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The Road to Leadville

Posted on Posted in Colorado, Racing

Later this morning, with bikes, gear and food loaded into Kimberly’s truck, I’ll make the 60 mile drive from Salida to Leadville, CO.  There’s a mandatory briefing session to attend at 11am, as well as a race package to collect.  In the afternoon I’ll go for a little road ride and hang with Reilly and the boys from Absolute Bikes as they make last minute adjustments to bikes from all over the nation..and beyond.  Dinner plans are still to be made but proteins will be in ordered in bulk.  Then, early to bed for my 4 am wake-up.  150 minutes later, BANG, the gun will sound and the 20th edition of the famed Leadville Trail 100 will be under way.  [live tracking/results can be found here]

While it’s just 60 miles away, my road to Leadville really began in Big Bend, Texas, on Friday the 15th of February, 2013.  It was on that day that I received an e-mail advising that I had been selected in the lottery from a pool of hundreds, maybe even thousands of applicants, to race the Leadville 100.  That very day I chatted with a fellow who’d applied five times through the lottery system but had yet to gain a seat in this fabled event.  The significance of the honour was not lost on me.

With my entry secured and the nearly $400 charged to my credit card, I committed myself to moving to Colorado eight weeks before the race so as to acclimate to the elevation, train in the mountains and get familiar with the trails and conditions I’d encounter on race day.  True to that promise, I arrived in Salida on May 30th with some clothes, cycling gear, my road bike Sophie [I had left my mountain-bike, Isabelle, here in Salida when I passed through in April] and the passion for cycling cursing through my veins.  Surrounded by tall mountains and wonderful people, I began the task of training for Leadville.

The first two weeks I was here I took it rather easy, acclimating to Salida’s 7,000′ of elevation while slowly putting down the miles.  As time passed the length, intensity, elevation and frequency of my riding all increased greatly.  I would spend much time riding my road bike over high passes while hiking my mountain-bike over many more lofty trails.  I spent hours and hours above 11,000′, countless more just getting to such heights.  There were days spent bike-packing with friends but many more were spent suffering in solitude.  I completed the tough 80 mile Fourth Ride in celebration of US independence and have spent time riding parts of the Leadville course.

Isabelle has received many new parts since I arrived that warm May afternoon, probably making me one of Absolute’s best customers.  She’s now in prime form, just ready to show the world what she’s got.  All the people at Absolute have been so helpful, encouraging and friendly, as has the entire Salida cycling community.  And now, I’m about to leave my little home, drive an hour and make all the final preparations before Saturday’s 6:30am start time.

There have been so many people who have helped me along this road, too many to name, but none whom I will ever forget.  Friends, family, lovers, cyclists, runners, musicians, travellers…people; all have helped me on the road to Leadville, paving it with love.  Folks here in Colorado, in Texas and from all over the US; Ottawa, Toronto, Bloomfield and across The Great White North; England, Scotland, Australia and elsewhere around the world.  I am humbled by the generosity, concern, love and kinship I’ve been shown by so many kind people.  Many were friends, some were strangers, some of those strangers are now friends.

Thanks is due to all those who have contributed to making me the cyclist I am today, starting with my parents, neither of whom are alive to witness my forthcoming triumph but who ride with me every day.  And of course, I am grateful to you, dear reader, to all those who follow my blog, have sent messages of support via e-mail and Facebook and fill my heart with love.  Truly I am blessed, not just to be racing this grand event but because I have so many incredible people pushing me forward, helping to turn those pedals.

Today I am but a man with a bicycle; tomorrow, the dragonfly shall soar with ease and grace, power and resolve.  For the road to Leadville is not a road at all, it’s a state of mind, it’s a commitment, it is what makes me, Bowling by bike.

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