Page 65 - Sun Rays Flipbook proof_FinalTrim

freeway. At the end of the ride, they fill
11 Amtrak train cars and travel back to
Irvine. Riders must maintain an average
speed of 15 miles per hour in order to catch
the train home.
Not all of their rides have been so grueling. Scholarship Program, Williamson County
A few years ago they wanted to see
Kentucky, so they flew there, rented bikes
and visited sites like Churchill Downs
and the Louisville Slugger Factory. The
Gramleys took a one-week tour of Vermont
in the fall of 2010, riding a total of 200
miles, enjoying the fall color and spending
the night in charming bed and breakfasts
and small inns.
In 2013, they cycled from Prague in the
Czech Republic to Vienna, Austria. They
rode through charming towns, climbed
mountains, learned about local history and
visited castles like the 13th century castle
in the UNESCO city of Cesky Krumlov in
the southern Bohemia region of the Czech
Republic. As they rode by the abbey in
Melk, Austria, often recognized as one of
the most picturesque towns in Europe,
Cinde thought, “This is just so surreal. I’m
riding a bike along the Danube!”
With their children and grandchildren
living in Fort Worth and Lakeway, the
Gramleys retired and moved to Texas.
They stopped at Sun City on their way
from Fort Worth to Lakeway to check
it out. We knew as soon as we drove in
this was going to be home. We just had
a feeling. Everything is so pretty and
well-maintained.” They bought a home
in Neighborhood 49 and could not be
happier. Cinde smiled, “We have so many
nice neighbors. We have made friendships
here that will last a lifetime.”
The Gramleys were on the road, exploring
the area before all of the moving boxes were
unpacked. The Gramleys usually ride
three to four days a week, taking a day
off between each ride. They entered and
finished this year’s Red Poppy Century
in April. The route goes along the country
roads throughout Williamson County and
changes each year. “What the route lacked
in climbs, it made up for in wind. Wind
is the biggest issue for us here,” Eldon
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
This year, the Gramleys cycled 646 miles during the Great Cycle Challenge and
raised $718.35 for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
shared. The proceeds of this ride have
benefited local charities since 1999. This
year donations were made to the GISD
Child Advocacy Center and the City of
Georgetown Bike Patrol Unit.
The Gramleys recently learned about a
challenge ride benefiting the Children’s
Cancer Research Fund. The Great Cycle
Challenge began in 2015 and is now one
of the largest cycling events in the United
States. Riders in all 50 states participate. To June, the Gramleys enjoyed participating
date, 39,284 riders have ridden 3,397,199
miles, raising $4,717,515 for research. It
is an online challenge where participants
pledge to ride a certain distance during
the month of June and raise funds from
others for the miles ridden. Participants set
up a profile page linked to the challenge
where they keep a log of their activity and
donations. Cinde and Eldon both entered,
each committing to ride 500 miles on their
Trek Madone 6.2 sixteen-pound carbon
fiber bikes.
They began The Great Cycle Challenge on
June 2, riding 50.5 miles in the countryside
around Sun City Texas. Their longest ride,
65.8 miles, was on June 8, 2017. They rode
a circuitous route from Sun City through
Weir, Bartlett, Schwertner, New Corn Hill
and Walberg, before returning. They met
their challenge pledge of 500 miles on June
23 with a 46-mile ride to Jarrell, Florence,
Andice and back home. With a week left
in the challenge, the Gramleys pressed
on. As June drew to a close, the Gramleys
each logged 646 miles, 146 miles over their
pledge. Together they rode 1,292 miles
and raised $718.35 for children’s cancer
research.
Despite the heat and humidity of Texas in
and making a contribution to a cause they
champion. Thankfully, their rides were
fairly uneventful. They encountered a few
dogs and a snake but weren’t in danger. The
Gramleys, whose cycling-themed vehicle
license plates proclaim, “Share the Road
Y’all,” praised Texas drivers. “In California
they are impatient, driving around you fast
and close. It can be dangerous. In Texas,
they take their time, give you space and
pass when it’s safe.”
What’s next for the Gramleys? They plan
to continue their local rides, enter more
Century Rides and maybe even go to
Europe to see the Tour de France. How
is retirement in Sun City going? Cinde
beamed, looking at Eldon, her husband of
45 years, “Life is good.”
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