Day 3 – One for the History Books!

I know the Ride From Reno is about raising funds for Huntsman Cancer Institute but, today, it’s all been about the cycling.  We rode ~122-miles today, from Eureka, Nevada, to about 40-miles east of Ely, Nevada.  We crossed 5 mountain passes, the highest being Connor Summit at 7,722’. 

I felt absolutely horrible this morning and couldn’t get myself back in the game.  We crossed Pinto Pass, Pancake Summit, Little Antelope Summit, and Robinson Pass before I started feeling good again.

As we came off Connor Summit at the end of the day, we had a long descent before riding across a wide valley.  We had a strong tailwind, and just blasted across the valley.  At one point I was riding with Scott at 38 mph (believe it or not, it was fairly flat), when I had an urge to pull out and pass him.  I came around him and looked down at my computer and it read ’42 mph’.  I’m not bragging because I only lasted about 200 yards and Scott can ride like that all day.  But it was exhilarating for each of us to conclude the day with a high-speed run across a beautiful valley with Great Basin National Park in the background. 

I can’t conclude my post without acknowledging each of our Team members.   Larry Peterson rides so strongly (I keep telling him he’s a machine!) and really protected me today.  When a strong crosswind was blowing he sat out in front and had me on the left side of his rear wheel where I got a bit of protection.  He’s constantly taking care of each of us.  Jason Bleak is an absolute animal, just so strong and so consistent.  He can sit out in front for miles and miles at a pace that would bring most riders to their knees.  Ravell Call makes everything on the bike look so easy . . . super strong and always moving through the paceline making sure everyone is OK.  Scott Westfall rides incredibly strong and just seems to get stronger as each day passes.  Steve Kelly has been riding out of his mind, so strong, and taking great care of everyone in the paceline.  Joe Plater has gotten stronger and stronger each day, just ripping it up.  Finally, my little brother, Coleman, amazes me.  He trains so little for this ride and throughout the week rides himself into condition . . . I don’t think there’s more than a couple of guys in the country who can do what Coleman can do.

 So far, this has been the best Ride From Reno ever.  An extremely strong group of guys who don’t have egos to get in the way with what they do each day.  Each is giving and wants to see other’s in our group succeed.  This is a very, very, special group of friends and I’m so proud to be a part of what we’re doing. 

Tomorrow we ride to Delta, and each year this day of the Ride From Reno has been grueling.  We’re hoping for the best and, with the strength of our group, we should have a great day.

Check back tomorrow for the latest!

Day 3 – 2011 Eueka to ??

Traditionally this is the hardest day for several reasons, 1) 5 climbs one right after the next, 2) the first climb starts at the step of the hotel in Eureka, 3) the climbs get bigger as the day progresses, 4) the approach to Connors pass requires many miles of riding into a strong wind, 5) everyone has body parts that just don’t want to function without extra effort, 6) the setsy bones are bright red, and 7) now what was 7 – oh yes, days one and two. Now to off set this are the reasons why this is the best day of the ride. 1) Everyone is struggling together. 2) Strong bonds have been built, 3) The beautify desert scenery with green valleys and mountain tops graced with white snow fields and yellow, red, white and purple flowers along the roadside. (I bore everyone by giving them names – they all think I just make them up). 4) willingness to relying on each others strengths. 5) lunch at McDonalds in Ely (just kidding about that one. 6) The fantastic descents. Every climb is followed by a descent and riding almost 10 miles without hardly touching the peddles at well over 30 MPH is a rush that brings high fives and knuckle busters around.
Both Scott and I felt really good the entire day and were happy to help out when ever we could. But when it comes to climbing there is little that we could do to help so Jeff would give us a ‘climbing pass’ and let us knock heads as much as we liked. I’ve become the bad guy in all of this as it seems everyone is cheering for Scott to take Larry on the climb. Well, the first climb out of Eureka I told Scott the summit was yet some distance off when in fact it was just a little out of sight. I took advantage of his lack of attention and sprinted around and on to the top uncontested. That brought some words of scorn and jeers from his supporters. The next pass was Scott’s by a wheel length. My own fault this time as I had jumped early and got a big gap on him then let off thinking he was demoralized and would not contest my win. I looked back a couple of times and didn’t see him coming. Then just like that he was on me and passed by and I had no time to respond. Way to go Scott. That brought lots of back-slaps from his friends. The next two passes we tackled with vigor but in the end called a truce at the top and crossed together. The last pass, Connors, started the same as all the others, fast and steady, but at the top it was each man for himself. The 27 MPH sprint to the top did not yield a clear winner. I think I did, Scott claims he did. We have left it in the hands of the Steve to look at the photos Holly took and decide who actually one. It was a good day of riding with fun climbs and fantastic descents. Jeff was marvelous as was everyone. Scott and I were faster on the climbs, but we clearly did not work any harder than anyone else. The ride is not about who wins or looses but getting everyone through the day and that we accomplished so everyone is a winner. It’s like our friends who are struggling with cancer, the only thing that matters is winning, how it’s done is secondary.

Now I would be remiss not to mention the support staff. What a wonderful, caring group. It seemed that on every corner or turn out someone was there to take a photo, provide some water or what ever else is needed.

And finally, there is Ravel! We are trying to figure out just what nick name to give him. I’m kinda partial to tag-along. He has the uncanny ability to jump on anyone’s draft going down hill and stick there like glue. He has been such a great addition to the ride with a great personality and attitude. He’s also a fantastic photographer, but he has a hard time handling his big camera while blasting down hills at 40-50 MPH.

Some Day Three photos by Michael Rivers.

Jason, Jeff, Larry and Joe change out a tire.

Determination in facing the wind.

A quick descent of one of five summits.

The long and lonely road through Nevada.

Jeff braves the heat as he glides along.

The group rolls through a valley.

Day two. by Jason Bleak

Day 2. The big duce.
Yesterday the group rode 145 miles. On highway 50 at our 145 mile point there is no lodging, I guess we could sleep with the snakes. Call me a sissy but I needed a hot shower and of course that bag of ice. So we drove back to Fallon to spend the night. Fallon is about an hour by car. We agreed to meet this morning at 6 for the hotel breakfast of synthetic eggs and stale bread, yummy. There has always been something wrong about eggs that have an absolute homogeneity in color.
Dad, Larry and I were the first on the road and the others soon followed, except Coleman Warren. He dropped his wallet in the parking lot; an honest lady found the wallet and turned it into the registration counter. Coleman and everyone in his car had already departed for the ride start and it turns out that the clerk would not release the wallet to the other individuals in our group. So……Coleman had to turn around and head back to the Com”fort” inn to get his wallet. I had no idea they took the fort part of their name so seriously. Man that clerk was not giving that wallet to anyone unless the DNA from the wallet sweat was a 100% match. By the time Coleman completed his DNA testing; retinal scan and finger printing then drove the hour and a half to meet us we were on the later side of 9AM. Yep that is right it took an hour and a half to make the hour drive because their wallet delay also put them smack in the middle of road construction on highway 50. I found it amazing the hotel has a geneticist and retinal scanner but can’t cook real eggs. It was starting look as though stinky sleeping with the snakes may not have been such a bad thing.
Once we got rolling the ride progressed nicely. By noon we were rolling into the city on a hill, Austin Nevada. There is not a single piece of level ground in that town. We ate lunch at one of the two cafes’ in town and continued the ascent to the top of Austin Pass 7,459’. It is always tough to get rolling after a meal, even more so when the get going involves climbing an average of 4% grade for the next 27 minutes with a full stomach. The nice thing is the effort allows you to enjoy your lunch one or two more times before you reach the summit. I just pedal easy so that I don’t lose my lunch.
After Austin summit there were a few more climbs over the next 21 miles. Then a glorious thing happened, the average gradient was slightly down until 3 miles from Eureka and we had a nice tail wind. For the next 2 hours we averaged just over 22 MPH. We rolled into Eureka around 5:30. Of course by the time we check in, shower, and return from dinner at the Owl Club it is 8:00 and now I get to blog.
Jeff Warren is a Class Act. When we arrived in Eureka the Hotel has no vacancy signs displayed. Not to worry as we all reserved our room’s months ago. The Hotel “lost” Jeff’s confirmation and did not have a room for him. He quietly and with dignity waited until all of us had checked in. Then following nearly an hour of patience he was able to get a room. He did not say a negative word or throw a fit, he showed dignity and patience. If the hotel had not come through we would have worked it out, Jeff could have a shower in one of our rooms; then I would have let him sleep in the bed of my truck, we could even have put some snakes in there to keep him company.
Here are the stats for the day: Miles for the day: 123.8. Average Heart Rate: 133. Average speed 18.3 MPH. Total vertical feet climbed: 5,739 feet. Hours from start to finish: 8 hours 52 Minutes. Hours moving 6Hrs 46 Minutes. Number of times I turned my pedals: 28,826.

Day One Photos Reno to Cold Station (then back to Fallon, NV) – 138 miles

Sorry to do this but I am running late so please visit   http://kellypave.posterous.com    to see Holly’s photos from Day One.

More to follow – these guys are kicking butt!

Steve

Some photos from Tuesday

Larry pulls us through a scenic area. Photo by Michael Rivers.

Jason leads a descent.

Scott is at front in this photo.

Jeff smiles for the camera.

Scott and Larry push up a hill.

Finally a post from Larry

I’ve had problems getting a user name and password that works. I guess Jeff doesn’t want me to tell it like it is out there on the road? Every year this is a new experience, even though the road is the same. Changes in the weather and the people we ride with make it new and interesting and fun. It has been especially pleasing to have Colman and Jo along this year. They are just quality men and now good friends with memories of past rides to share. Steve is a person with an interesting life story that everyone should hear. Another of my growing list of heroes and cancer survivors. He like Jeff has Gods gift of grit and determination and always has something positive to say and a story to go along with it. My buddy Jason – what can I say? We have spent many miles riding with each other and now it has become second nature to take advantage of each others skills in the most efficient way. He is dependable in every way and gives every ounce there is to give. Now comes Scott. Scott has become a new best friend and my nemesis. He is on this trip, I’m sure, to challenge me on every climb and every pull. I’ve manage to out wit him so far but I can see that all coming to an end once he has learned all of my tricks. For example, this morning on the several mile assent of New Pass we were testing each others will at 13-18 MPH on 5-7% grades. I just managed to edge him out when he thought the green sign was the top, but it was only a county border sign and he had dropped off the pace enough that it was an easy win at the top – a hundred yards further on. Oh, yes and we were the last to start the climb and managed to whiz pass everyone along the way with time to spare at the top. And finally, Jeff – he is doing fantastic this year. Always near the front on the flats and down hill runs. Still a little slow on the steep climbs, but never the last up, heart and will describes his character. That leaves me. Not much to be said – I have a reputation to protect and doing my best to keep it. Wagon-master, hill climber, and plodding along at the head of the peloton waiting for the next instruction shouted from Jeff – Too Fast, Too Slow – never satisfied, I tell you. I have felt great and am happy to do my little part to make this trip successful. Today my average speed was 18.9 MPH, but we had 10 mile segments with average speeds of 21.8, 22.5, 20.8, 22.1, 24.0 and 22.2 MPH. All helped along with a friendly wind and great riding organization and drafting in the group. Not bad for this little band of men trying to do something for those with cancer.

Day 2 – An Amazing Team!

While on the way out to our starting point this morning, Ravell called to tell us Coleman had left his wallet at the motel in Fallon.  We turned around, drove back to Fallon and ended-up not getting on our bikes until ~9:15 . . . . nearly an hour late.  As it turned out, the hour really didn’t matter.  Today we were on fire!

Virtually everyone of our Team members contributed today.  We ended-up with 121-miles at an average pace of 19 mph.  And that includes Mt. Airy Pass, New Pass Summit, and the brutal Austin and Bob Scott Summits.  Larry and Jason took huge pulls today, at some really incredible speeds.  27 and 28 mph were not unusual on the flats.  Scott spent time out in front as well, keeping the pace whipped-up.

While we’re riding our bikes from Reno to Salt Lake City, this ride is about much, much, more than a bike ride.  This ride is about raising money for Huntsman Cancer Institute where they’re looking for better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer.  And each member of our Team is focused on the cause for which we’re riding.

I consider it a tremendous honor to be associated with the men who are riding with me this year.  Each has his own unique reasons for being here, but each has taken time away from his family, work, and agreed to pay his own expenses in addition to fundraising for HCI.

Steve Kelly is with us and you’ve probably seen the pic of him with his new mohawk . . . done in honor of our ride.  I doubt there are many graduates of the Air Force Academy who, like Steve, sport mohawks.  But, Steve, like me, is a cancer survivor.  We’re both keenly aware of the need for funding cancer research and are committed to doing our part.  Both Larry and Jason have cancer stories that simmer just below the surface.  We’re all touched by this disease, and we’re doing our best to raise funds to alleviate the suffering.

Today we all worked together and delivered a stellar performance.  Jason, Larry, Ravell, Steve, Scott, Joe, and Coleman were studs.  And my Dad, Jim, Jason’s Dad, Sam, Scott’s uncle, Michael, and Steve’s wife, Holly, were there with us every turn of the crank.  We couldn’t be on our bikes without them . . . and that’s not being melodramatic.

Another day down.  3-days to go.  And tomorrow will be brutal.  Can’t wait to see what happens!

Before I close, if you haven’t yet contributed to Huntsman Cancer Institute, please take a few minutes and do so (go to www.huntsmancancer.com and click on the ‘How You Can Help’ tab).  Not everyone can ride a bike 667-miles but everyone can do something.  Please make a donation today . . . right now.  And in the comments area, enter “Jeff Warren’s Ride From Reno” so the folks at HCI will know the source of your generosity.

BTW, Jason Bleak has already raised >$11,000! 

That’s the kind of people I get to spend the week with.  I’m just about the luckiest man alive!

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