A chance “to spend time with my dad on the ride is really a great day’

Larry Bednarek was ready to stop riding in El Tour de Tucson – after years of being a participant.

Then his son, Josh, said that wasn’t going to happen … was it?

Josh, 45, also understands his father’s trepidation for wanting to stop, given his repaired hip and neuropathy in his left leg. He gets it.

“But I said, ‘if you’re in, I’m in,” Josh remembering telling him.

Larry then said, “whatever you want to do, we will do.”

So, the two – once again – will ride in the 42^nd El Tour on Nov. 22, joining another nearly 10,000 cyclists.

“I know the last couple of years for him have been tough, and certainly not wanting him to see him in pain but it does give him (joy),” Josh said. “As my mom said, the tour is the happiest day of the year for him. So, I said, ‘if you can keep doing it and it gives you something to do … “

So … Larry, 70, will be ready – as will Josh – as they prepare for the 32-miler while still “thinking about” riding the 63-miler.

Larry rides often – 120 miles a week – given he’s retired and seemingly fit, save for the replaced hip and hurting leg. Still, cycling has been a passion for years.

He’s ridden in El Tour for about 15 years, on and off, but “have done the last four or five and have been consistent with it.” Josh has been with him for a number of them.

The reason?

“We love riding together,” Larry said.

Father-son bonding event?

“Not sure I’d call it that,” Larry said, smiling. “I keep telling him he’s trying to keep up with me, but he can’t. He looks forward to it every year.”

For Josh, “it’s one of his highlights of the year,” Larry said.

Like father, like son, who found a love for cycling by watching his dad ride to and from work while he was a longtime fire fighter on the south side.

“I saw him so I said it’s something I could do to get a little bit in shape,” Josh said. “Now, one day a year we get to spend the whole day together.”

What does the ride mean to Josh?

“I grew up in Tucson so now that I live in Phoenix, it gives me a chance to come back – and Tucson is such a beautiful city – so getting to ride around it is certainly meaningful,” Josh said. “And, getting to spend time with my dad and on the ride is really a great day,”