The Day I Rode with Robin Williams (Sort Of)
The Day I Rode with Robin Williams (Sort Of) I once rode in the Ride for the Roses in Austin, Texas, on October 26, 2003. I’ll never forget what a gorgeous day it was the day before the ride when I picked up my registration materials. The sun was shining, the air was calm, and it felt like perfect cycling weather. But the next morning told a different story. It was cold, windy, and overcast. The ride was supposed to start at 8:00 AM, but we all stood shivering in our gear, waiting. Why? Because Lance Armstrong was the special guest, and the crowd wasn’t moving until he showed up. This was a Livestrong event, and at the time, Lance was the greatest cyclist in the world. He had won his 5th straight Tour de France that year. People were excited to see him — but not so excited about waiting in the cold. Finally, about 30 minutes late, Armstrong arrived and the ride began. A full 100 miles lay ahead, and the weather was already miserable. Around 20 miles in, I was pedaling st...
