Team Garmin Ride The Rockies Wrap-Up

It’s Tuesday and I’m back at my desk job in Kansas City. So sorry to keep everyone hanging over the weekend. But I was exhausted by the end of the ride on Friday and spent the weekend recovering and readjusting to the “real world.” Spending a week with no TV, no car and no cell phones (well, except for occasional calls home to let your family know you are still alive) is a great vacation, but also makes it tough to come back to reality.

Friday ended RTR 2006 with a bang. After a long, mostly downhill ride out of Salida, CO, towards our final destination, we took a little detour to ride across the Royal Gorge bridge. We had been warned about the steep roads leading to the South rim of the Gorge, but no words could have prepared me for the punishing five mile climb featuring a two-mile section with grades of 10-20% (my Edge actually recorded a maximum grade of 29.2 percent, but I think…hope…that was an anomaly!). The reward, however, was worth it. Reaching the South rim and looking across the Gorge, then riding across the world’s highest suspension bridge while looking down at the Colorado River between the 1,292 wooden planks that make up the bridge!) was something I will never forget.

Reaching the finish line after riding every mile of the 419-mile tour (actually, my Edge recorded 422.21 total miles!) through the Rocky Mountains is a feeling of accomplishment unlike anything I have experienced. Exhausted, relieved and sore (especially the five points!) and yet excited, fulfilled and saddened that it’s over. Such a range of emotions. I’m not afraid to admit that I cried.

And then comes time to say goodbye to all of the friends — some from last year (and, in Kris’ case, many years past) and some new friends met along this year’s route. If you can remember what the end of summer camp was like (“one time, at band camp…”), then you know what it’s like. In fact, my wife calls RTR “summer camp for adults.” Actually, it’s summer camp for people of all ages, races, and religions, and abilities who love to tour the majestic Rocky Mountains on a bicycle.

My personal highlight was the ride into New Mexico — from Durango, CO to Chama, NM and then over Cumbres and La Manga passes back into Colorado. This is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen and the reception we got from the people in Chama was overwhelming. I think every resident was wearing a special T-shirt they had made up to welcome RTR (they were bright yellow and hard to miss!). Very cool.

Well, I suppose I better get back to work now. Either that or start daydreaming about RTR 2007!

Ride on!

Daren

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