CRAIG JOHNSON

Craig Johnson has over two decades of Bike MS experience under his belt, and going strong at age 67, he seems poised to hit the quarter century mark. Johnson plans to continue riding for as long as he is capable, because he learned from his best friend, Evans, that he should never take a movement for granted.

“He was the senior class president, the captain of the tennis team, an officer in the ROTC, my fraternity brother, the guy that men wanted to hang around with and women found irresistible,” said Johnson of his friend Evans. “After college he served in Vietnam, then went on to receive his Law degree. He had it all … and then came the diagnosis that he had MS.”

Evans was no stranger to multiple sclerosis, having watched his mother live with the disease before passing away a few years after his college graduation, but for Johnson, it was a new experience. Over the years Johnson watched his best friend transition from driving his own handicapped accessible van to walking with canes, walkers, riding a motorized scooter and finally having to be hoisted in and out of bed.

“Each passing year showed me the devastation that this disease can have on a human body,” said Johnson. “It made me appreciate even more the blessing I had. I no longer took movements for granted, and I wanted to participate in the fight against MS.”

Johnson is the captain of his Bike MS: Tour de Farms team, the Smokin’ Spokes — one of the oldest participating teams — and on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, he will lead them once again in what will be his 23^rd annual ride for MS.

“The reason I continue to participate each year is because of my best friend Evans,” said Johnson, who was inspired by his friend’s dedication to living his life to the fullest and not letting MS get the best of him. “What impressed me most was that his spirit was still so high, his mind was incredibly sharp and his sense of humor was remarkably acute. He never complained, was never bitter and didn’t seek sympathy. If you asked him how he was doing, he always responded, ‘I’m having a ball!’”

The two friends rarely talked about MS during their many conversations and visits. Instead they joked and laughed about anything and everything, anxious to talk to each other day or night, regardless of the time. After living with MS for over 30 years, Evans passed away at the age of 60 with his high spirits and shining personality completely intact.

“He had it all and had a ball,” said Johnson.

Johnson was there on Evans’ 60^th birthday to celebrate the life of his good friend, and he continues to do so today. He trains for Bike MS much like Evans lived, refusing to let the difficulty of the journey and the limits of his body affect his state of mind.

“To me, being mentally prepared is as important as being physically ready,” Johnson explained. “My slogan is ‘Conditioning Mind, Over Muscle, Over Miles.’”

With the right mindset in place, all that’s left for Johnson is the actual training. When it comes to cycling events, Johnson is exclusive to Bike MS, and his training regimen for the two-day ride has changed very little in the past 23 years.

“I try to train 1,000 miles leading up to the event,” said Johnson. “I usually work out four to six days a week at the YMCA, and once the weather breaks into the 50 degree plus range, I start outdoor cycling.”

As a child, Johnson would venture farther on his bike than his mother ever knew, and his passion for cycling never diminished. He has been actively cycling for almost 45 years, generally riding between 2,000 and 3,000 miles a year.

“It’s a good workout, doesn’t cost a fortune, and you can meet a lot of good people who enjoy doing the same thing,” said Johnson about why he got involved in biking. “I ride whenever the opportunity arises.”

Johnson hopes that other riders, both experienced and new, will accept the Bike MS challenge and join him in this opportunity to help in the fight to end MS. He rides for Evans, he rides because he can, and he rides for hope.

“That’s why I joined the movement,” said Johnson, “and I ride to help find a cure, hopefully in my lifetime.”