The 75 mile ride today was again blessed with totally blue skies. Unfortunately, the cross winds coming out of Buena Vista practically brought the riders to a stand still but once they passed the first aid station, the wind started to calm itself. The ride took them over the 10th Mountain Division Hwy with all its beauty and snow capped mountains. Hwy 24 tends to be really quiet with little traffic but it also lacks a shoulder after Leadville. All up hill for the first 40 miles over the Continental Divide and then they dropped into my aid station.
Dion and I once again set up aid station 4. We were first shift and once the set up was complete, we had little to do as the riders were taking a lot longer with the strong cross winds. Well, we got to talk to the vendors, and each other and the early riders which is rather an enjoyable thing to do. I had a lengthy talk with Ron Kiefel who raced for the 7-11 team in the Tour and now owns one of the largest bike shops in Colorado. Always nice to hear about whats new in the bike world. The Shimano wireless shifters which are currently available at the Dura Ace level, will next year be available at the Ultegra level thereby bringing the cost down. He likes the wireless but still needs a little work. Not sure if Campy will come out with anything that competes.
After we were done with our shift, we were able to really enjoy the rest of the drive into the Vail Valley. We are staying in the gated community of Beaver Creek where the local chefs come out with warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies to help perk you up in the middle of the afternoon.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 1 from a staff point of view
Not a cloud in the sky so of course it was cold, 32 degrees leaving Crested Butte. Dion and I were working at Aid Station 4 to open and man the first shift. It is slow going on mountain roads with so many cyclists to drive past but after 90 minutes and 50 miles latter, we arrived.
Our truck arrived shortly thereafter and we set up and things were relatively quiet. It was such a beautiful day and we were so close to the top of Cottonwood Pass, we had spectacular views of the Mt Princeton 14er peak as well as Mt Massive. Both had plenty of snow which added to the scenery.
We didn't get many cyclists until about 11 am because they had a pretty stiff climb of 30 miles just to get to us. 14 miles were on dirt road which was actually in pretty good shape all things considered.Our aid station ran rather smoothly but just as we were going off shift, one of our worst nightmares happened.
A cyclist just one mile before our aid station went into full cardiac arrest. We all carry radios so we can respond quickly to any development. Within seconds, three of our riding medics were on scene giving rescue breaths and chest compressions. Within 5 minutes, the sag with the oxygen and AED arrived and the medics were able to shock him using the AED and a heartbeat was established. One of our two ambulances arrived again within 5 minutes and the patient who was now breathing again was loaded onto the ambulance where advance medical treatment was administered.
The rider was the front end of a tandem with his 13 year old daughter on the back. Several staff volunteers, took care of the daughter and loaded the bike onto one of our sag vehicles for transport. Along with 2 of the Colorado State Troopers the ambulance went as quickly as possible under police escort to the hospital where we had a flight for life helicopter waiting to transport the patient to Denver.
It all turned out well as the rider was totally coherent before even arriving to the local hospital. The daughter was being cared for by the medical liaison volunteer until her mother arrived from Denver. The rider is now well on the road to recovery in a cardiac wing. The rider went from no heartbeat or breathing to being totally stable with a great prognosis.
When you are staffing a ride this large things happen but we sure don't want them to. The day calmed down and very few of the riders actually knew anything happened and were able to fully enjoy the ride.
Our truck arrived shortly thereafter and we set up and things were relatively quiet. It was such a beautiful day and we were so close to the top of Cottonwood Pass, we had spectacular views of the Mt Princeton 14er peak as well as Mt Massive. Both had plenty of snow which added to the scenery.
We didn't get many cyclists until about 11 am because they had a pretty stiff climb of 30 miles just to get to us. 14 miles were on dirt road which was actually in pretty good shape all things considered.Our aid station ran rather smoothly but just as we were going off shift, one of our worst nightmares happened.
A cyclist just one mile before our aid station went into full cardiac arrest. We all carry radios so we can respond quickly to any development. Within seconds, three of our riding medics were on scene giving rescue breaths and chest compressions. Within 5 minutes, the sag with the oxygen and AED arrived and the medics were able to shock him using the AED and a heartbeat was established. One of our two ambulances arrived again within 5 minutes and the patient who was now breathing again was loaded onto the ambulance where advance medical treatment was administered.
The rider was the front end of a tandem with his 13 year old daughter on the back. Several staff volunteers, took care of the daughter and loaded the bike onto one of our sag vehicles for transport. Along with 2 of the Colorado State Troopers the ambulance went as quickly as possible under police escort to the hospital where we had a flight for life helicopter waiting to transport the patient to Denver.
It all turned out well as the rider was totally coherent before even arriving to the local hospital. The daughter was being cared for by the medical liaison volunteer until her mother arrived from Denver. The rider is now well on the road to recovery in a cardiac wing. The rider went from no heartbeat or breathing to being totally stable with a great prognosis.
When you are staffing a ride this large things happen but we sure don't want them to. The day calmed down and very few of the riders actually knew anything happened and were able to fully enjoy the ride.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Registration alone is a process
If anyone thinks that getting 2,200 cyclists registered and squared away needs to rethink that. We started at 11 am and it is still going on. Fortunately, I had the first shift so I went off shift at 2:30. No voice left but some happy hour libations should rejuvenate us.
We have participants from all over the US and they are getting excited as are all the staff. We will be riding up Cottonwood pass tomorrow with snow tunnels lining the higher elevations. Snowballs for the slow riders! Just kidding. The highway department had to get the big snow throwers working to clear out the aid station locations and they are regrading the road today. Hopefully it will dry out.
We have participants from all over the US and they are getting excited as are all the staff. We will be riding up Cottonwood pass tomorrow with snow tunnels lining the higher elevations. Snowballs for the slow riders! Just kidding. The highway department had to get the big snow throwers working to clear out the aid station locations and they are regrading the road today. Hopefully it will dry out.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Crested Butte and the 79
The 79 staff have all arrived in Crested Butte. The weather was beautiful and the drive was spectacular along the Collegiate Peaks.
Our staff meeting started with a social at 4:00 to get reacquainted and meet the 11 new volunteers. Every year we have a few drop out and replace them with applicants many of which have ridden RTR but now want to volunteer. They come from all over the US and are always given a resounding welcome to the group. The average amongst the volunteers is over 8 years.
The nuts and bolts of the meeting that follows the social covers the many logistics some of which remains the same some of which are unique for the given year. RTR has raised about $1million dollars per year for various charities based in Colorado with no less than $50,000 being awarded to the host communities. The logistics are extremely well organized and we feel that we are ready to welcome the 2,200 participants tomorrow and get them registered and settled. Although the vast majority of the participants tent on the school ball field, many do elect to stay in hotels when available.
We expect picture perfect weather tomorrow and for several days.
Our staff meeting started with a social at 4:00 to get reacquainted and meet the 11 new volunteers. Every year we have a few drop out and replace them with applicants many of which have ridden RTR but now want to volunteer. They come from all over the US and are always given a resounding welcome to the group. The average amongst the volunteers is over 8 years.
The nuts and bolts of the meeting that follows the social covers the many logistics some of which remains the same some of which are unique for the given year. RTR has raised about $1million dollars per year for various charities based in Colorado with no less than $50,000 being awarded to the host communities. The logistics are extremely well organized and we feel that we are ready to welcome the 2,200 participants tomorrow and get them registered and settled. Although the vast majority of the participants tent on the school ball field, many do elect to stay in hotels when available.
We expect picture perfect weather tomorrow and for several days.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Ride the Rockies
A total of 70 volunteers staff have been working diligently to prepare for the epic ride in the Colorado high country. Once a year, 2,200 official riders participate in a week long experience that showcases some of the most magnificent scenery a cyclists can hope for. Climbs every day affords views that are so much a part of Colorado and at the end of the day, the cyclists set up their tents on a ball field usually at the local school.
RTR takes rider safety and communications seriously and today we install radios and AEDs into more than 20 support vehicles. Ambulances are positioned along the route for quick response should it be necessary and we employ the services of 6 Colorado State Troopers on their motorcycles to continuously ride the route keeping the cyclists and traffic where they are suppose to be.
The volunteers leave Friday for Crested Butte where we will have an orientation and receive all our equipment. Bicycling magazine calls this one of the 10 best epic rides in the US and having been a rider on three different occasions, can attest to the incredible experience. Now entering my fourth year as a staff member, I also enjoy the rewards of making this ride possible.
RTR takes rider safety and communications seriously and today we install radios and AEDs into more than 20 support vehicles. Ambulances are positioned along the route for quick response should it be necessary and we employ the services of 6 Colorado State Troopers on their motorcycles to continuously ride the route keeping the cyclists and traffic where they are suppose to be.
The volunteers leave Friday for Crested Butte where we will have an orientation and receive all our equipment. Bicycling magazine calls this one of the 10 best epic rides in the US and having been a rider on three different occasions, can attest to the incredible experience. Now entering my fourth year as a staff member, I also enjoy the rewards of making this ride possible.
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