Colorado Peace Ride – Durango, CO
Charity Bicycle Tour in Southwest CO
2009 marked the inaugural year of an epic new bicycle tour – the Colorado Peace Ride. For years cyclists have wanted to do the entire San Juan Skyway on a multi-day tour, and finally it was here: four days, 238 miles, and four mountain passes over 10,000 feet, all along an historic road that is among the nation’s 10 most scenic routes. After a successful first year, the Peace Ride is back for 2010: July 29 – August 1, starting and ending in Durango. And all fundraising dollars go directly to help a great variety of non-profits that contribute to peace and positive change in our communities. Here we give you a report from one of the riders – Joseph Namzoff of New Haven Connecticut, who will be back for another year:
The Inaugural Colorado Peace Ride is in the history books, and in one word, it was amazing. From the moment riders began streaming in they were surrounded by volunteers whose mission was to help them cycle over some of the most challenging terrain in the universe and raise money for the Sophia Peace Center. The volunteers did everything from check riders in to help them get settled, to sweep debris off the roads, to stand for hours in the hot sun waving bright orange flags, serving every kind of food imaginable at the many aid stations along the route, setting up the camps at the end of the day, arranging music, movie, dinner and transportation into town, providing medical care, mechanical support, driving every inch of the route with cars full of water and snacks, and transporting riders to the aid stations when they couldn’t go any further. Every last need was provided for.
On top of being cared for like a rock star, the riders were treated to the most amazing scenery ever. There is nothing quite like screaming down Red Mountain Pass into Ouray through enormous canyons at highly inadvisable speeds after climbing 3 incredible mountain passes over 10,000 feet. The most spectacular thing to see at the Peace Ride was watching how a group of 140 riders and 30+ volunteers from around the country and Canada could come together and form a family in 4 days. Riders helped and encouraged each other over 240 miles of intense cold then intense heat then up steep mountain passes then down the other side, and opened their hearts to the mission of the Peace Ride and shared their dreams for peace and set intentions each day for how they were going to turn those dreams into reality, and the leaders from the Peace Ride held us all in their loving embrace.
Not one person left the Peace Ride without feeling a sense of hope for humanity. If we could come together like that and create more peace on the earth in just 4 days, what could possibly stand in the way of truly living in peace?
Be the Ride, Experience the Peace
If you’re looking for something new in 2010, take on the Colorado Peace Ride. Fully supported with no-hassle meals and lodging or camping available, your only job is to ride! World peace isn’t going to happen without each person feeling peaceful within themselves, so we’re challenging our riders to challenge themselves to be the things they want to see in the world, whether it’s peace, courage, love, dedication or traits that will change the world. Be the Ride, Experience the Peace.
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