The 2010 iteration of the Ride From Reno is in the tank.  Finito.  Complete.  Done.  But what a week it was and what a day the ride was from Delta, Utah, to Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City! 

Day 5 started for me at 6 a.m. at a cafe’ in downtown Delta where I enjoyed a heaping bowl of oatmeal.  There were 3 elderly gentlemen sitting at the counter when a 4th walked in to join his friends.  As he sat down (he was probably 80-years old) the waitress said in a cheery voice, “Good morning!  How are you today?”  Without cracking so much as a smile, the gentleman looked at her and replied, “I’m old and I’m cranky.”  Pretty much described how I was feeling!

 Last evening Janet walked into our motel room crying.  Immediately concerned, I asked what was wrong.  She replied, “when we started this ride 9 years ago we were all alone.  Now look at us.”  She was right, as usual, and it drove home how blessed we are with the most wonderful family and friends in the world.  I get emotional thinking about each of you and how much you mean to us.

 At 7 a.m. Saturday, we all met at Droubay Chevrolet in Delta.  Seventeen other riders, most from the Bountiful Mazda/Bountiful Bicycle Center bike club, joined Jason, Larry, and I for the final leg which, this year, was known as the Huntsman 140.  Lori Kun, Jen Murano, and Brooke Hathaway from HCI put together a fantastic event with terrific support all along the way.  After a few words by an overstuffed buffoon, we were off on the road.  The winds were swirling from the northeast and northwest which made our journey a little more difficult.  John and Alison Lauck (both ultra-strong riders) were out on the Mothership and I tried sitting-in behind them but could never quite find good quiet air.

 It was 51 miles to Eureka and we had 1 feed-zone along the way, which wasn’t fair to Alison.  As soon as all the guys got off their bikes in the feed we were standing along the roadside “relieving” ourselves.  All I can say is, it’s a guy thing.  As cyclists, we’ll pee anywhere (albeit discreetly).  Poor Alison, being much more civilized, was looking for “facilities” and there were none to be found until 4 or 5-miles later when we stopped to accommodate her needs.  We’ve taken note, Alison, and next year’s 1st feed will be at “official” potty facilities!

 The next stop was at the start of the long descent out of Eureka to Elberta.  The weather had turned cold so most of us jacketed-up for the fast descent, which just about did me in.  I’ve been nursing a knee injury since Monday but it’s only been “nagging” (painful only when I clipped-in or out).  In the cold it was much, much different.  By the time I got to the bottom of the descent, the pain in my right knee was excruciating and I couldn’t move my leg.  I one-legged pedaled the final 2 or 3 miles to the Elberta feed-zone and knew I couldn’t make it another 80-miles on 1 leg.  In fact, I’d resigned myself to having to abandon the event in Elberta.  The spirit was more than willing but the body was absolutely broken.

 As I pulled into the feed-zone, a couple of wonderful things happened; 1st, Janet and our daughters, Megan and Heidi, made me sit down and put on leg-warmers.  Next, they forced me to take 800 mg of Viagra (OK, it was Ibuprofen), and while I was waiting for the drugs to kick-in, I tore open a packet of hand-warmers and stuffed one pouch inside my leg-warmer behind my right knee, and the other in front of the same knee.  I rode with serious pain the rest of the day but, here’s the great thing, I was able to ride!  Not always as hard or as fast as I would have liked, but I was able to turn the crank.

 We stopped for our nutrition break at the home of Mark and Kathy McGregor in Saratoga Springs.  The McGregor family has hosted us for the past 5 or 6 years and they are the most kind, gracious, and generous family imaginable.  It’s always such a delight to see Kathy’s wonderful smile as she greets us at her home.  This year was no different and we were treated as honored guests and so appreciate the McGregor’s hospitality.

 It was on from Saratoga Springs to Lehi, up through Draper, Sandy, and along 13th East to our final destination at Huntsman Cancer Institute where we were treated to a celebration that took my breath away!  By the time we arrived at HCI, we’d been joined by another 20 or 30 riders, and all their families and friends, along with ours, were waiting to greet us.  One thing I’ve learned in doing this ride over the past 9-years is that day-after-day of intensely physical effort and suffering tears down facades, walls, and barriers.  Somehow it puts everyone on equal footing and all the trappings of life seem to fall away.  Emotions aren’t just near the surface; they are the surface.  There were lots of tears shed, heartfelt embraces, and loving expressions of appreciation whispered at HCI on Saturday.

 For me, I felt as though I’d spent the week with angels.  Larry and Jason are life-long friends and I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment trusting my life to them.  Jason’s dad, Sam, and my dad, Jim, are the epitome of patience, generosity, and grace.  Sam, you may try and put on a crotchety face but you’ve got a heart of gold!  And I want to go on the record as saying I am proud to be Jim Warren’s son.  He’s a man of honor and integrity and, dad, I’ll never give-up trying to be more like you.

 To my friends  from Bountiful Mazda, you truly are angels.  I felt as though I’d had the crap kicked out of me this week and wasn’t as strong or fast as I normally am on the final day of this ride.  But you stayed by my side, nursing and shepherding me along to our destination.  Todd Handy told me before we rolled Saturday, “when you say it’s enough, I’ll be done.  When you say it’s time to roll, I’ll be ready to roll.  I’m with you.”  And so it was with Todd and each of you.  You were by my side watching over me and I’ll never forget the feelings of awe, appreciation, and gratitude I felt throughout the day as I witnessed your many acts of kindness.

 Brady Edwards, owner of Bountiful Bicycle Center, devoted his entire day to us and many riders would have had a much more difficult time had it not been for Brady and his expertise.  I think we all count him as a friend and having Brady along added to the feeling of “brotherhood” we all enjoyed so much.  Thank you, Brady, for your generosity and devotion.  I had to laugh as we were rolling through Draper when a BMW began honking at us incessantly and I wondered what the problem was.  That’s when I noticed, Rich, Brady’s dad, sitting behind the wheel waving at us.  Made me laugh.

 It was also wonderful to see Mike MacDonald, the driving force behind Bountiful Mazda, out with us.  Mike, who is always an inspiration, brought his truck and Team trailer to provide support for all of us and John and Alison Lauck’s son graciously spent the day following us in Mike’s truck and trailer insuring we got safely to our destination.

 Finally, I have to express my thanks to Corbin Church at Miche Bag and to Dean Gestal at Reynolds Cycling for their support of the Huntsman 140.  With their support and vision more than $20,000 has been raised through this event and contributions are still arriving (I received another $500 when I arrived home on Saturday).  My thanks to each of you.  My thanks also goes to Nate Wade Subaru who donated 4 cars for the use of those who were watching over us during the day Saturday.  And to Lori Kun at Huntsman Cancer Foundation, who is assisted by Jen Murano and Brooke Hathaway; for our inaugural event, we didn’t do too badly!  I can’t wait to do it all over again in 2011.  The 10th anniversary of the Ride From Reno!

 As Janet said through her tears Friday night, “when we started this ride 9-years ago, we were all alone.  Now look at us.”  Together, we make a difference.

 My love to each of you,

 Jeff