Author: Rich

Camera pans and zooms out…cue Julie Andrews. Climb every mountain Ford every stream Follow every rainbow Till you find your dream While you’re reading this, the Colorado Mountain Tour team is claiming their third mountain pass. This morning it’s Fremont pass, following Vail Pass and Independence Pass. Our team is following a big dream as […]

Today begins the final episode of FREEDOM TOUR ’18. Our cyclists will ride from Buena Vista to Aspen. During the next 4 days they’ll climb 3 passes (Independence, Vail, and Fremont) and stop in Aspen, Eagle, and Breckenridge. 20,000 ft of climbing (and descending) in some of Colorado’s most iconic and stunning surroundings. I’m anticipating an […]

I’m grateful for wise friends. I’ve been thinking about Shared Sacrifice and teamwork. I got focused on each person’s individual responsibility to the team, a commitment to sacrifice personal comfort to accomplish a bigger mission. One of my wise friends suggested it’s a two-way road. He’s right, of course. Teams are relationships, and one-sided relationships don’t last. […]

In two days the COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR blasts off. Four days. Three passes. 280 miles. 20,000 ft. of climbing. It’s going to be a beautiful loop through four iconic mountain towns. It’s going to be a lot of fun. And it’s going to be hard. A dream is the God-inspired desire to share your unique gifts and […]

Our kids. That’s how I think of the children at the HOME OF HOPE, how I often refer to them. I’ve never met them, don’t know their names, haven’t listened to their personal fears and dreams. They’re no different than millions of children in difficult circumstances. But, in my mind, they’re “our kids.” They’re on […]

I enjoyed the Major League Baseball All Star Game. Gifted athletes showing their skills on a fun, relaxed stage, players laughing and interacting with fans. What’s not to enjoy about watching two teams of great players? I enjoy all the fanfare, including the celebration when three players from the Colorado Rockies (one hit a home […]

“Why do we do this?” Why do we ride the bikes, cut up the fruit, fill the water bottles? I keep looking at this question, wondering if I understand the core reason we sleep on floors, train and prepare for months, and do all the other stuff that makes the FREEDOM TOUR happen. We like cycling, […]

I recently encountered a horribly sad bit of advice. It was one of those Facebook memes – I know, not the best place to seek eternal wisdom. Still, I thought it somewhat distressing that anyone might offer this sort of guidance. Find others before you need them. What a narrow, transactional view of relationships. I […]

Rudy Project and FREEDOM TOUR are partners. Rudy Project offers top-of-the-line cycling and athletic gear. Rudy Project helmets lead the industry in safety and comfort. Their sunglasses and prescription athletic eyewear set the standard for comfort and performance. Learn more about Rudy Project and their incredible technology at their website. Rudy Project is an organization the believes in doing well so they […]

I’m a big fan of questions. I started my career as a classroom teacher believing good teachers knew all the answers. Experience taught me that questions mattered more than answers. It’s a principle that extends beyond the classroom. We do better when we resist the temptation to provide (easy, quick) answers and focus on asking […]

Remember the circus? I heard an old circus story recently, about a little boy who heard the circus was coming to his rural town. He begged (and begged and begged) until his mom gave him the dollar to purchase his ticket. On the morning of the big day he got up early and was waiting […]