A really good day overall. A lovely coffee stop. A vastness of plains dotted with a few cows. A sun burning bright with sweeping storm clouds slowly crawling over. We were, quite honestly, zoomin’.
Sorry for the late post, the rodeo ran a bit late. I will be posting about our adventures in Boulder tomorrow! :)
“Ain’t no saddle sores with no saddle.” - Nabeel
Ride Overview
Mileage: 60.5
Elevation: +1053’/-853’
General Direction: Navigate onto westbound U.S. 34 and remain on this road for 60 miles until reaching Fort Morgan, then turn left on State St. to reach the stayover.
Points of Interest: Great Plains scenery
Tales of the Trail
There’s arguably no more intimate way to engage with the country we live in on the day that it is most celebrated than exploring it and seeing it for what it is. The open brushlands and silos and fences and store-lined main streets of towns may be simple elements, but they are genuinely what make up so much of where we are. This ride was a quick one, simple in its direction and pleasant with its tailwinds. We saw more of the Great Plains and re-entered the “fertile crescent” surrounding the Platte River, which runs just north of Fort Morgan. We made it in time for some downtime before our main event that evening.
We are staying at Fort Morgan’s United Methodist Church. At our final rest stop, we saw a sign for a rodeo happening in the town of Brush, and thought it would be a perfect way to spend the evening of the 4th. At about 6 PM, we drove back along our route and watched it! There were shop tents, food stands, cowboy hats everywhere, and plenty of fireworks highlighting the dark and cloudy sky. We watched steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and saddle bronc riding. For most of the team, it was the first rodeo they’ve seen, and it was a very fun time!
Cyclist’s Corner
Today’s Rider: Sam Rosner
How are you today? I’m doing really great. The ride went super, super smoothly, there was great scenery pretty much the whole way, and it wasn’t too hot. I also really enjoyed the rodeo.
You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? I set up a table once outside of an outdoor equipment store to fundraise, and some of the people I met shared their experiences with cancer. This really helped me to see the impact of what we were doing firsthand.
What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? First, I never decide to give up until i’ve been up at least twenty minutes; its always the hardest right after you’ve woken up. I also think about how far we’ve come, how great it will be to finish in San Francisco, and how I need to put in the work now and connect those moments.
Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? Probably my sun sleeves which help me not to have to wear sunscreen on my arms, and a pair of sunglasses.
What’s your rest stop routine? I don’t really know if I have one, I just get something to eat to ensure I’m refueled and make sure I have enough water.
In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? Grand Tetons in Wyoming.
Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)
