20 years after a handful of biking fans organized it in a coffee shop, it's now a nationally known celebration of everything cycling. Sunday, downtown Reno transforms again for another big event. Bikes from all over the country will be here for what has become a premiere summertime event: the Tour De Nez.
Among the top bike racers coming in from all over the country will be Reno's own 5 foot 7, 130-pound Rhonda Serr. As she told us, "Yes, I'm very excited, and nervous. I'm putting a bit more pressure on myself this year." As if she hasn't had enough pressure already. 2 years ago, a Hummer hit her from behind and ran her over on west Moana. It almost killed her. She woke up in a hospital, "And I was told there that I had a broken back, broken pelvis, multiple fractures everywhere."
Operations left a series of metal screws and rods on her backbone. Doctors did not tell her, but told her mom she might be paralyzed. Finally released from the hospital in August 2010, the following March she was back on the bike, racing again…coming in 5th at a national bike competition, and following that with a grueling 9,000 foot bike climb competition in Italy. She knew she could do it…her heart was still in it. She told us, "It's just one of those things that I love very much. I've met some amazing people."
So come Sunday, look for Rhonda, on a bike that's become part of her...racing through yet another finish line, checking off another in her long list of challenges. She is a no-limit woman, taking on 25 bike races a year. Why? She told us, "Ultimately it comes down to, I don't want to live my life scared. I want to go out, and enjoy something I do. I might change some things I do. I might ride differently. But I'm still going to be riding…still gonna do it, yeah."
-written by John Potter
Sunday will be a day full of racing for pros and amateurs alike, but several fun events take place the day before. We have a link to the Tour De Nez schedule here: WWW.TOURDENEZ.COM
