Day One - We Ride for Roger

We Started out bright and early at Vicki's house, greeted by wonderful volunteers who served coffee and bagels (donated by Bagelheads).  Thank you Karla, Diane and Nancy!  Then we were off.

 A group of 22 amazing cyclists, and Roger's family, traveled about 2 hours to the scene of the accident just east of Ebro, FL on Highway 20.  We were honored to have Jack Kale, pastor at Gulf Breeze UMC, start with a short service.  He gave an inspiring message about how one person who started something led 22 others to complete it.  Our lifetime on earth is short and so we rely on others to build upon the life we've started.  That's just what these fellow cyclists are doing.  They are helping us finish what Roger started.  They've were inspired by what Roger had accomplished in life and the person he was.  We are honored to have them in our lives and we are now inspired by all of them. 

The cyclists rode 100 miles on day one on a great route that Roger and Vicki planned over a year ago, with only short breaks along the way, including a quick PB&J lunch in Blountstown, FL.  

Day one ended safe and sound in Tallahassee, FL with a delicious group dinner organized by Shannon Grooters and supported by her Tallahassee friends and the Junior League.  Thank you!

We are looking forward to day two.  Key learnings from today…pile on the sunscreen (Cody) and don’t eat too much GU (Jon)!

You can see more photos and media coverage by visiting the We Ride for Roger Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Ride-For-Roger/143778289038680

Day one: Beautiful sunny skies
Distance:  104 miles

Headwinds 10-15 miles per hour, out of the east
Speed:  18-20 miles per hour, final average 17.0

To all those reading this blog...PLEASE pay attention when you are driving.  Share the road.  It only takes a moment for something tragic to happen when you are distracted in the car.

We Ride for Roger Event Raises Awareness for Cycling Safety

We can't believe it has almost been a year since we lost our beloved Roger.  We are so humbled that more than 20 cyclists will gather on October 6, 2011, to honor his legacy. Here is the press release to announce the event. We hope you will follow the blog and help us raise awareness for cycling safety by spreading the word to friends and family about Roger's story.

In a display of support, more than 20 cyclists will gather on October 6, 2011, to honor the legacy of Roger Grooters, an experienced cyclist and good samaritan tragically killed in last year by a motorist in Bay County, Fla. Living his humble life with gusto, Grooters, who was 66 at the time, was riding from San Diego, Calif. to Jacksonville Beach, Fla., to raise awareness and funds for victims of the 2010 BP oil spill when a distracted driver halted his journey approximately 300 miles from the end of his ride to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Realizing the significant need to increase awareness for Share the Road efforts in Florida, Grooters’ family and local cyclists from Pensacola have organized “We Ride for Roger” to bring the shocking statistics to light. The ride begins on the one-year anniversary of Grooters’ death – Oct. 6, 2011, at the scene of the accident just east of Ebro, Fla. on Highway 20. The ride will end on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 in the same locale where Grooters planned to conclude his ride last year – with a tire dipping ceremony in the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Bob Graves, a fellow cyclist, heard of Grooters’ tragic story and it hit home hard. Graves reached out to Grooters’ wife, Vicki, hoping to organize a group of cyclists to finish Roger’s ride across America. Unbeknownst to him, several other cyclists had begun contacting Grooters’ family with the same idea. “As the plans began to develop to bring this vision to reality, we had so many riders interested that we had to limit the amount of participants to be able to easily manage the group along the route, “ said Graves. “Roger’s story is one that strikes deep at the heart of every single bicycle rider.” Graves continues, “cyclists are husbands, fathers, brothers, wives, mothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents, just like anyone driving a motor vehicle. If drivers take more responsibility behind the wheel, pay attention and allow the minimum legal passing distance of three feet, maybe just maybe, we can prevent more tragedies like Roger’s from happening.” 

Florida ranks first among states in cyclist fatalities, with 107 fatalities in 2009, followed by California with 99, Texas with 48 and New York with 29 – a shocking statistic from 2009 Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Facts.

“Roger was a humble and loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and Christian that felt called to help others during this crisis that affected our hometown of Gulf Breeze,” said Vicki Grooters, Roger’s wife. “His legacy continues as we gather together now to raise awareness and try to significantly lower the number of cyclist fatalities caused by distracted and aggressive drivers.”

Grooters was documenting his 21-day, 2100-mile journey on his blog - rogerxcountry.blogspot.com. His death, however tragic, was not in vain. Grooters managed to raise over $12,000 through his church, Gulf Breeze United Methodist, to provide support to victims that had fallen on hard economic times due to the disaster. Friends, family, church members, acquaintances and even strangers donated most of the funds raised upon hearing of the accident. Grooters’ tire, which was one of the only parts of his Cervelo S2 bike that remained intact, will be used on Grooters’ training bike – a Trek Madone – to complete the ride and at the tire dipping ceremony in Jacksonville Beach.

To track the completion of Roger’s ride, please continue to follow Roger's blog and We Ride for Roger on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Ride-For-Roger/143778289038680

A visit to the scene of the accident

On Thursday, Oct. 14th, Roger's six sons, Kol, Jon, Josh, Mark, Ben and Steve and his son-in-law, Jason went to the scene of the accident to put up a cross in Roger's honor. Here are the photos from this visit.

The long, straight portion of Highway 20 where the accident occurred

The guys standing at the accident spot

The cross that the guys put up in honor of Roger

The cross was built by Roger's sons and engraved with his initials. 

Ben, Josh and Kol standing next to the cross

Again, we thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers. So many of you have had such kind words to say and remember Roger for the remarkable man that he was. The family plans to complete the ride within one year. More details will be posted here as those plans develop. We welcome anyone to join us to complete the journey. You can email rogerxcountry@gmail.com if you are also interested in participating.

Silent Ride in Roger's Honor

Thanks again for the outpouring of love, support and words of encouragement from everyone.

There is a silent ride along Pensacola Beach that was organized by the West Florida Wheelmen Bicycle Club to honor Roger. This was the article published today in the Pensacola News Journal.

17 October, 1030, Roger Grooters Memorial Ride of Silence.
What: Slow (10-12 mph), processional type bicycle ride beginning
at Quietwater Beach Boardwalk parking lot, proceeding east to first
parking area past Portofino, then returning to Quietwater Beach
parking lot. Approx total trip is approx. 10 miles.
When: 10:30 am on Sunday, October 17, 2010.
Why: Remembering and honoring fellow cyclist Roger Grooters
while raising awareness of cyclists sharing the road with motor vehicles.
What else? Attend Worship at the Water service (by Gulf Breeze United
Methodist Church) that Sunday at 9:00 am located on the beach at
Flounders Restaurant. Cycling attire welcomed.
Helmets required to ride with the group.
Everyone welcome to join us! 

Celebration of Roger's Life

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers for our family during this difficult time.  We will celebrate Roger's life on Monday in Gulf Breeze, FL.

Monday, October 11, 2010
10:00 AM -10:45AM Visitation
11:00 AM Funeral Services

Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church
75 Fairpoint Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561

In lieu of flowers, please support Roger's mission for his Ride Across America by making a donation to assist victims of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill online.

1. Visit Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church at, www.gbumc.org
2. Click one the red "Give Now" link
3. In the other category fill out the comment form with, "Oil Spill Response"

Again, thank you for your prayers.

Roger Wayne Grooters April 11, 1944 - October 6, 2010

Gulf Breeze News

Panhandle Parade

More information about the funeral arrangements will be posted here in the next few days, please check back soon.

Back In The Saddle Again

After two days rest, I was back on my bike in west Pensacola by 8:45 AM, heading for Destin on Hwy 98.  The temps was 56 degrees with clear sunny sky's.  The road conditions were excellent with a the exception of moderately heavy traffic in Destin.  Because of it's close proximity to the edge of the continental shelf - where deep-sea fishing for billfish is the best, Destin is know as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village"

It is no longer a village, but a busy resort destination, with beautiful emerald waters and pure white sand.
There was a strong cross wind out of the north (25 mph) and later in the day the wind switched and came from the northwest providing a little bit of help.  In the middle portion of the ride on I turned north onto Hwy 331 named The Beach Highway and for 10 miles headed straight into the north wind.

The remainder of today's ride I was on Hwy 20 headed straight east, crossing over the Choctawhatchee River.

Ending the day in Ebro with 100.7 miles.

Day 21 of Riding:
Total Daily Miles: 100.7
Total Ride Miles: 2179.4
Daily Elevation Climb: 265'
Daily Ride Time: 7 hrs.
Daily Average Speed: 16.4 mph