From Mike

Well it is over. That was so much more grueling than I remember it. Unbelievable. The day started with riders coming to Delta and more people met up with us in Eureka, Utah. Jeff was unable to come today, but we pressed on. Two of my friends, Peter Ward and Wayne Pullman showed up to help me out today. Their kindness and willingness to give up a Saturday was amazing.

The ride was fairly uneventful, but is was a quick pace. The pace line helped out immensely, and we got out and moved. We stopped at my the McGregor house (Kathy McGregor is my sister) and had some snacks that she provided (thank you Kathy). Her husband Mark McGregor passed away from cancer on July 24th 2005. It is special to go there and see the spirit that permeates that house. 

We got back on and navigated up to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the riders from Bountiful Mazda let us go up the hill first. I was in my customary last place in the climb, but I made it, and that was enough for me. Family, friends, Jeff and Janet, and hospital staff were there to greet us. It was great to sacrifice a little to help out Jeff’s cause a little more than normal. Hugs, tears, and smiles were there in abundance. What a day.

Now, I am a much stronger rider than I was last year. There is much improvement that I can do with my riding. But I learned a lot this year: 1. There is no substitute for just riding. 2. There really is not a shortage of human kindness in the world, it is there. 3. The impossible is possible if you don’t lose sight of your goals. I know these have application throughout all aspects of life, but specifically mine. 

I am excited to get going on the bike sometime next week, and set some goals for the next year. I pray for Josh, Jeff, Janet, and their family. And, I hope that is some small way I have helped to kick cancer’s butt.

Thanks to Bountiful Mazda Cycling Club, the Peterson’s, Coleman (and his entire family), Chris, Joe, and my great son Taylor. Jim, Yolanda, and Rick Gordon, you were great. I would maybe be to Fallon by now without you. Team McCombs and MaryAnn from the Reno side, thank you. You helped in a great way. 

Until next year?

From Larry

GPS Stats:

Unfortunately my GPS ran out of power a few miles before the Huntsman and had to be passed off for a quick charge so my stats fall a little short of the true totals. I road on home from the HCI and my total miles from the support car that followed along was 155 miles and I estimate around 4500 ft of climbing.

So it’s over – we few mortals have reached for the stars and succeeded! I had set a personal goal of riding 700 miles during the week and reached it at 712 miles. For me, personally, it was an emotional day, especially when we road up that last steep little pull to the Institute’s front door and realized we had “arrived”. Being surrounded the entire day by friends from the Bountiful Mazda Cycle Club, booed up my spirits and brought much needed vigor to my legs. But most of all, riding those last miles with Coleman, Mike, Joe, and Chris – new friends for life – and knowing that we had carried on Jeff’s efforts to do something that may touch the lives of countless people in the future was truly over-whelming. Seeing Jeff at the top of the climb yelling and cheering us one was the cherry on the topping. Thanks, Jeff!

The day started shortly after 7 AM in Delta. I was shuttled along the 51 miles to Eureka by eight men who had gotten up at 3:30 AM just to do that task. In Eureka we were met by other club members and two of Mike’s biking friends as well as Mike and Joe, Coleman and Chris had already started off the mountain by the time we got there. In the end our total rider count varied a bit as we collected one guy in Salt Lake that joined with us up to HCI. And we had one broken chain that resulted in a racked bike. The five of us that rode the entire way did so with out a single flat. That’s over 3200 flat free miles. Except for a flat by one of the club riders, we would have had a flat free event.

We were treated to lunch at a home on the West side of Utah Lake with a grand view of the lake and Mt. Timp in the distance. From there to the Huntsman, was pretty much stop light to stop light, except the City of Lehi honored us by lining the streets with flags.

And a final special thanks to those in the support cars, especially, Judy – my wife – who had to put up with my changing needs.