Today felt exceptionally good and the guys all rode really strong today (although a rain shower or two would have felt good)! I’m very proud to be a part of this ride into the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Jason pulling the guys!
June 14th, 2011 
rcall Here is a photo by Holly Kelly at Lattin Farms in Fallon. We had lunch and a train ride.
Day One Post by Jason Bleak
June 14th, 2011 rcall THIS IS A POST BY JASON BLEAK> my password is not working so Ravell was good enough to let me use his.
Day one (so to speak) is in the bag ….and to alleviate the pressure; right now I have Ice on that bag.
I think this ride is a little like child birth, we forget how difficult something is so we do it again.
Here are the boring stats; mine are a little different than the rest of the group for several reasons.
1) I circled back to assist with flats a couple times.
2) I circled back so I could show a couple of riders that were not in the main group where they needed to turn for lunch.
3) At 132 miles we arrived at shoe tree, at least what used to be shoe tree. Some vandals cut the tree down earlier this year. I was feeling done and started to put my bike in the truck when Jeff told me we needed to ride further up the road. I was the last to arrive at shoe tree and was spent. If I stayed for even a few minutes I would want to get in the truck and be done for the day so up the road I went by myself. I kept riding and riding thinking the group would easily catch me. Well at 151 miles one of the support cars pulled up and said “hey we stopped about 6 miles back. Then I was done.
Miles for the day: 150.7. Average Heart Rate: 146. Average speed 17.6 MPH. Total vertical feet climbed: 5,554 feet. Hours from start to finish: 11 hours even. Hours moving 8Hrs 37 Minutes. Number of times I turned my pedals: 38,775 (I have a low cadence)
We had 5 flats today. Last year we did not have a single flat until the final day, and then there were several.
At lunch the good folks at Latin Farms fed us a meal. Several of the items were directly off their farm. Thanks to Rich and Vickie.
Shortly after leaving shoe tree I so wanted to be off the bike. I had to remind myself that this is more than just a bike ride and the cause is greater than me so stop whining and continue on…those that are presently in the middle of their cancer treatment do not get to quit….the stakes are too high, I wanted to cry, but that would blur my oxygen deprived vision further so I just continued to ride. It was hot as hell. It felt like I was licking cotton balls.
The included photo is just East of Fallon around mile 105. You can see the barren landscape to each side of the road. In order of appearance: Scott, Ravell, Jeff, Coleman, Steve, Larry, Not visible behind Coleman and in front of Steve is Joe; I had no idea he was so camera shy. Me,,,,, I am taking the photo with camera held over my head while we are traveling about 25MPH. I imagine there is a safety talk in there somewhere.
The 4 support vehicles were great: Jim (Jeff’s’ dad), Sam (My Dad), Mike (Scotts’ Uncle), and Holly (Steves’ wife).
Alone on Highway 50 – The Loneliest Road in America
June 13th, 2011 jwarren No time to post pics tonight . . . . I’m exhausted. A tremendous day on the bike though, raising funds for better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer.
I won’t bore you with the details of the early part of the day, other than to say the pace got wicked-fast at times and I think we’ll all be paying the price tomorrow for today’s foolishness. Hopefully we’ll be wise enough to keep the pace around 20 – 22 mph tomorrow.
We got to the Shoetree, or at least what’s left of it, around 5 o’clock. Several of our riders went off to help a motorist who’d gotten stuck in some sand and, while they were helping, Jason Bleak took off to get in a few more miles. A few minutes later I also headed out to get additional miles.
Here’s my point and experience: I was all alone. It was the end of the day, I was bonked, but I new we needed more miles. And as I rode along, I was overcome with the loneliness of where I was. There was no one around; I was completely alone. It was the perfect metaphor for cancer treatment. It’s something that can only be done alone. Family and friends may be there for support, but it’s you who has to lay down for another session of radiation, sit in a recliner in the infusion center for another chemo treatment, or endure a surgical procedure. No one can do it for you. It’s you and you alone.
As I rolled along at 12 – 14 mph, I was overcome with emotion. And anger. Emotion for what cancer and it’s associated treatment does to a person and anger at my companions for not being there when I needed them. I didn’t say what I was experiencing was logical or appropriate, but it’s what I was feeling nonetheless.
I’m out here with Jason, Larry, Steve, Scott (Bobo), Ravell, Coleman, and Joe, who are the most kind and gracious friends imaginable, and I am so grateful for each of them. They are men of honor and integrity who are doing this ride to make a difference in the world. And they are. My thanks to each of you.
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Day one, Ride from Reno.
June 13th, 2011 rcall Here are two photos of the group on day one taken by Michael Rivers.
This photo is of Jeff making a climb. It is also by Michael.
The last photo shows Jeff Warren taking a rest after the 140 mile ride.
Ready to Rock ‘n Roll!
June 12th, 2011 jwarren Hard as it is to imagine, it’s time to sit my butt down in the saddle, point the front wheel east toward Salt Lake City, and turn the cranks! The 2011 iteration of the Ride From Reno is finally here!
A little snafu this afternoon when I came to the realization that I left all of my nutritional supplements at home. A quick trip to Scheels and, $150 later, I was back in business. Sort of. We’ll see what the next few days bring. The best laid plans of mice and men . . . .
I’ve attached a couple of pics . . . the first of my Dad’s neighbors (seriously, I took this pic standing in Dad’s front yard!), and the second a road sign to prove how seriouse the elevation changes are here in Virginia City. And, in the morning we’ll be climbing Geiger Grade. Woohoo. Can’t wait!
BTW, did you see the pic of Steve Kelly, with his ‘slimmed down dome’? I’m thinking we should all follow his example. What do you think?
Dad's next door neighbors!
Welcome to the 2011 Ride From Reno!
June 12th, 2011 jwarren This year’s ride is stacking-up as the best ever! There will be 7 friends riding with me in 2011:
Jason Bleak
Ravell Call
Steve Kelly
Larry Peterson
Joe Plater
Coleman Warren (my wonderful brother, who starts his training each year a week before the ride!)
Scott Westfall
While there will be 8 of us out on the road, we’re riding for a singular purpose: To raise funds
for Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City where they’re hot on the trail of finding better
tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer and, ultimately, cures for the >150 types of this
damnable disease.
Cancer impacts each and every one of us. 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in
their lifetime, while 1 out of 2 men will suffer the same fate. Having your Dr. say to you, “I’m
sorry to have to tell you that you have cancer” is one of the most traumatic events a person will
ever face, and is but the beginning of a long and arduous journey. A journey that leaves each
person so diagnosed changed forever.
Just this morning, Coleman and I did a little training ride to Virginia City from Reno. While
sitting at the top of the summit of Geiger Grade, a cyclist pulled-up to rest after the long
climb. We introduced ourselves, chatted for a couple of minutes, and during the conversation
Coleman told our new friend about the Ride From Reno and why we were doing it. Our friend
was quiet for a moment before telling us, “my Dad passed away from cancer and I totally
support what you’re doing.”
Yesterday, my son-in-law sent a note saying 8-year old Dax Christensen, the son of a close
friend, had passed away following a long and difficult battle with cancer.
My point is this: Cancer is everywhere. And it’s up to us to do something about it. If we’re
waiting for someone else to fund finding better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer,
we’re probably smoking crack. If we’re waiting for Obamacare to find the cures for the >150
types of this damnable disease, we’re totally screwed. It’s not up to them. It’s up to us!
And so, 8 of us are beginning the 10th Ride From Reno, which is our effort to raise funds needed
to Kick Cancer’s Butt. Or, to say it more succinctly, to Kick Cancer’s Ass. As a survivor of Stage
IV Head & Neck cancer, I have the unique license to be as incensed and pissed-off about cancer
as anyone. I don’t take it lightly. I take it for what it is . . . a life and death struggle with a few
mutant cells intent on killing us.
So please, take the opportunity to do something about cancer. Don’t wait for ‘someone else’
to do it for you. Open your purse or wallet and make a donation now to Huntsman Cancer
Institute. Go to www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org to make a donation or, simply click
https://www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=235. It doesn’t get much
easier.
Now it’s up to you.
Kindest regards,
Jeff
Steve’s ready
June 12th, 2011 skelly 
Steve Kelly - "mohawked"
Reno, NV – Sunday 12 Jun 2011
As you can see I have “slimmed down” – at least my head – for the hot weather ahead. I cannot wait to start the ride in the morning – my goal is to get Jeff to Salt Lake City in one piece. I will try to be the best domestique and wind blocker possible. My wife, Holly, is excited to drive our 4Runner along with us and be our support system. She’ll also be taking photos along the way that we hope to post as well.
More to follow – I need to lay down – too much Circus Circus buffet.
