2012 DEATH RIDE Tour IV – Ride For Life will take place June 8-10, 2012.
As you may know, Colorado is one of the most beautiful states in the US and south western Colorado is spectacular when it comes to a place to cycle. One day at my local bike shop - Campus Cycles, www.campuscycles.com , I picked up a book called "Road Biking Colorado", The Statewide Guide by Michael Seeberg. This is a great book and for anyone wanting the perfect guide for cycling in Colorado I highly recommend it. In this book the rides are listed by level of difficulty - Easy - Moderate - Difficult - Very Difficult. Of coarse wanting to conquer the most difficult ride in Colorado, I found what is called the DEATH RIDE LOOP – page 212-213. Originally the book listed this loop as 229 miles with over 24,000 feet of climbing, however, now since I’ve personally ridden the loop three times and have never gotten close to 24,000 feet on my Garmin – we’ll call it 15,000 plus. I have been in contact with Michael Seeberg – the author and there is an updated version of the book coming out soon. Either way this is a spectacular loop made up of several highways in southwestern Colorado called the San Juan Skyway including US Highway 550 known as the Million Dollar Highway which you will experience right away on Day One from Silverton to Ouray.
The book calls the DEATH RIDE LOOP one of the INSANE – one day rides and is listed as one of the finest in the country. Well I would agree, however, I am not insane so my idea was to make this a pleasurable tour – not an insane one day ride. Remember we are calling a three day, 229 mile ride over 5 mountain passes with 15,000 plus feet of climbing – a pleasurable tour. Ask anyone who has done this loop before just now pleasurable it was. Maybe rewarding…I just wouldn’t call it really pleasurable.
So now this annual event is known as the DEATH RIDE Tour – “Ride For Life”. Over the years we have been fortunate effort to have participants from all over the US.
To make this tour even more worthwhile, I decided to make it a fund raiser in memory of my Mom, Rhoda Sopinsky who passed away suddenly at the age of 80 on November 16, 2008 and in memory of my Father, Irvin Sopinsky who died of ALS ( Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at the age of 45 when I was 13.
In 2009 to honor my parents, we planted flags in each city’s cemetery – Silverton, Telluride and Durango to honor their memory.
Original flag design from 2009 inaugural tour
Actual tombstones of my parents in Buffalo, NY with Deb, Brandon & Rachel
That year and ever year since then I carry one of those flags to the top of each pass to celebrate the achievement and again remember why I am here doing this event.
Every year I invite participants to sign the flag. Each signature represents a commitment to Ride Strong… Live Strong…And Give Back (Tzedakah) More Than You Get.
At the end of the 2011 event on Monday heading back from Silverton to Denver I received a phone call. My man said his name was Paul Beaber and he worked at the Hillside Cemetery. He had gotten my phone number from one of the riders he meet in town. Paul said that late in 2009 the flag at Hillside had fallen down and he raised it again. Then he said it happened again in 2010 – again Paul raised the flag. In 2011 he raised it again and secured it with rebar and rocks. He told me that day that the flag was in good shape and should be good for many more years to come. Well what a way to end a great event. Truly a story of Tzedakah – Giving Back. Thank-You Paul…Thank –You very much.
In years past we have started the Tour at the Hillside Cemetery in Silverton to pay our respects for those we have lost in our lives, however, since 2011 we have gotten too big to do this at the cemetery so the ceremony will take place in front of the Grand Imperial on Greene Street Friday morning along with the presentation of the Angel of Life Awards.
2011 Angel of Life Award Recipients Victor Frandsen & Paul Hields.
The Angel of Life Award is presented to participants of the event you show or provide unselfish commitment to the mission and values of the DEATH RIDE Tour – Ride Strong…Live Strong …And Give Back (Tzedakah) More Than You Get
Past recipients: Campus Cycles, Rock Creek Associates, Starfiber, FlorStor.com,Hermosa Tours and Charles Homer Cathcart III– CHC3
What kind of support is available?
Mechanical, SAG & Coaching Support
Campus Cycles has been with the DEATH RIDE Tour since inception and provides Mechanical Support and also great moral support. Thanks very much to the entire staff and especially Steve Bell along with owners Mark Velat & Bobby Verenna.
Barry & Steve Bell – 2010 DEATH RIDE Tour
2011 was the first tour handled by Hermosa Tours and owner Matt McFee. We were so impressed with the way they handled everything they were awarded an Angel of Life Award and became the Official Logistics Provider of the DEATH RIDE Tour. We are happy to have Matt and his team with us in 2012 and the years ahead. Hermosa Tours will be handling all the tour logistics and SAG Support including daily luggage transport from city to city. Click here for a complete tour schedule & information – coming soon.
New for 2012 – DEATH RIDE Tour Coaching Staff
Callen & Jennifer will be on staff in 2012 to help coach and provide motivational support for the participants of the DEATH RIDE Tour. Please remember that the DEATH RIDE Tour is a three day endurance event, one of the toughest in the country and you will need to train consistently to prepare yourself for the miles in the saddle… the climbing … the altitude and also be ready for any changes in the weather conditions. These are all things that Callen and Jennifer cannot help you with on ride day. What they will help with is training and nutrition tips from now until Day One.
Look for more information to come on monthly training goals, nutrition and information about zumXR – energy next – the official energy + hydration + electrolytes sponsor of the DEATH RIDE Tour. For more information and a DEATH RIDE Tour special savings coupon – go to www.zumxr.com
Rest stops will be available with snacks, water & Honey Stinger products.
www.deeprockwater.com
Water sponsor of the DEATH RIDE Tour
www.honeystinger.com
Nutriution Sponsor of the DEATH RIDE Tour
Full Course
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at barry@deathridetour.com and remember Ride Strong… Live Strong … And Give Back (Tzedakah) More Than You Get.
Thu Feb 23 04:21 2012