2008 Colorado River Ride

Every year for the past four years, some variation of Team Antlers has ridden in the late-July Colorado River Ride ... one of the best and most fun bicycle centuries there is. In addition to the 100 mile route being spectacular (much of it paralleling the Colorado River from Burns to Dotsero) the aid stations are more like big parties then most other rides. That's because a significant number of the 1,000+ riders are locals that all know each other.

This year was Team Antlers' finest hour (so far) with 15 people riding in Antlers jerseys. It was an all-star lineup, including:

Randi Davis (our controller) and her architect husband Danny on their tandem (hanging out about six inches off of their back wheel is truly one of my most happy places in the whole world)

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Bert Farin ... the most fun-loving employee in the history of the Antlers. Period.

Kent Rose ... past mayor of Vail, a stalwart of our regular Wednesday night mountain biking group, and the only guy I know to once ride to Steamboat and back (200 miles) in one day

Ray Tuomey ... Bert's friend (and ours) from Chautauqua in Boulder and now solar panel guru (pictured here using his "portable changing room" aka a Mexican poncho)

Erin Kelly ... son in law of Ebby and Lex Pinson (of Vail Symposium fame and Wednesday nights respectively)

Lee Rimel & Charlie Dolan ... Both Wednesday night vets. Charlie's a builder extraordinaire and Lee built and owns the 10th Mountain Division Hut System's newest hut at the top of Tennesee Pass ... the Continental Divide Hut

Cathy Craig ... Durango's finest product ever and one of my very best buds from Colorado College

Nate Free ... past Antlers employee (last millenium), who now runs club sales for the Sonnenalp golf club and frequent biking pal of Randi & Danny

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and yours truly

Sadly, Ratz, Sarah and Marco Pierotti decided to start from Beaver Creek, whereas the rest of us started and finished in Eagle ... so we missed them. Deputy Sherriff Jeff Layman, caught us midway as well. So too bad ... no photos, but they all proudly wore the Antlers Burgundy and Cream as well.

Coming out of Eagle we were full of piss and vinegar ... constantly challenging each other for the head of the paceline. Well, maybe not ... but you get the idea.

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However by the end of the ride, it was a slightly different story.

Thanks to Kent and Rayma Rose who threw an AWESOME post ride cookout and picnic at their magnificent Eagle Ranch home, the wear and tear of all those road (rode?) miles wore off pretty quickly. On the other hand, I suspect everyone slept pretty darn well that night ... I know I did.

By the way, we've got some open slots for next year's ride ...