In 2005, talented Grammy-award winning musician and gentle soul, Michael Ward, stumbled into the cycling world with his children’s book – Mike and the Bike – and his young son, Tennessee, in tow. Some pedaled alongside him – he on his beloved Pegoretti; and some went to his concerts where the luckiest of those got a backstage pass. Access or not, we all scored a tandem ride on Michael’s endless adventures with some of the most renowned musicians of our time thanks to his mastery of story telling, his collection of photo snaps (and yes, to you social media). He played with, opened for, and rubbed shoulders with some of the best in the biz. We were awed.
In April of 2024 the tour on Michael’s adventure ride came to a somber end with his unexpected passing. “They called him The Warden,” our pal John Rubano shared. “And he would be honored.” And so Michael, this is for you.
