At the finish in Daytona Beach, Florida, from left are Josh Crisp, co-founder of Pedal for Alzheimer’s, Mark Bottom, Kalen Wallin and Michelle Marciniak, co-founder. (Courtesy photo)
On their longest ride day, the Pedal for Alz team pauses at a stop light on their way to Jacksonville, Florida. Mark Bottom is pictured second from right. (Courtesy photo)
Mark Bottom exceeds mileage goal during Pedal for Alzheimer’s ride
Mark Bottom left Oct. 11 to join the Pedal for Alzheimer’s cycling team in Columbia, South Carolina. From there, they traveled on to Charleston.
The 550 miles Bottom planned to ride was half of the total trip because of work commitments.
Bottom said he experienced less anxiety this year, riding fewer miles than last year when he rode the full 1,098 miles.
Because of Hurricane Michael, the cycling team lost a day of riding approaching Columbia, said Bottom.
When he joined them, the team made up 50 miles on wind trainers before setting out for Charleston.
“They still had many miles to make up and a goal to reach their final destination in Daytona Beach, Florida on Oct. 17, so the lost time had to be recovered,” he said.
They rode hard and fast for three days covering 405 miles to make up for time lost.
Bottom’s ride included the extra miles the team needed to make up, increasing the 550 miles he had planned for to 741 miles.
“It turned out to be harder than last year because I was a little less prepared, adding extra miles and the group members were very brisk, strong riders,” Bottom said.
The cyclists on the team were unique in their different professional walks of life coming together for a common cause, he added.
“I won’t forget those people,” he said. “Bonds were formed quickly.”
CCS senior forms
bond with team
Bottom met up with Kalen Wallin, a Chase County Schools (CCS) senior, in Charleston.
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