FROM A TO ZG: Saturday's Ride for the Pass

May 23rd, 2006 at 08:19am Jeremy Simon 5

I was a half mile from the finish of Saturday's ten-mile Ride for the Pass, and finally I'd caught him--the Unicycle Guy. This was my third year for this punishing annual ride of spring for Valley cyclists, and both my first two years, I was narrowly beaten to the finish by Mike Tierney, an Aspen legend who rode on one wheel, with just a single gear. But right then, I was too exhausted and elated to be ashamed of my two wheels and my 14 gears. Finally, I was going to beat this guy.

While adrenaline and competition played a role at Ride for the Pass, there's much more that sets it apart from other bike races.

With the 12,000-foot Independence Pass closed for the last six months because of snow, the Roaring Fork Valley has been a box canyon: one way in, one way out. But the week before the Pass opens to cars, the Independence Pass  Foundation hosts a benefit bike ride to the ghost town of Independence. And hundreds of cyclists get one of Colorado's most beautiful roads all to themselves, without fear of being run down on a shoulderless section of road by an overzealous SUV.

The truly energetic cyclists can ride three miles past the official finish to the Pass's summir, and see the other side of the world--the side that will open up again Thursday, reconnecting us with the rest of Colorado. Finishing this tough climb so early in the season leaves you feeling like this would be your best summer ever on the bike. And all the natural beauty and burgeoning greenness makes the Ride for the Pass a communal two-wheeled celebration of a new season.

Well, make that a one-wheeled celebration. With 400 yards to go, Unicycle Guy passed me again, and extended his lead on me all the way to the finish line. My time was 1 hour 7 minutes--not as impressive as the 39-minute time of winner Max Clauson, but still a personal best for me. At the finish, smiles could be seen everywhere you looked. But we couldn't linger long. Clouds were rolling in, and beers were waiting for us at the Cantina's post-race party.

At least I beat Unicycle Guy down.

Entry Filed under: Aspen