After a week of rest and getting back to normal, I finally got back on my bike Saturday for little spin. It made one thing very clear: reality sucks. I miss getting on my bike every morning with no agenda other than ride, stop to take pictures, ride some more, visit the beer garden. Repeat. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

View from the top.

I want to again say thank you very much to all the staff, volunteers, support personnel and host communities. You didn’t just make this ride, you made it great! All of your efforts are greatly appreciated.

I do have a few regrets from the ride (not counting that ill-advised Grand Mesa comment): I regret that even though I was up at 5 AM every day (a rarity for me) I didn’t watch a single sunrise. I regret that I didn’t make more of an effort to meet my fellow Peak Pedalers. I got to learn a lot about them from their blogs, but didn’t get a chance to meet them in person. But, there is always next year.

It has been a privilege to be one of this year’s Peak Pedalers. I have truly enjoyed sharing this adventure with all of you. I hope I’ve successfully conveyed both the trials and triumphs felt along the way.

One of the things I really like about Ride The Rockies is the Denver Post Community Foundation giving back to the people and communities we visit. It’s in that spirit that I bring up a charity event I’ll be doing later this summer. In August, I’ll be riding in the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure. I’d like to take a moment to ask for your support in raising money for this great organization. If you are interested and have a little to spare, you can donate here.

This last week I read a fantastic quote that I think sums things up for me when I think about Ride The Rockies. So until next year, I will leave you with this:

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and can coast down them….”

-Ernest Hemmingway

Thank you for reading,

Not Your Average Joe

2015