Sans Nom

I know that it makes no sense, but when I have time off I rarely get my blogs done.  The break we just took in the Denver area was no exception.

I have several buddies that live in and around Denver so I have been looking forward to it since the beginning of the trip.  I had intended to ride from Laramie to Denver as it is mostly down hill.  However, I didn’t account for the wind (not exactly something new and different) so I found myself pedaling hard and barely topping out at 15mph.  I hit Fort Collins and decided to wrap it up knowing that Brennan and Haley were waiting for us in Denver.  The following Tuesday, Brennan and I headed back to where I had left off and rode into town. 

(Pre Ride Photo op)

(post ride)

I rode with groups quite a bit during my training, so I actually used to enjoy the training days where I rode solo.  After 3 months of riding alone, it was really awesome to have some company. 

Azure and I have to thank Haley and Brennan for opening their home to us for the week.  We are well aware that with our current lifestyle (i.e. living out of a van) we kind of explode onto the scene when we arrive anywhere.  We quickly overran their space, but they were gracious and welcoming.  We can’t thank you guys enough.  As a bonus we all get along great so we had a blast.

(Dinner at the Sullivan's)

(Taking a break in the Mountain's)

I was scheduled to give a speech at Eaton High School north of Denver on Friday morning so being the perpetual procrastinator that I am as of Wednesday, I still hadn’t written it.  (It’s just my life story how hard could it be?)  Coincidentally, Brennan also had to work on a biography for a new job he was starting.  We later determined that it was probably best that we didn’t live together all four years of college; we are pretty good at distracting each other.  Needless to say neither of us got our work done. 

On Thursday we headed up to Greeley, so that we would be on site in the morning.  My brother-in-law’s girlfriend is a councilor in Greeley about 50 miles north of Denver.  She was kind enough to set up a speaking engagement as well as a group ride for us (and let us stay the night with her too).  So Friday morning we showed up to the ride start point and were stunned.  Twelve people and a four-car police escort were waiting for us.  I have to be honest it felt really good to finally get some support, for what we are doing.  Two of the riders that joined me had lost sons, one of whom lost his 17-year-old 5 weeks ago. 

We have had a lot of unexpected things occur on our journey.  One of the hardest things I have had to deal is the loved ones left behind.  But it is also what keeps me going, when I don’t feel like getting on the bike, I think about them.  I hope that maybe in some small way what we are trying to do can bring them some solace.  Nothing will bring their children or spouses back but hopefully it helps to know that someone is out here trying to get people talking. 

Something else I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to give a speech to 500 high school students.  Those of you, who know me, are well aware that I have no problem talking to strangers.  But trying to get 500 young adults to understand the permanence and repercussions of suicide in 40 minutes, not something I am really qualified to do.  So I simply told them my story and tried to stand as testament that recovery is possible if you’re willing to seek help.  I can only hope that I gave them something to chew on, and hopefully motivated a few of them to start talking.

Friday night we went out on the town with friends, and tried our best to act like we were back in college.  So Saturday consisted of Brennan and I lying around discussing how we don’t recover like we used to.

Sunday morning Brennan and I headed out for Colorado Springs.  Haley would head down later in the day to pick him up and I got some company on the bike for another day.  The ride proved much more challenging than initially anticipated.  A stiff headwind and several climbs made it a pretty long day.  But I have to hand it to Brennan; he stuck with it and gutted it out.  Although at one point I looked back at him and thought he was going to pass out.  He later confessed that at this point he also thought that he was going to pass out.  But for a guy who hasn’t been doing hardly any riding lately he hung in there and busted the ride, right along side of me. 

We had a ton of errands to run in the Springs that took much longer than anticipated so we are sitting tight today and will head out first thing in the morning.

One last note I have to thank the owner of the Bike Peddler in Greeley for taking care of some much needed repairs.  Thanks Andy it is greatly appreciated.

9-28

68.25 miles

15.1mph average

36 mph max

4:30:46 ride time

10-3 

83.51 miles

14 mph average

39.4 mph max

5:56:38 ride time

Comments

[Ryan Costello]

it's a mini-reunion of the Freehold cast! The Ragamuffin Gunner, the Monk, and the giant kid who looked at the camera while running out of the lecture hall!