Colorado's Ride, now in its third year, is a five-day tour of365 miles and 26,000 feet of climbing. Quite different than RAGBRAI, but a ride Iowa bike guru Kathy Murphy tackled in 2024.
Last week on her podcast, Murphology,she spokewith Colorado's Ride, ride director Bill Plock, about her experience riding in the majestic Rocky Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. This year it happens August 18-22. More information can be found at www.coloradosride.com.
Here is a link to Murphology's podcast about the ride: CLICK HERE
Now for some Q & A with Kathy Murphy
1. Besides maybe the obvious of length of climbs, what is so different about riding in the
Colorado mountains versus any hills in Iowa? I have to believe it's a completely different
mindset.
Almost every hill in Iowa, whether it is steep or long, is short in comparison to CO, and
has a nice descent after the climb where I can coast and enjoy the scenery. In Colorado,
climbing is way more extreme, and the descent is a bit unnerving when the speed gets
too fast. I am a very cautious cyclist and spent a lot of time descending at slower speed,
pumping the brakes, and watching the pavement rather than looking around.
The views are simply spectacular and I never get tired of looking at the beauty of
Colorado. Wildflowers, open fields, mountains, ranches, you name it…it is all so
beautiful.
Colorado for me provides a sense of calm and peace. And wonderment…my internal
dialogue has a lot of ‘wow look at that’ and ‘how is this real’
.
Altitude was one more observation. I live at about 900 feet and up in those mountains
we were near or above 10,000 feet! I definitely felt it.
2. What surprised you the most about riding in Colorado’s Ride?
The calmness. We were on roads with some vehicle traffic, but it was mostly me, my
bike, and my thoughts.
It was easy to make new friends on this ride. I went solo and felt comfortable joining
others for a meal or a break. There was also a lot to see when off the bike.
3. With only 300 riders, compared to say RABBRAI with thousands, describe how it felt riding in
the mountains with a bit more solidarity.
We started as a group led by vehicles and motorbikes. Once out of town, everyone got
really spread out. Cyclists within eyesight typically stayed at similar speeds, and stopped
at the same rest stops for about the same time so I got to know them pretty well.
I co-host a podcast powered by RAGBRAI so I get recognized often when cycling in
large crowds like on RAGBRAI. It is fun to meet and interact with cyclists who
listen/watch the podcast and even with only 300 riders, I was recognized the first day on
Colorado’s Ride. It makes those initial conversations with strangers turn into friendships
pretty quick!
4. The overall distance between RAGBRAI and Colorado’s Ride is similar, clearly the amount of
climbing (26,000 feet in CR) is different, what would you tell someone from Iowa about the
doability of Colorado’s Ride?
YOU CAN DO IT!! If you have done the training, then it will be more about your mindset
than your body. The day I saw that there was going to be a 26 mile climb, it was hard to
wrap my mind around what that meant. It literally meant climbing a mountain for 26
miles. So much climbing. I had to battle my brain to complete those miles, but I did it!
This ride is similar to RAGBRAI in that you get up, ride your bike, eat, sleep, repeat.
Colorado’s Ride is a more serious ride in that riders stop briefly to eat and rest for a few,but there are no festivals or entertainment around each corner during day. There may not even be many towns to explore. Riders want to get the day’s miles in and get to
camp before chill time, or to go exploring.
5. How would you recommend a first-timer prepare for Colorado’s Ride?
Train for climbing, and distance!! We climbed literal mountains. Some days were over 80
miles.
Stop, look around, and enjoy everything!! No need to be the first one back to camp each
day. With that said, be mindfull of when the aid stations close….sometimes they are your
only option for hydration/food.
Do all the things. Ride the train, eat the food, meet the people, and feel the vibe. It is so
much more than a bike ride.
Take more photos than you think you need. You can look back and marvel at how much
fun you had!
6. What did you enjoy most about it?
Maps were great. We had gpx files for our bike computers plus there were road signs to
give us confidence we were on the right route.
Each morning I liked that it was a mass start with a short speech from the ride officials.
The riding of course was a joy but also the activities available off the bike. Hello Hot
Springs!!! I can still feel that silky warm water soak into my skin. Ska Brewing was a cool,
unique place. And riding the train from Silverton was fabulous. It was a long ride back
but there were nonstop breathtaking views and the train conductors were in character
and full of interesting history.
7. Least
Camping. Hotels were an option but I chose to bring my camping gear and camped in
the official campgrounds. If I were to do it again I would spend the extra money to get
hotels for a better night's sleep.
Steep descents. EEK
8. Would you do it again?
Absolutely. Who wants to join me???