An overcast sky sporting every shade of gray and white marked the end of the Midwest and the Great Plains for the I4K Bike America Team. The Rocky Mountains, looming and grand, emerged slowly from their cloudy shroud only in the last ten miles of the ride. The joy and excitement we feel is contagious as we enter the much more difficult yet immaculately beautiful second half of the 2023 Ride.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 94.2

Elevation: +2945’/-1917’

General Direction: Turn south and then right, left, and right onto County Road Q at mile 3.6, then turn left onto Route 52 at mile 14.3, remain on this road for 42.4 miles even as it turns west toward the interstate, proceed onto the southbound I-76 on-ramp at Hudson, then immediately take the emergency vehicle road to reach the frontage road, at mile 63.2 turn off the frontage road and onto westbound E 168th Ave., continue due west and onto Route 7 at the junction, at mile 89.7 continue onto the bike path and follow it through outer Boulder, after a brief segment on Colorado Ave. rejoin the bike path and follow it onto 13th St., turn right on Pine St. to reach the stayover location.

Points of Interest: Eastern border of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder Creek, Boulder Creek Path, Pearl Street Mall

Tales of the Trail

Miserable was the weather, more mist than rain, as we departed on our near-century toward Colorado’s metropolis corridor. The riders equipped their jackets as water spat against them and their bikes and they continued with lights on through plenty of empty flatland. The ground seemed to mimic the sky as we faced the worst paved road on the ride so far: Route 52. Miles and miles of constant jolting bumps made for an uncomfortable experience in the saddle, and surprising, large potholes were near-constant.

As the day went on, things got better. The mist cleared and the road suddenly became smooth for about half of its length (42 miles total), leaving us with some of the loneliest moments on the continent so far. Muddy fields stretched to the horizon and banked up to meet the gray sky. Sam R put it best when he said it felt like we were on a different planet. Pushing forward finally took us to an interstate frontage road, and a country road turned business spur propelled us the rest of the way above Denver toward Boulder.

Our team anticipated the Rockies with each passing mile, apart from eyeing the busy traffic and road construction of course. It wasn’t until around ten miles away that streaks of white rock on a few eastern faces began to appear. The tone changed from grit to excitement almost immediately. Boulder welcomed us with its scenic bike paths and rushing streams, as well as its lively and eclectic downtown (we even got to go through a farmer’s market!). As groups rolled into St. John’s Episcopal Church, some riders opted to finish out the century by exploring the colorful yet compact city center and experiencing some amazing first views of the mountains.

Our hosts Marc and Debbie Smith, as well as many members of the church, welcomed us with open arms and prepared one of the best dinners at a stayover we have had on the ride. There was lasagna, stir-fry, garlic bread, and blueberry cobbler - all homemade! We also got to visit with our trusted Logistics Director, superstar mechanic, and friend Ellie Beck who gave us some helpful advice for the challenging days ahead. In two days, the climbs into the Rockies begin. Some are ten miles or longer, but all are bikeable. Godspeed.

One more exciting bit of news: the two most significant halfway points have been reached! Today is Day 39 which marks the crossing of the halfway point of the summer, and our official mileage has ticked past 2357 miles, half of the official total of 4714!

The Rest Day

Restful for some, quite involved for many! A group of us took the van through Estes Park to Rocky Mountain National Park, and decided to climb Lily Mountain. Meanwhile, Sam R and Paul split off to bike (and zoom) on the adjacent and very hilly road for what ended up being 36 miles. The mountain and its views were absolutely serene and gorgeous, situated in such a way to pick out the tallest peaks of the Continental Divide while also looking toward the mountains at the eastern border of the range. Truly an epic hike for all. The rest of our team visited with friends and family in the area, explored Boulder and its array of cool shops and restaurants, and caught up on some much-needed sleep. It has been worth every second, and we will be sad to leave, but eager to taste the mountain air.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Patrick Jamison, Ride Leader

How are you today? It’s been a good last few days, we’re finally getting to the beautiful part of the ride so I’m excited about that. Our first big climbing day is tomorrow and I’m excited to finally have something to look at while on the ride. We haven’t done anything like this since Pennsylvania so it will be good to get back into this for sure.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Tabling was definitely the most impactful for me, because when people would come up to donate, they’d share about why they were donating in regards to cancer experiences they or people they know had. For example, one person I met walked the border of the U.S. and Canada over a few summers, which was very interesting to hear about. His dad had an experience with cancer and the person I met was donating in support of him which was really powerful. I definitely enjoyed it, whether it was Walmart or the food co-op in Urbana.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? Thinking about the people who have supported me through this the past three years, everyone who has donated, and more specifically thinking of my mom and grandma at home. I just want to make sure I keep my promise and bike across the country for as many miles as I physically can. Waking up is always a challenge too, and I remember why I am doing this in the morning which helps me.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I like to bring Randy the I4K squirrel with me every day to take pictures with. He is for sure my favorite accessory.

What’s your rest stop routine? If it’s a gas station, I immediately look for Peanut M&Ms or Fairlife Core Power Elite shakes (42g of protein, tastes great, very affordable, please sponsor me). I also apply my sunscreen, get water, look at what’s upcoming in the route, and just chat with teammates.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? The three national parks left, which are Crater Lake, Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone. I’m also very excited for Mt. Shasta. Tomorrow as well, because we are going whitewater rafting and that will be really fun!

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)