Keya's Blog

A sag vehicle making sure that riders are okay

Ride the Rockies could not have occurred without the highly devoted, caring and efficient staff, most of whom are volunteers.  They worked incredibly hard, long hours to make Ride the Rockies happen safely and efficiently as possible.

It’s hard to imagine what would have happened if the volunteer staff did not carry out or do what many riders, myself included, often took for granted.

Yet every aid station was set up and taken down by volunteers.  The water and Gatorade in the dispensers were hauled there and continually filled so that 2,000 riders could stay hydrated.

Volunteers were continually busy keeping the juicy slices of oranges, bananas, and grapes stocked so that bicycle riders could grab nourishment and keep going.

The grapes that may have been dropped, along with the stems, were actually being picked up by someone long after the rider that dropped them had departed. (After all, if these are picked up, there’s less of a chance that a deer, raccoon, or some other animal will find the delicacy and stand in the road for a vehicle to hit.) All these things were then hauled to another destination.

Volunteers put up, then cleaned out all the recyclables in the little brown tents.  Volunteers cleaned up each evening’s camp after the riders left.  I had a mechanical mishap and drove back over part of the route (to pick up a functional bike, although it was my mountain bike) and was surprised to see that Fellin Park in Ouray was back to a normal, clean park.  It was amazing.

Sag wagon picking up riders

The sag vehicles were staffed by dependable, competent drivers who picked up riders, put their bicycles on the roof, drove to the next aid station and took all the bicycles back down.  Then they drove back to pick up other riders.  This was done in an efficient, coordinated manner so that as riders progressed through the ride, the previous sections of the Ride were still being covered.  Communication between the watchful State Patrol and the sag vehicles was continuous.  Some of these volunteers are principals, distribution managers or from other professional segments of society.

Many of these volunteers use their vacation time to do a grueling week of volunteer work on Ride the Rockies.  It’s really incredible. Every volunteer worked incredibly hard and sacrificed for the riders.  I heard one volunteer directing traffic say that she would wait to eat a potato so that riders would be able to have them before her.  At some intersections, both officers and volunteers stopped traffic so that riders could continue on their way.  All these things were much appreciated.

Please keep the contributions of volunteers in mind when participating in Ride the Rockies.  Yes.  It was a long, hard ride.  But we all knew this before signing up for the lottery.  We knew that there weren’t any rest days and we knew that there were 4 long days that had about 90 miles in them.  I realize that pushing one’s body to one’s physical limits can also challenge a person’s emotional psychology, but that is something that every person needs to work on.  I witnessed behavior that made me embarrassed to be a rider in the form of rude comments to volunteers that were uncalled for and should not have been made.  Just something to keep in mind for future activities.

Come to think of it, volunteers likely put up the little signs for where riders were to camp indoors.  Then there were also the volunteers that worked with Ride the Rockies from the different communities. I’m sure that there are many other aspects of volunteerism that I’m missing, however, I am thankful for all the efforts that were put forth by the volunteers and staff.  Thank you.

A community volunteer in Pagosa

I’m also thankful for the other people on the ride.  Not only the medics within the riders, but also the everyday, normal, courteous, fun-loving, nice, cool people that were riding.

I think we all do these activities for the joy and challenge within a tough ride.  I enjoyed talking with people at different rest stops.  A certain camaraderie develops as one sees the same people day after day.  I like that people look out for one another.   Thank you for the experience.

Grand Junction, through Palisade, over Grand Mesa (31 mile climb) and into Delta – 94 miles

Grand Mesa loomed in the distance

This was a punishing day with a gradual 12 mile climb, followed by a much steeper 19 miles climb that brutalized my legs and lungs.

Everyone started fairly early as it was a long day. Our day began at 4:30am. It’s really quite dark as this time, but amazingly, there were a lot of other people who were also getting up at this time. The day’s ride began with a nice rolling spin through the orchards and vineyards of Palisade.  This section of the morning ride reminded my one experience riding through the vineyards of Napa Valley, CA, except that the fog wasn’t as heavy as it was there at that time.  The newly planted grape vines were nice and neat in their rows and some of the orchard trees were just starting to bear fruit.  Cherries, just coming into season, could be seen almost dripping off of the trees.  Our major climb for the day, Grand Mesa, loomed in the distance, shrouded in the clouds during the approach.

As everyone started at about the same time, we all seemed to arrive at the first rest stop at about the same time. In orderly fashion, we wait for the porta potties, refuel, and get back on the road.

After Palisade, our route briefly joined I-70, although a lane (amazing!) had been blocked off for cyclists.  We soon exited the interstate onto the smaller 2-lane Highway 65.  The climb began gradually, but kept going and going, and going.  I heard people say that it was a 6 – 8 percent grade.  The best part of the day happened when I thought I was in my lowest gear, but realized that I had one more to go.

While I wanted to, I didn't see any moose...

I borrowed my Mom’s bicycle, so I’m not even sure of the exact gearing on the bike.  My mom and I are about 5 inches different in height.  Previous to actually riding it, I thought I could simply raise the seat and everything would be fine.  This, however, was not the case as certain muscles in my legs, the ones right above the knee on the inside, started to hurt tremendously.  (This bike saga will continue in following days.)

At some point in the climb, we came upon the ski area Powerhorn, where it started to rain.

At the ski area Powderhorn, it started to rain

Small groups of cyclists huddled under umbrellas meant to shade people from the sun.  This time was spent making small talk with others sharing one’s immediate space, putting on extra layers of clothing, eating, and watching a sag wagon accidentally drive over someone’s bicycle seat.  (The bicycle was kind-of on the road.  While it’s really difficult to be rational and competent when so tired, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that a person on a bike, a person, or a bike alone, will almost always loose out to vehicles.  Be mindful!  Even when dog-tired.)  After what seemed like about 20 minutes,  somewhat dazed and grudgingly, I set out in the light rain.

The road to Mordor

After riding in the rain for what seemed like 30 minutes or so, a gorgeous view presented itself and the sky opened up as the clouds parted to let the sun shine through.    Soon the sun began warming the pavement, it created a steamy riding environment.  It looked cinematic and dramatic.  It was during this time that somehow I got it in my head that I was on a mission to Mordor, (of the famed Lord of the Rings trilogy) which happened to be located at the top of Grand Mesa.  I needed to get to the top to destroy the ring and save the world.

One person rode by and in nice etiquette, said, “Hi, how are you?”

I think I replied, “Good.  I’m going to Mordor.”

“Oh, is that your happy place?”

“Um, no.  It’s Mordor.  I’m trying to save the world.”  But he had already gone by…

I stopped taking pictures, as I was seriously expending mammoth amounts of energy just trying to get to the top of Grand Mesa.  It was also really cold and if I were to stop, I thought I would get hypothermia and risk the mission!

It’s actually quite beautiful up there, with many alpine lakes and patches of snow.  There was another aid station at the top, so I refueled by eating something, I think chicken fajitas, refilled the water bottles and headed down.  It was wicked cold, and I almost stopped since I was shivering so badly that I was almost shaking the bike handlebars during the descent.  Yet I knew that the more that we descended, the warmer the temperature would get, so I continued descending.

Ride the Rockies bike corral

I barely made it into Delta, but did.  It was a humbling day, but the 94 mile mission was accomplished.  The bikes were dropped off in the bike corral, where the host community provides security, and the search for the showers, tent placement and evening food began.