Why I Said Yes to The Colorado Ride

On mountains, miles, and the kind of tired that feels like freedom.

WHO I AM

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where I learned from an early age that there’s no such thing as bad weather– just bad planning. Faced with eight months of various types of rain, sleet, and occasional snow, I learned how to navigate the weather so I could be outside as much as possible. When I found cycling in my early 20s, it wasn’t just a kinder alternative to miles of running; it felt like coming home to something I didn’t know I’d been looking for. Cycling helped me create community, a reason to plan trips around places I’d never been to, and climbs I’d never heard of, or dreamed of cycling through. 

"Type 2 fun" — the kind of fun that's brutal in the moment and wonderful in retrospect — is my type of fun

WHY I BECAME AN AMBASSADOR

I've ridden Ride the Rockies twice now–2017 and 2022. I became an ambassador because I want to be a bridge. For anyone who's ever looked at a multi-day ride and thought "I could never" — I want to be the voice that says yes, you actually could, and here’s how you can do it. 

The Colorado Ride is a ride I believe in — and more than that, it's a community–no matter where you are in your cycling journey. The people who show up for events like this don’t just like riding bikes– they're people who've chosen cycling for something bigger: connection, personal growth, raising money for non-profits, and the quiet satisfaction of doing something really hard and insanely rewarding. 

WHAT'S COMING NEXT

Over the coming weeks and months, I'll be sharing part of my journey here — training updates, gear that's earning its place on my bike, the climbs I'm both dreading and dreaming about, and the moments (because there will be moments) where I wonder why I chose (and continue to) choose to do this. 

I'll also be sharing stories from the community: other riders, first-timers, and the people who make events like this possible. Because the Colorado Ride isn't really about one person on a bike. It's about all of us, grinding together.

If you're curious about the ride, thinking about signing up, or just here for the mountain scenery — welcome. I'm glad you're along for the ride. 

See you out there — Abra