Bike MS Colorado 2023 Event Recap

Being back in CO for the summer and having successfully “crash trained” for the two-day event put on by the National MS Society, I rode in my 9th Bike MS: Colorado 2023 on June 24-25.

TL;DR

I rode 155 miles on June 24 & 25, 2023 in Bike MS: Colorado. It was fantastic! You still have time to help me reach my fundraising goal by donating any amount here. Scroll down for the photo gallery.

Why I Ride

I was diagnosed with MS in 2014 and participated in my first Bike MS that year as a volunteer. As an endurance athlete, it made sense to combine my love for cycling with an opportunity to raise important funds for the National MS Society. I am able to bring awareness about the disease as I fundraise, as well as meet (and ride with) others with MS. I’ve met many great people in the last ten Bike MS events! Please consider a contribution to get us closer to a cure. My goal is $5000, as that amount can fund an Ask an MS Expert webinar. Informing people of new research findings or symptom management is an important part of the Society’s mission. While the MS Society does fund a ton of research, their patient education and support programs are critical to enhance the quality of life of those with MS.

The Team

Team NEO had 23 registered members and 19 of those were at the event. We are a mix of different cycling abilities. Most were from Colorado, but one came in from California! We had several returning members who had been riding Bike MS for decades, and others who rode in their first Bike MS event.  

Day 1

We took a team photo, rolled through the start as a team, and then rode at our own paces on the way to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. As Day 1 was going to be my longest ride this year so far, I opted to take it pretty relaxed. I wanted to keep the century ride in my back pocket, but the primary route was 76 miles. I rode the first section with one of my athletes I coach and it was his first Bike MS. He’s training for a full Ironman, so the back-to-back long rides was a good training weekend for him, and it was a good chance for us to have a training conversation. I stopped at the first rest stop and he didn’t need to, so off he went. I rode solo until lunch (solo is relative – there were 1500 registered riders) and opted for a quick stop.

Lunch – Day 1

At the lunch stop I ran into Darren (team member) and Pat (his partner), Tom (team member and NMSS CO board member), and Michael (NMSS CO board member) so I sat down for some quick conversations. Lunch for me was half a hearty PB&J, potato chips, and a Coke. At the lunch rest stop I ran into John of the Sugarbees. Rudy and I met him at the Wyoming ride a few years ago and see him once a year at this event. I asked if he was going to ride the century, and he said, “why ruin a good time?” That was a good perspective!

After Lunch – Day 1

Lunch got me the final 30 miles to the finish. While I could have finished the century, it would have been a little on the crushing side. With the course split around 2 miles or less from the finish line, and the afternoon winds picking up something fierce, why spend 2 more hours in the sun and wind when I can be in the shade and having a beer in fifteen minutes?! I rode some of the post-lunch miles with a couple guys from Blucifer’s Breakaway. (Read Blucifer’s story here; it’s not related to MS.) They had one of the most fun jerseys, with a cartoon Blucifer on the back! 

After Party – Day 1

It was around 12:30 when I finished day 1, put my bike in the bike corral, and then headed over to grab a table in the shade and enjoy a Left Hand beverage. (They are an amazing sponsor of the event.) Slowly but surely the rest of the crew came in and we hung out, enjoying beverages, snacks, and stories of the day. I do enjoy being on my bike for long rides, but getting to hang out with people and hearing their stories is one of my favorite things about  Our friends Steve and Dottie raced in a triathlon in Loveland, which is very close to the Bike MS route, so they did the race and then rode to Fort Collins to finish Day 1. 

Around 5pm it was time for Rudy and me to check into the hotel and get some dinner. While the event does serve pretty good food via CSU catering, we opted to eat out this year. At dinner we ran into a couple other teammates who were staying in the same hotel, chatted with them a bit, and then it was time to get ready for tomorrow and set the alarm for super early again.

Day 2 

Day 2 starts with a ‘Victory Lap,’ which is a mile route for those living with MS to ride. I missed it last year due to shuttle issues (My typical chauffeur, Rudy, was home with Covid then.) So I was determined to not miss it this year. About 40 of us living with MS got on our bikes at 5:45am, rode around the Oval of CSU to cheering, and then returned to either officially start the ride or get breakfast. Team NEO had four people at the ride with MS. (A fifth couldn’t make the event this year, but he was in our thoughts!) It was neat to share a moment with people with MS, as we are pretty much scattered along the course all day. 

The Ride – Day 2

I actually felt pretty decent for Bike MS Day 2. Perhaps because the route didn’t have the climbs it usually does after lunch and I was true to my plan and kept my effort in check. Day 2 had the Horsetooth Climb for the 78 mile route, and Steve and I opted for this one rather than bypass it for about 68. We both were feeling pretty good and made our way back to Westminster in a little over 5 hours of riding time. There was nothing too eventful, other than the temps were cooler than Saturday and the wind wasn’t quite as strong either. The real test on how you feel on Day 2 is the climbs back into Westminster in the final 10 miles or so. Even though they are only between 2-3% grade, it’s the end of a long day on the bike after a long day on the bike, and depending on conditions, can be both mentally and physically challenging.

The Finish – Day 2

The event finishes at Front Range Community College, and once we were there, it was time to wait for other members of the team to arrive, have lunch, and relax a bit. I have access to the VIP tent so had a couple “bougie” snacks and another Left Hand beverage. Once everyone on the Team was in, all who were still there were greeted. Then it was time for Rudy and I to drive home and process the whole event.

The Reflection

Reflections aren’t a strength of mine; a lot of my posts are “I did this” and “then this happened” but for this one I do want to make sure I reflect a bit as Bike MS is a very meaningful experience for many. I am gratefulI am able to ride an event like this while living with MS. Not everyone is so lucky. Additionally, I don’t know what next year will bring. Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease, and while this year I am not having any trouble riding, I just don’t know. I am thankful I can share the experience with a team of people, as cliche’ as it is these days, we are truly stronger together. The support of my team for me and the others with MS on the team is fantastic. I really enjoy seeing how their support networks pull through as well. And anytime I am able to spend a day pedaling in the Colorado sunshine, well, I’ll take it!

A simple ask

Please consider a donation of any amount to support the National MS Society. You can make a tax deductible donation here, and learn all about the National MS Society here.

Thank you!