NicoleBike MS: Colorado was able to be held in person yesterday (June 26, 2021). I believe this event is usually the 3rd largest Bike MS event in the nation, and it made over 1600 cyclists and MS fundraisers very happy to be able to join the well-supported ride.
What is Bike MS?
Bike MS is a charity event that raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and there are about 50 rides around the country each year. The Colorado ride has a goal to raise $2,000,000 for the Society. (It’s at 1.8mil right now!) The Colorado ride has been taking place for over 35 years. Participants need to raise at least $400 in order to ride. It is typically a 2-day event, starting in Westminster, CO and ending in Ft. Collins on Day 1. Day 2 is a different route back to Westminster. The post-ride festivities on day 1 are not to be missed, especially with Left Hand Brewing as the beer sponsor! The ride is really a celebration of all the hard work participants have put in with fundraising, as many people well exceed the minimum amount.
Colorado 2021
This year’s ride was only a 1-day event due to COVID precautions, and although the festivities were limited, it was still a wonderful ride. My friend Steve and I decided to drive up (~90 minutes) the morning of, so I had an early start with a 4am wake-up call. Our team’s “venue access window” started at 6:35am, so our plan was to take a team photo at 6:50 and roll at 7:00am. Inevitably a few people missed the pre-start team photo, but those who did were part of the same family so we got a separate shot of them. Thirty people were able to ride this year, with a few more on the team who were not able to make it.
The Weather
The forecast was 40%-60% chance of rain and thunderstorms, and as we covered a lot of ground with this ride, there was bound to be some. It had rained quite a bit the day before, which made for a cool start. I’ll take a high of 70F and chance of rain over 95F and no clouds for this long ride!
My Ride
My friend Steve and I are about the same pace so we ride well together. Today was his day to be the stronger one. We rolled out at 7:00 on the dot, and for the start, I like to easy spin it out with the team. I don’t see some team members outside of event day, so it is nice to catch up with some of them. We did have a team member crash early on because of the wet roads, but she got checked out and was good to continue (remember, always wear your helmet!)
Once we got through the first few miles, everyone settled into their own pace or the pace of their chosen group. Steve and I had talked about riding at a pretty comfortable pace because last weekend we did the races in Leadville. We ended up going out a little harder than initially planned, but we usually know where we can ride.
Ride to Lunch
The lunch stop was around mile 45, with three rest-stops in between. While they weren’t quite as robust as years past with offerings, they did have a good amount of snacks, water, port-o-potties, bike mechanic, and medical area. We made reasonably quick stops at these, but we did thank volunteers, greet other teammates, and take a few pictures.
As we got closer to lunch, we could see clouds building to the west. Knowing weather, it’s a question of whether or not the clouds build enough for a storm cell, or pass over and build further east. When we arrived at the lunch stop, a few other Team NEO members were already there. And not that much later, a big group arrived. I grabbed our sandwich boxed lunch and a coke to drink. I don’t often have soda, but the coke tasted amazing.
The sky to the west was getting significantly darker. My initial thought was to eat quickly so that we could be on our way to beat the storm, but Steve checked the radar (yay technology!) and thought it best to wait it out. And a good idea that was! A pretty heavy cell passed over us, dropping a good amount of rain for about 15 minutes. Most riders were huddled under the tents, and I put my arm warmers back on, and added my light rain jacket. I was thankful I was wearing my full-fingered gloves, as my hands were a bit chilly.
The Ride to the Finish
We had been at the lunch stop for about 45 minutes due to the storm, and eased into riding again once it sufficiently passed. Fortunately, we were lucky and stayed at the edge of the cell as we made our way back south. About an hour or so after lunch, my legs were really telling me they’d had enough of the pace we had been going at. Steve noticed I wasn’t quite hanging on so we slowed down a bit as we rode the last 20 miles or so to the finish. The last stretch has a reasonable amount of climbing, and I was thankful for a few of the traffic lights and took advantage of a stop to get in a few more calories. The sky was somewhat clear for the time being, and I was definitely not cold anymore.
The Finish
The stretch to the finish was a lot less crowded than years past due to the spread out start and slightly fewer riders. But as we rolled into the finish chute, there were still a good amount of people cheering us on, including a few of the team members who rolled out of the lunch stop before us (they spent a chunk of time in the storm…oops!) There was unexpected food at the finish line – delicious BBQ sandwiches and chips, and some ice cold water. It wasn’t too long before most of the rest of the team came in. Everyone enjoyed the ride! And then the next storm cell moved in so we headed back home. Until next year, Bike MS!
How You Can Help
Chances are you know someone living with multiple sclerosis, although you may not know it. If not, you most certainly have a secondary connection – someone you know knows someone living with MS. This disease can erode quality of life. Donating to the National MS Society helps those in need with support services and funds innovative research. Please donate here. Any amount is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Nicole
