One USA Pro Cycling Challenge LOC Member’s Experience, Part 1

It all started last September, when she walked out the door of the Higher Grounds coffee shop in Golden and asked us a question. “We’re going to have a ride-by at noon. Can you join us? The Quiznos Pro-Challenge organizers are in town visiting, and we want to show support for our bid to be a host city.” Marcie said.  My husband Donald and I stood near our road bikes which we lean against the coffee shop’s brick exterior nearly every weekend. We were heading home and couldn’t make it.  But I didn’t want to let it go at that. I introduced myself and asked, “How does a person get involved to help with the bid?”  Marcie shared the location and time of the next meeting to talk about the preparation of the City of Golden’s bid, a pitch for why Medalist, the race organizer, should pick Golden.

At the meeting the folks drafting the bid asked for a couple of things for the document: blurbs about riding on Lookout Mountain to support including it in the stage Golden would host, and photos of cyclists.  I went home and got to work.  Over a dozen people worked very hard on the bid; I was very happy to contribute a few small things to help bring pro-cycling back to Golden.  Find my blurb on Lookout on page 21 of the bid, and the photos I provided on the cover (peloton on the Col de Peyresourde in the 2008 TDF) and on page 10 (upper right photo, Donald in the blue with a friend).

We were ecstatic when we were selected for the start of the final day of the race, Stage 6. Then the work began.   I started as a member of the PR/Media committee so I could contribute my writing skills.  Then a call went out for a new chair of the Education and Outreach committee.  All of the other committees were chaired, and I wanted to do more.  I raised my hand, pitching my project management skills and pro-cycling knowledge. Now as co-chair of this committee, I’m a member of the Golden Local Organizing Committee (LOC).

I’ve spent hours working with my co-chair and our committee volunteers to define the purpose of our committee and identify and select venues for us to staff with race information.  Our home stapler has gotten a workout as it’s joined lists of Golden events to race marketing material.  I’ve stood behind tables and waved to, smiled at, and talked to strangers about the race and what’s going on in Golden that they might enjoy (the 8/26 Friday night in the park showing of the film American Flyers is a popular one).  But the most exciting part for me has been learning about how to put together and pull off a professional bike race.

Part 2 to come in a subsequent post.  Get out and enjoy a ride!