Passes & Canyons Blog

No, these are definitely not bicycle racers, but this is one of the very few photos I have of bicycles to illustrate this story about bicycle racing.

If you have the time and inclination on Saturday, August 7, your services as a motorcyclist are in need. Here’s an email Alan forwarded me.

For the last few years, I have worked various bike races with my motorcycle (moto), sometimes carrying a race official or photographer. The Moto organizer, Dale, is short 3 or 4 motos for the Boulder Ironman 70.3 on Saturday, Aug. 7.

The Ironman gives motos a wear & tear fee of $85 for working the race. In past years, we’ve gotten really cool shirts, too!

If you want more details, or are ready to say ‘Yes!’, please email me at ctoomer@comcast.net or call me at 720.219.1161.

Thank you,
Chris

Chris Toomer
Colorado District Ride Coordinator, CO GWRRA
Chapter Treasurer & Webmaster CO-J, Aurora, CO
ctoomer@comcast.net

This could be a fun and interesting thing to do. I did it once and it’s still a story I tell. One big difference between that race and this one is that it was cold then, and there was snow blowing as I led the racers down the road. That won’t be the case this time. Also, I was riding lead and this looks like they need bikers to carry passengers in their respective capacities.

So anyway, just throwing it out there. Helping get the word out.

Biker Quote for Today

Turning on your lights and siren after you lose a drag race is just poor sportsmanship.

I’m going to be doing something totally different this Saturday. I’ve signed on to be a Motorcycle Lead for some bicycle races.

In case you don’t know what a Motorcycle Lead is, they ride ahead of the pack of bicyclists presumably ensuring that other traffic stays clear for the racers. I say presumably because I’m not totally sure what else they might do. I guess I’ll find out when I get there.

This set of races is being held at the little town of Deer Trail, out east of Denver along I-70. I’ll need to be there at 8 am and will be there all day. The thing is, I get paid to do this. My wife, who is nuts about babies, says it’s as if she were getting paid to hold a baby. I get paid to ride my motorcycle.

The one experience I do have with the concept of Motorcycle Lead goes back to when I was a newspaper reporter and photographer. The Red Zinger Classic, which later became the Coors Classic, was held at that time around Boulder. One of the races came through our area, so I was sent out to cover it. I got to ride on the bike with one of the Motorcycle Leads and shoot pictures along the course. Some good action shots. I wonder if I’ll be carrying any photographers.

So anyway, this sounds like it could be fun. I’ll give you the report on Monday.

If anyone is interested in coming to the races, here’s the website:
http://www.cyclingevents.com/DeerTrailRR/Default.aspx

Biker Quote for Today

Four wheels good, two wheels better.