volunteers showcase: group 1

Group 1 of our 2009 volunteers includes veterans with more than 16 years of service as well as tour riders who later returned to offer their time and energy. Read about these folks and other volunteers below:

Name: Patty Benson
Nickname: Patty B.
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 7 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? I work at the Information Tent.
What is your favorite RTR memory? My first year, receiving my first “pin” at the last group meeting and saying goodbye to so many new friends.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? The awesome people you work with and the event is run as one of the best!!
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Get some seat time in before the ride. Riders…this is NOT a race, safety is first so take time to enjoy the scenery.
What do you do in your spare time? Ski, snowboard, and social bike rides.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Gunnison, Cortez, Montrose, Delta.
Names: Nick Anderson
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? First year!
What do you do in your spare time? Snowboard, play kickball.
What Colorado towns are your favorite? Denver, but I have a condo in Keystone so that makes the list as well.
Names: Jack and Paula Borland
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? We have volunteered for four tours and ridden seven.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid truck driver, Banner Truck driver, Fruit Truck driver.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Riding over Trail Ridge Road.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Great people, great scenery, a chance to visit parts of Colorado at a slower pace while having fun.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? TRAIN!
What do you do in your spare time? Geneology, photography, fly fish, keeping tabs on our nine grandchildren.
What Colorado towns are your favorite? Crested Butte and Breckenridge.
Name: Tim Bradley
Nickname: Mr. Wonderful
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 19 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? I have done baggage, road marshalling, banners, and Aid Stations.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Working with Marge Stall at Aid Station 1.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? I like talking to the cyclists, hooking up with my friends on the staff, and seeing this beautiful state!!
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? You will work hard but you will have fun!
What do you do in your spare time? Snow skiing, reading, community service work.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Steamboat Springs.
Other: RTR is a beautiful thing!
Name: Jan Owens Bruene
Nickname: Just Jan or Jan OB
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 22 years - I rode the ride as a cyclist in 1987 with a group of friends from Iowa. I started volunteering in 1988 when I came out to ride again with my group, the Rainbow Cyclists, but RTR needed a volunteer and I had a hurt foot so I couldn't ride my bike.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Baggage, Road Marshall and Aid Station Road Safety for over 20 years.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Identifying wild flowers with Sara, watchign the sun rise on the way to my shift, shoveling dirt to fill holes, sweeping sand and gravel so the cyclists won't slide into the aid station and welcomng the cyclists to the top of the mountain and flagging them in.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Good friends, enthusiastic and friendly cyclists, helping with a good cause.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Kick back and enjoy the ride, attend the education sessions, start early, smile :), and leave the private sags at home - we'll take care of you.
What do you do in your spare time? I like to play golf, read novels and I enjoy cooking; I used to bike, sew, knit, crochet and grow veggies - but I have moved on….
What Colorado town is your favorite? The Durango area is my favorite but all Colorado is GREAT!
Name: Maggie Carr
Nickname: Trouble
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? This will be my 12th year on staff for the whole ride (1999 through 2010); I was a last day volunteer as well in 1998 and I rode the ride with my dad twice (1993 and 1996).
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Aid Stations, road marshal, baggage, and Executive Liaison.
What is your favorite RTR memory? I can't think of just one ... so many things pop to mind! I love meeting so many new people every year and seeing all my old friends from years past. I also remember being on the news with Larry Green and Greg Moody.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? The staff and riders are like a family and it is great to see people year after year; my dad and two uncles ride every year and it’s great to get to hang out with them and see them since none of us lives in the same place.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Train...do some hills before the ride (I wish I had done more or this before I rode). But most important when you’re out there HAVE FUN!
What do you do in your spare time? I'm a lawyer...what spare time? Just kidding, I'm on a competitive ice skating team (we won 2 silver medals this year!). I also like to read, hang out with friends, watch movies, do different arts and crafts and workout.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Leadville, I lived there for a semester in college. It is cute and small, and the people are so nice. And there is Wild Bill's Burgers and Melanzana (the best outdoor clothes ... made right there in Leadville!).
Name: Charlie Charbonneau
Nickname: Tuna, COS, Chuck
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 2 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Paint safety and cleanup crew.
What is your favorite RTR memory? The Rookie Review with the Gary’s.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? It’s a really fun experience and I love hanging out with my dad.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Be prepared for Rookie Review!
What do you do in your spare time? Basketball, football, watching the Nuggets, sleeping.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Buena Vista.
Name: Raymond Riedhammer and Jeanne Schwenn-Riedhammer
Nickname: Ray and Jeanne
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 11 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Marshal and aid station.
What is your favorite RTR memory? There are too many to list. We think seeing the families that ride together is very special, also the beautiful Colorado scenery we see each year.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? To be a part of the volunteer family and meet with the cyclists. Seeing all the beautiful sports we go to in Colorado.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Be in the best physical shape you can be and be mentally prepared for whatever happens be it weather, changes in plans for the day and be ready to take on new challenges that might come up.
What do you do in your spare time? Jeanne is involved with SeniorNet which is a group of volunteers that teaches seniors about computers. Ray loves golfing.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Ouray and Vail. Each town we travel to has its own charm.
Name: Steve Raabe
Nickname: Professor
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 21 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? SAG driver.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Too numerous to list. Every day on Ride The Rockies is a favorite memory.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Hanging out with the riders and my fellow volunteers is always a special experience.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Ride safely. Don't keep your eyes glued to your front wheel. Enjoy the experience!
What do you do in your spare time? Read, taste wine and beer, listen to jazz, practice my semi-feeble Spanish skills.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Leadville, it's a scrappy town, a survivor, and great people. You gotta be tough to live at 10,430 ft!
Name: Jackie Norris
Nickname: Jackie
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 2 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Candy Store and one day at an Aid Station.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Seeing all the riders complete the ride and how wonderful they all felt - all ages!
Why do you keeping coming back each year? Elizabeth.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? Stay far away from the Rookie Reveiw!
What do you do in your spare time? Volunteer, read, travel, drink wine and generally enjoy life.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Denver.
Name: Worm
Nickname: Worm
How long have you been volunteering for RTR? 24 years.
What roles have you played as a volunteer? Technical Coordinator, Vice-President of Rookie Harassment.
What is your favorite RTR memory? Marge Stall giving me one of those famous “Hugger Marge” bear hugs at Aid 1.
Why do you keeping coming back each year? For the sense of shared accomplishment with the rest of the volunteer Staff. It’s a week-long family reunion with our RTR family.
What piece of advice would you offer a first-time RTR participant? This is a TOUR not a RACE! Enjoy yourself!!!
What do you do in your spare time? Fishing, Special Olympics, other misc. volunteer projects.
What Colorado town is your favorite? Whatever town we are in any night on Ride The Rockies.