AUSTIN, Texas —It's that time of year right before school starts up again, when many families go on vacation, and this summer is shaping up to be the year of the road trip.
What You Need To Know
- Austin man biked 220 from Austin to Dallas
- His family tagged along and they made the trip in three days
The Leon family's car is packed up and ready to go, filled with all the road trip essentials, but this family road trip isn't your typical road trip.
Chris Leon set off on a bike ride from Austin, 220 miles north to Dallas. His wife, Tracy Leon, called him crazy.
"He just kind of sprung it on me, and I'm like, 'Excuse me, come again?'" she laughed.
"I just had to get outside," he exclaimed. "And just came up with the idea to ride my bike up there."
And the two decided to make it a family affair. With Tracy Leon at the wheel and their three sons piled into the backseat, they buckled in, ready to turn what's typically a three hour drive into a three day trip.
"It's crazy, but it's like -- he rode on the F1 track once and he wanted to go three times and I'm like, 'Okay!' It's just him, he just really likes to do this stuff," says their youngest son, Evan Leon.
The kids played the important role of riding alongside Chris Leon, making sure he had whatever he needed.
"I guess it's called a Sag Wagon. That's what we are," their middle son, Nathan Leon said. "Because we're just sagging behind him, waiting for him, and then go up ahead and sag behind."
At a time when many of us are being forced to slow down, Chris Leon is choosing to stay up to speed, while finding beauty along the scenic route.
"I don't have to be Tour de France fit or something like that, or some sort of Capone rider or top Ironman finisher, I just want to be outdoors staying fit," he said.
He’s said he’s done so many triathlons in his life he's lost count. To get ready for this 220 mile ride he trained for two months, doing two short rides and one long ride a week.