News
ENLARGE
For his 60th birthday last year Bob Jensen, a Grand Junction physician, rode the Colorado Peace Ride — a 238-mile loop around the San Juan Skyway — on a tandem bicycle.
His sister, Paula Cuneo of Evergreen, bought Jensen the tour for his birthday and rode with him.
Jensen is a regular bike rider. He pedals 100 to 150 miles a week during most of the year, and rides a stationary bike in the winter three or four times a week.
“It was a challenge,” Jensen said. “It's pretty rewarding when you get to your destination for the day — especially on a tandem.”
But even more impressive were three paraplegics ascending the hills with hand-pedaled bikes, Jensen said.
Don West, of Fruita also participated in last years' bike tour.
Registration has begun for the second annual Peace Ride, to take place August 8-11 — a trip that begins and ends in Durango.
The supported bike tour was conceived by owners of the Sophia Peace Center in Dolores to raise funds in order to provide free or low-cost rental space to nonprofit organizations at the site, said center co-manager Meira Leonard. Last year's ride raised $6,000.
Neither West or Jensen did fundraising or were familiar with the Sophia Peace Center. They went for the ride.
West said he had just bought a road bike at Board and Buckle where he saw a poster of the event.
West, 69, had had both knees replaced before doing the trip.
“It was an experiment to see how they'd hold up,” West said.
It was a beautiful, well-run ride, he said.
West particularly enjoyed camping the first night in Ouray, next to the Ouray hot springs pool.
One aspect of the ride he didn't like were the miles between Ouray and Telluride where he said trucks passed too close for comfort.
On the first day bicyclists travel from Durango to Ouray over Red Mountain and Coal Bank passes and Molas divide. The second day the ride goes from Telluride to Dolores. On day four the bicyclists return to Durango.
While most riders camp, some opt for a hotel with a bed and hot shower.
For more information visit: www.ThePeaceRide.com.
His sister, Paula Cuneo of Evergreen, bought Jensen the tour for his birthday and rode with him.
Jensen is a regular bike rider. He pedals 100 to 150 miles a week during most of the year, and rides a stationary bike in the winter three or four times a week.
“It was a challenge,” Jensen said. “It's pretty rewarding when you get to your destination for the day — especially on a tandem.”
But even more impressive were three paraplegics ascending the hills with hand-pedaled bikes, Jensen said.
Don West, of Fruita also participated in last years' bike tour.
Registration has begun for the second annual Peace Ride, to take place August 8-11 — a trip that begins and ends in Durango.
The supported bike tour was conceived by owners of the Sophia Peace Center in Dolores to raise funds in order to provide free or low-cost rental space to nonprofit organizations at the site, said center co-manager Meira Leonard. Last year's ride raised $6,000.
Neither West or Jensen did fundraising or were familiar with the Sophia Peace Center. They went for the ride.
West said he had just bought a road bike at Board and Buckle where he saw a poster of the event.
West, 69, had had both knees replaced before doing the trip.
“It was an experiment to see how they'd hold up,” West said.
It was a beautiful, well-run ride, he said.
West particularly enjoyed camping the first night in Ouray, next to the Ouray hot springs pool.
One aspect of the ride he didn't like were the miles between Ouray and Telluride where he said trucks passed too close for comfort.
On the first day bicyclists travel from Durango to Ouray over Red Mountain and Coal Bank passes and Molas divide. The second day the ride goes from Telluride to Dolores. On day four the bicyclists return to Durango.
While most riders camp, some opt for a hotel with a bed and hot shower.
For more information visit: www.ThePeaceRide.com.
