El Tour de Tucson

Brad headed back to our old hometown of Tuscon, Arizona! He went out with his Texas riding buddies, Corey and James, for a guys trip centered around one incredible event: the Tour de Tucson. Sponsored by Corey’s company.  This isn’t just any bike ride, it’s one of the biggest in the country, with over 10,000 riders taking on a 100-mile route around Tucson. The energy, the crowd, the high level of competition, made for an unforgettable experience.

But what made it even more meaningful was the familiarity. Along the ride, Brad passed through Sahuarita and even rode by our old home. There’s something surreal about revisiting those old routes, seeing the same desert landscapes, and feeling like no time has passed while also being surrounded by some of the strongest cyclists in the U.S.

And Brad didn’t just ride, he crushed it! Finishing the 100 miles in under 4.5 hours, he qualified for Platinum status, an incredible accomplishment that speaks to how hard he’s trained and how much he loves the sport.

After the race, the experience only got better. Through Corey's connections through work the guys enjoyed lunch in the VIP section and even had the chance to meet Sir Bradley Wiggins (a tour de France winner) a pretty amazing moment to cap off such a huge ride.

The next day, they drove up Mount Lemmon to scout out the climb for what was coming next. They soaked in the views and made sure to hit some of our old favorite local spots—including grabbing a classic Sonoran dog (a bacon-wrapped hot dog that’s every bit as good as it sounds).

Then came the ride up Mount Lemmon.

If you know Tucson you know this is no easy climb. Riders from all over come to Mt. Lemmon to ride. As a bike rider it is one of the longest climbs in North America, about 26 miles.  And Brad? He powered his way to the top in under two hours. Honestly I don't know how he does it.  I'm in awe.

At the summit, they were greeted with snow and, of course, a stop at the famous cookie cabin. Brad went with a peanut butter cookie that is the size of a plate and well-earned after a climb like that.

now for the fun (for Brad, scary for his wife) part, the downhill.  I don't even want to know how fast he was going...

Needless to say, it was an unforgettable trip and one he’ll be talking about for a long time.

Work trips

Brad’s Busy Travel Season ✈️🌍

Brad is going to be gone a lot these next couple of months! It feels like every other year his work travel really ramps up—and this is definitely that year.

In May, he spent 10 days in Canada for an audit, and then turned right around and headed to Kansas City for a week of continuing education. In true Brad fashion, he made the most of his time away—hiking up to an ice cave during his weekend in Canada (so cool!) and reconnecting with all his Industrial Hygiene buddies in KC. They went out to dinner, ran the 5K together, and spent their days in class. He even stopped by the WWI Memorial during some free time.

Canada 🇨🇦 

the ice cave

Kanas City:

Next up: Malaysia for three weeks in June! It’s a busy season for Brad, and while we’ll definitely miss him back home, we’re proud of how hard he works and the incredible experiences he’s having along the way.