Getting back on the bike

GREENE COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - For David Harrison and Beverly Sievers, life is best lived behind handlebars.

"It sure beats working out in the gym," Harrison says.

The two have had some of their most memorable moments while on a bike, but this is the story of how it led to one they'd like to forget.

"Just remembering that, it causes some emotion," Sievers says.

The Indiana couple was in Greene County two years ago for the Greene Trails Cycling Classic.

It seemed like just another bike ride, that is until Harrison started having trouble.

"He got about 10 miles out on the trail," Sievers says. "He actually passed out."

The two went back to their camper and were about to go to the hospital when it happened again.

"I heard this thud," Sievers says. "I go in there and there he is passed out."

Sievers is a registered nurse and knew things didn't look good.

"For some reason his heart stopped," Sievers says.

Harrison had suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be rushed to the hospital.

While he recovered, those in Greene County helped Sievers cope, even packing up the couple's camper.

"What could have been a most horrible experience had such positive results," Sievers says.

Harrison is now back on the bike with a pacemaker to help him.

He and Sievers never forgot how they were treated at the Cycling Classic, so not only do they keep coming back, they want to make Greene County home.

"We're planning on moving out here," Sievers says.

Despite what happened, they have no plans to hang up the handlebars anytime soon.

"We want to stay biking until we can't do it anymore," Sievers says.