never met another person named Tres, so to find that you share my last name as well is absolutely crazy. I was wondering how long you will be in Arizona for? If you have the free time, I would love to meet up as a bucket list check-off for a photo! I apologize if this is strange or too forward, I just felt that I *had* to at least reach out, such a rare coincidence.

    Let me know if you would be interested. Safe travels and best of luck on your journey! Sincerely, also Tres Smith.

  8. Tres,
    I’ve been researching my Smith family and believe we are 2nd cousins. I always knew about your grandfather from Murfreesboro but didn’t have any idea about his family. Our grandfathers were brothers. Would like to hear from you. Thanks so much!

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