Cyclist hopes to finish journey across Iowa next weekend

Thu September 27 2007
Posted Sep 27, 2007
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Emily Kesten, Staff Writer 09/25/2007 On Saturday, Dave Adickes ventured to cross Iowa in less than 24 hours. Adickes pedaled 235 miles before suffering dehydration at a Casey's in Washington - just 40 miles from the finish. The end came as a surprise. Adickes and his crew (his father and a college friend) stopped at the Casey's around 10:45 p.m. to refuel and change into warmer clothes when Adickes' body shut down. "I felt strong going into mile 235," said Adickes. "It happened in two minutes." He was hospitalized for dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance and an abnormal EKG reading. By the next morning, Adickes said, he felt fine - just tired and sore and a little disappointed. The Macedonia native was cycling for Push America, a Pi Kappa Phi philanthropy organization for people with disabilities. Adickes spent three summers as a Journey of Hope team member before setting his own challenge. Before his 6 a.m. start Saturday, Adickes' sponsorship came to just over $1,400. "The donations aren't contingent on his finishing," said mother Eileen Adickes. Dave, however, will finish. Next weekend, he'll ride the last 40 miles from Washington to Muscatine. "It was hard to do," said Adickes, "but I'm pleased overall." To sponsor the end of the ride or learn more about Push America, visit http://secure.pushamerica.org/daveadickes.