Superman

First Batman, now Superman.

We are different from other living creatures because at an early age we understand there is a beginning and an end, that we will all die. I am not of an age that I think about it (much) but the last week has made me face it a lot. When you lose a close friend close in age that will happen.

Scott Scudamore loved life. He was the life of the party and where there was anyone and Scott there was a party. When I heard the news on Sept. 23 that he was on life support I had a hard time accepting that. But over three months we saw, I saw, that smile. And at Kessler he told me that he was lucky because he didn't have brain damage. The entire time I believed that he would beat this in some way.

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
West Orange, NJ

We looked for signs of movement returning. We were all excited the day Scott moved his thumb. But we never saw anything more. And if he were confined to that wheelchair with no movement below his neck I knew that he would somehow make a difference in other people's life in his new condition.

He was Superman. He was the guy we kiddingly said we all aspired to be. But I never wanted to be like Scott and I doubt that anyone else did either. For Scott was unique. There was room for only one Scott.

At the start line with the kids from the
Boys and Girls Club, Sept. 15

And confession time: I never called him Scud and I never ate a Scudfry (although they may not exist in the singular - just the plural, Scudfries). He was always Scott to me.

Scott would call me at the strangest times. "Barry Sherry," accenting each syllable equally, "How the heck are you?" And I'd ask "Where in the heck are you?" Traveling between events, skiing in Colorado, visiting his daughter, Krista, in San Diego, or in the living room with Jeremiah and Erin Bishop, he was always planning our next adventure.

Scott was a legend in the mountain bike world. And I am not a mountain biker. But he made time for me. He dragged my butt to Iowa for RAGBRAI two years ago. He came with me to Altoona for a cancer recovery ride. He invited me to ride with him and the kids from the Boys and Girls Club in Charlottesville in August. And he supported every one of my many cancer-fighting charity rides.

Barry, Eli, Scott
August 29, 2013

Scott was a proud husband, father and grandfather. He worried about the health of his wife, "St. Margaret," also a cancer survivor. He was proud of his daughter, Jen and her husband, Carl, and their two kids. He always let me know what Kyle and Marie were doing. And he was proud of his daughter, Krista, making a career of serving in the U.S. Navy.

Sweating in Altoona
April 2010

Scott didn't just (re)learn to talk when he went to Kessler -- that blinking stuff was for the birds after all -- he SANG. When I saw him and asked about his voice he said it was so strong he could sing and he BELTED out LA LA LA LA LA LA LA going up then down the scales. Everyone who could look did and he was grinning from ear to ear. That was Scott.

If anyone could beat this injury, it was Scott. Yet, looking back, even the few hours I was with Scott, I saw the optimism one needs to overcome the injuries but also the frustration and disappointment. The physical therapist moved his shoulders and asked him if he could feel that. He smiled and said yes. And then realization set in as he realized that he did not feel his shoulders move. And the frustration and maybe even anger at being trapped in this body, Superman's body, that didn't work. 

Altoona ride, April 2009

It shocked me, and probably most of Scott's friends, because we saw, we believed, the ever smiling Scott would beat this. But unless you had a personal visit and saw the downs as well as the ups, you wouldn't know any better.

Then there was "the bike." Whether it was designed for Christopher Reeve (that other Superman) or he just used it at Kessler, I do not recall. But even with limbs not working Scott's rehab equipment of choice was the bike. His feet would be strapped to the pedals and a motor would move his legs. The therapist explained that with his blood pressure "all over the place" they could not risk putting him on this machine. And he was quite dejected.

I showed him the picture with me and Kyle's soccer team, all wearing their new Scud's Courage jerseys. He proudly told his physical therapists how Kyle's team got special permission from the club to wear those and "they're going to wear them next year too." Such a proud grandfather.

Kyle's team honoring "Scud's Courage"
Kyle is next to me, my hand on his shoulder

When I told Jen that story today she said "sounds like Dad made that part up."

Still, I left Kessler remembering the smile. The proud grandfather. The promise I made that I would be back to visit and that when he went home I would come stay and visit.

I forgot that during my time visiting that he had some down moments. He was someone you would remember the good times. And, in my case, ignore the signs that all was not well.

When I had arrived for my visit, Margaret and I talked and she told me that she almost asked me not to come because of Scott's ups and downs. But Scott had vetoed that idea because he wanted me to come. However, just two weeks ago she did ask me not to come because he needed his rest. 

Superman
Picture from TrailsForYouth.org

The signs were there for me to see but this was Superman. I ignored them.

This video is from the tribute Scott's
colleagues at the Lake Monticello Rescue Squad
gave him at his funeral.

 
If there was one person to beat this horrific injury it was Scott. But in the end it was too much even for him. All of a sudden you realize that we don't live forever. If death can snatch someone so energetic and vibrant, and in reality he was a cross between Superman and the Energizer Bunny, then I am left to realize that it will catch us all. It's something we don't like to think about but it is real.

A great man. A great friend. He will be sorely missed but his memory and his legend lives on.
 
Maybe Jen was right and her dad made up the part about Kyle's team wearing those jerseys next year. But as Director of Referees for his soccer club, I talked to the administrator today and told them Scott's story.

They will be wearing those uniforms in the spring.

Superman lives on.

Reflections on the Year - 2013

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA

It was a year in which I once rode 109 straight days (a "ride" being defined as one of at least 10 miles), including breaking my collarbone only 10 days into the streak. And I didn't miss a ride. For the second straight year I went over 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles). I finished with 6,350. But the year would end with incredible sadness.

In no particular order I present my Top Ten Moments of 2013


1. Meeting People on the Trail 

I met two groups of young people while riding along the W&OD. In May I met a lost group from the University of Illinois, the Illini 4,000. I rode with them to Vienna before saying goodbye. 

Riders from the Illini 4,000

In July I met a group of young Orthodox Jewish women biking from Miami to New York City with Bike 4 Friendship. When they told me they were riding to Baltimore on U.S. Rte 1 I told them I would take them on safe roads instead. I ended up giving them an impromptu tour of D.C. then taking them through the Anacostia Trail System up to Laurel, Maryland so they could avoid Rte 1.

Some of the Bike 4 Friendship Riders
in Front of the White House

Shaina Myers

2. Ride of Silence

I never participated in a Ride of Silence before and don't want to again but I organized one for a fallen cyclist, James Callahan, who was struck and killed by a 17 year old girl while he was riding on the bike path next to the road. I had never met Mr. Callahan but it seemed the right thing to do. Almost 40 riders including his family members joined us for a silent slow 13-mile ride that honored his memory.

Stopped at the accident scene where
a bagpiper played Amazing Grace

3. Trexlertown

Labor Day weekend I joined friends from Spokes of Hope at Trexlertown, Pa. to ride on the Velodrome as we honored pediatric cancer survivors. Our featured survivor was Duncan Mitcheltree. As I entered the track his mother, Andrea, called my name. We had met last year at Jake's funeral.

Barry, Duncan

4. Key to Keys

(Multiple Journal Entries)

In April I rode with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adult's inaugural Key to Keys ride, a fundraiser from Baltimore to Key West. There's nothing like the community of survivors and people who hate cancer who come together with a common cause. And when my group did not get a chance to ride across the Seven Mile Bridge, on Sunday after the ride I did my own solo century ride to and across the Seven Mile Bridge - twice.

5. Salisbury Trestle 

My dad had never ridden across the Salisbury trestle at Meyersdale so in July my sister, Betsy, and I rode with the octogenarian from Meyersdale to Rockwood.

Barry, Betsy, Dad
At the Rockwood Entrance

6. Mount Washington

I thought last year would be my last time up Mount Washington. Then I met the Gubinski family and they asked me to come back and ride with them so they would have someone to beat. And I complied. My sixth straight year on that climb.

Alexa, Barry, Vic, Lucas

7. 4K for Cancer
  
An organization that has become close to my heart is the 4K for Cancer. I rode with Team San Francisco on Day 1 from Baltimore to Alexandria; met Team Portland on the Pike to Bike abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike on Day 2; escorted them from Bedford to Ligonier on Day 3; and rode with them again in Muncie, Indiana on Day 17.

4K on Allegheny Mountain at former Ship Hotel

8. Jeremiah Bishop's Alpine Gran Fondo

Jeremiah Bishop's Alpine Gran Fondo is a beautiful ride and is sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project. As a prostate cancer survivor I was invited to ride off the front with pros, Jeremiah Bishop, Joe Dombrowski, Cameron Cogburn and Ben King.

Pros on the Start Line

 
9. Ride the Rockies

(Multiple Journal Entries)

Ride the Rockies is simply the best multi-day tour I have found. Awesome vistas with screaming descents - four times I went over 50 mph. I rode with six time Tour de France rider, Ron Kiefel, and met George Hincapie, Bob Roll, and Connie Carpenter-Phinney.

Ron Keifel, Barry Sherry

10. Save a Limb Ride

A man grabs my phone as I am looking at Jens Voigt and Ben King and says "jump in - I'll take your picture." And it was none other than Robbie Ventura. At the Save a Limb ride I met Jens, Ben, and Robbie. Too cool.

Jen Voigt, Barry, Ben King

Barry, Robbie Ventura

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In Memory of Scott

In August, my friend, Scott Scudamore, invited me to Charlottesville for a practice ride with some kids from the Boys and Girls Club. They were getting in training miles to ride a Century (100 miles) in September and he promised me we would ride up Afton Mountain which "you will really enjoy." 

When the assignments were given out Scott was very apologetic because he was asked to mentor the youngest rider on a shorter route than the other kids. He encouraged me to go ride with the other kids up Afton Mountain. I chose to ride with Scott. He didn't quite understand it was more about who you were with than where you were going. It was my last ride with Scott.

On September 22 he was mountain biking at Bryce Ski resort in Virginia when he crashed and broke his neck. Very sadly and unexpectedly, he died from those injuries on December 29.

Barry, Eli, Scott

You taught me that life is short and to live every moment to the fullest
May you rest in peace, my friend.

Boys and Girls Club

CROZET, VIRGINIA

My good friend, Scott Scudamore, moved from Montclair to near Charlottesville a couple of years ago. We don't get a chance to ride together much because Scott's passion is mountain biking and mine is road. But a few weeks ago Scott asked me to come down and ride with him with the kids from the Boys and Girls Club.

The Boys & Girls Club of Charlottesville has a program to get kids on bikes. Any kid who signs up and completes the program gets to keep the bike. A pretty nice road bike. Depending on their age, they had goals all the way up to completing a century.

I arrived at Crozet, met up with Scott, and met the kids from the club. Most of the kids riding were older and Melissa asked Scott to ride with Eli, a pretty big 12-year old, on a different route from the other kids.

Scott had invited me down to ride Afton Mountain. The older kids were going with two other adults over Afton Mountain but Scott and Eli were given a 30-mile route that didn't go over the mountain. Scott encouraged me to ride with the older kids. I chose to ride with Scott and Eli.

Eli is strong. The three of us headed out into the mountains. We had a great ride on a beautiful day. We stopped at Chiles Peach Orchard, looking for a rest room (closed) and enjoyed the aroma of the orchard.

We arrived back about the same time as the kids in the older group. There was a cooler of frozen snacks. The frozen lemonade pops were the bomb.

It was great riding with the kids, especially Eli. They will all meet their goal on September 15. I wish I could join them but have other plans that day.

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EPILOGUE (October 15, 2013) - I am hoping this was not my last ride with Scott. Just one week after Scott rode with the kids on their challenge, he was mountain biking at Bryce Mountain Ski Resort. A crash broke his C1 and C2 vertebrae. As I update this he is paralyzed from the neck down.

What I remember most about August 29 was Scott was insistent that I ride with the older kids on Afton Mountain. He invited me down to ride Afton Mountain but didn't understand that it wasn't where you rode but who you were with. I was much more interested in riding with Scott than riding over Afton Mountain.

Scott, at the start line of the Boys and Girls Challenge, Sept. 15

Please keep Scott in your prayers and good thoughts. 
 

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Livestrong for Jake

ANAMOSA, IOWA

I had wanted to ride with Scott Scudamore and his friends although they constantly stroked my ego by telling me how much stronger and faster I was. Today would be the day. I would stay with them no matter what.

We stayed together nine miles.

We camped on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids and rode to the downtown area. When we came to Czech Village they had "Breakfast on the Bridge" which was very nice. But it also meant confusion in walking across the long bridge over the Cedar River. I found two riders of Scott's group on a tandem, Nancy DeVore and Coroleen Bean and stayed with them for a couple of blocks as they tried to get the front wheel of their recumbent fixed. And did.

On the bridge crossing the Cedar River

After the repair I slipped into the Chrome Horse Saloon for an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet ($8) and never saw anyone from the group the rest of the day. I honestly tried to stay with them. No matter what.

Chrome Horse Saloon, Cedar Rapids

There were a couple of climbs coming out of Cedar Rapids which slowed many riders. I passed a rider from LIVESTRONG but kept going. At the top of the climb I decided to wait. After a few minutes and thinking I had missed her, I jumped on the bike then more LIVESTRONG riders passed including this one.

One of my favorite team buses - self-deprecating humor

This time I did not miss my opportunity. She was riding in Honor of "Normal" so I asked Eliza Hanson what Normal was. Then I told her I wanted to write on her back. I wanted her to ride for Jake. And she let me. I wrote "Jake The Hero Grecco" on her back and then left.

Eliza Hanson, Livestrong
Riding for Jake

I was surprised with the ease and my interest in riding with the cycling cancer community at RAGBRAI. Four years ago I wouldn't have wanted to ride with them and now I found myself seeking them out.

On the ride it was college spirit day. Riders were asked to wear their alma mater or favorite college jersey. With the NCAA sanctions against Penn State coming down, it wasn't a good time to be a Nittany Lion. I wore the sweater of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Arriving Mt. Vernon I suspect that every college in Iowa had a booth on the side of the streets and this was one you absolutely had to walk through. Slowly.

Mount Vernon is a beautiful town and home to Cornell College.

Camping at the Funeral Home

I arrived in Anamosa, pitched my tent next to the swimming pool -- a bad idea -- and then -- went for a ride. I had promised myself to rest some and not do a fifth straight century ride. I had a feeling that might not be good for my body. Today's ride was listed at 42 miles although we seemed to be six miles from the start point so we were at 48 by the end.

The Penitentiary

I set out to explore Anamosa. I found a penitentiary, then Riverside Cemetery, burial place of the painter, Grant Wood. 

And I found people camping in the cemetery of the burial place of Grant Wood. With RAGBRAI, anything's acceptable. And I assume this was a RAGBRAI camp site.

RAGBRAI Camping at Riverside Cemetery

Although I wasn't tired, or overly tired, I had promised myself that I would not turn a 42 mile ride into my fifth straight century ride. But my mileage of 75 gave me 500 for five days. Not too bad.

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