26 Days until #CourageClassic2025!
Hi Wheels!
We had a great group ride on Saturday, with 11 of us heading out to the top of Loveland Pass. When you look down at your bike computer and your current elevation is 5 digits, it’s possible your brain is no longer getting oxygen. We persist because of our stubborn and methodical pedaling, and a drive to feel accomplishment. The magic of these group rides for me has always been the complete wide array of physical strength. We are not well matched riders, we are not professional, we are matched in our willingness to endure. We are matched in our desire to complete a ride, even if the challenge of it has us a little daunted. Above all, we are matched in supporting one another NO MATTER how much or how little of the ride you want or can do. The group rides, much like the Courage Classic have always been about the ride that YOU can do. We each ride at our pace, and the distance or elevation that we feel we can achieve today. There is no shame in sagging, turning around, or frankly ugly crying on the side of the road (Like I did Thursday). The truth is, we have all been there, maybe not Ben or Brad… but who asked them. This journey we all share is one in self improvement, meditation, pain, joy, strength and so much more. The Wheels Team is so much more than a cycling team, we are a community and a family and united in a cause.
And to that point… we are not holding an official Wheels Team Party in Copper this year. Instead, we are creating a communal space that will be available all weekend from Friday to Sunday afternoon. “Martha’s Rest Stop” will be a gathering place in front of Jack’s in Center Village (located here). We want to have space that the entire team is welcome and we can laugh and cry and hangout together for the entire weekend. Martha would not want a room of people talking about her cancer journey, she would not want to have 90 minutes of stories about her. She would want us to unite in a casual and comfortable and loving environment on our schedule. Maybe you will meet her family there, maybe you will meet her friends, maybe you will meet people who didn’t know her and you can tell them about Martha. Whenever you visit, know that you are welcome exactly as you are.
Schedule-wise, what does this mean? Well, on Friday from 4-8pm apparel pickup will be at Martha’s Rest Stop. There will be tents, chairs, beach mats, and friends. Please bring food, drinks, games, art, you name it. On Saturday, we will be buying the team pizza and it will be available after the ride in two batches. Immediately followed by our team photo at 4:40pm in Center Village and the Courage Classic’s Program at 5pm. We intend to be “honorably mentioned” celebrating our 20th Anniversary in tandem with Cardiac Climbers. We hope you will pop by it’s from 5-5:30. Full details below.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom if you still need to order gear, book a room, or find details about the weekend! We hope this 20th year is magic!
Thanks,
Amber
