Wild Dingo

I’ve been reading Fat Cyclist’s blog for about a little over a year now. He’s just a guy, an average “Joe,” who loves to ride and race bikes. When he’s not riding them, he loves talking or writing about them. He’s a fantastically humorous writer who now contributes to Bike Radar. I’ve enjoyed a chuckle or two from his ability to wax poetically and hilariously about everything bicycles.

Over the last year, I’ve followed his secondary story line of his wife’s battle against cancer, which inspired me to purchase one of his pink jerseys to contribute to his cancer cause. Yes, pink. Anyone who knows me knows how much I “love” pink. But I actually wear the jersey because it reminds me of how lucky I am and how fleeting life can be.

Elden (Fat Cyclist) just revealed on his blog a few days ago, that his wife’s cancer is most likely now terminal. As I’m writing this, I’m choked up. The couple has 4 children and I can’t imagine how he and his children will face life without a wife and mom. My heart is broken from a person I’ve never met, but feel I know well.

While I’m personally crushed by what Elden is facing, I recognize that he has an amazing amount of supporters around the country. Hundreds of caring folks who’ve come out to share whatever words of comfort they can. Say what you’d like about Lance Armstrong, but he’s also among Fatty’s readership, who personally offered Fatty’s wife words of encouragement. Its times like this I see that the gnarly world of the Internet has redeemed itself.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Internet. Today I think I love it.

If you have the time, stop by Fat Cyclist’s blog, read a little of his story and if the urge strikes, offer whatever kind words you can.