Well......it's almost 11:00 pm on Sunday night and I'm one of the few still here that doesn't have to get up @ the crack of dawn or earlier to catch a plane in the morning. So, here I am, again.
When the traveling circus that is the Ride to Cure crew assembled here in bee-yoo-ti-ful Whitefish MT 4 days ago the challenge was clear - how do we provide 21 riders (the smallest field ever as far as I know) w/ the same experience that folks get @ any other ride? As you might imagine - w/ us coming off of the largest Ride ever merely a week earlier it was much on our minds. The plan that was decided on was "business as usual" w/ an increased focus on "face time" and individual connections.
I think it worked.
We had a great group of riders - 7 first-timers, a group from mid-Jersey (they swept the awards) and pretty much good weather. 'Twas cold in the mornings - 47-50 degrees but except for a very brief sprinkle in the early afternoon Ride Day was fine. Thanks to stellar work from Tim St. Clair, Ben Espada and new-coach-from-Missoula Carla Cox every rider achieved his or her mileage goal and for the 1st time everyone crested the big climb up on Star Meadow. At the finish line pretty much everyone hung around all afternnon (some for hours) to cheer for and greet the finishers as they rolled in...always a great sight to my mind.
Sure - I would've like to have seen 100+ riders here this week, just like I would've liked to have seen clear blue skies in VT last week. But the power of this Thing That We're Up To was much in evidence despite the fact that we only filled 4 tables @ dinner. These folks came here - many as strangers - and they left as close friends united in the idea that we can find a cure for diabetes via something as simple and fine as a bike ride. You can't beat that!
So - 4 Rides down, 2 to go! Hard to believe. I'm look9ing forward to seeing many of you in DV next month and then there's Tucson and then............well..........let's start working on 2010, huh?
As always - thanks for all you do. I know that I am speaking for Tim as well (not that he needs my help!) when I say that I'm humbled and proud to be in your company. Let's keep up the great work, huh?
Mike Clark
Co-National Head Coach
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Nice job. Thanks.
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