February 18, 2010 will be a day many of us remember here in the Mile High City. President Obama was in town for a fund raising event, causing traffic nightmares in and around the downtown area with rolling road blocks, during what would prove to be an already difficult rush hour. The snow was flying, and the roads were quickly turning into ice rinks. The average drive times from one end of downtown to the other was pushing 45 minutes, and forget about going anywhere if you were on the highways.
But a little traffic, snow and ice wouldn't stop Team Transplant volunteers and riders from meeting up at Wheat Ridge Cyclery for the team kickoff party! Maybe it was the lure of great food and drinks, provided by our friends at Spicy Pickle and Apple Jack Liquors. Maybe it was the debut of not just the 2010 Team Transplant jersey, but this year an entire kit! Perhaps the exciting news that Olympic gold medal cyclist and Tour de France veteran Tyler Hamilton would be speaking to the group that night. Or maybe it was the fact that both the volunteers and the 2010 team riders simply know how important raising money and awareness for the American Transplant Foundation is!
The evening started out much quieter than any of us would have preferred, but with the weather as it was, it came as no surprise. Slowly but surely, one after another, people started to arrive. The weather didn't deter people from coming; it just slowed them down a bit! As the volunteers started signing the the new arrivals in, and getting them officially registered as Team Transplant riders, the air and the attitudes started to lighten up. One after another, people signed up to ride, not only themselves, but in several instances signing up to 5 additional riders who couldn't make it in that evening.
The great staff at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, along with several manufacturers' reps answered questions and showed off great new gear and equipment to the team, as we mingled through the store. Sandwiches and salads, beer, wine and sodas all started to slowly disappear from the food tables. Every rider who signed up that evening was treated to a 20% discount at the store for that night only, and by the sound of the cash registers ringing, everyone was going to take them up on that offer!
The time came for Tyler Hamilton to speak, starting with his history in cycling, his time as Lance Armstrong's Lieutenant on the US Postal Service team during the Tour de France, and some very touching and poignant stories about his own personal battles which ultimately led to his retirement from professional cycling. But as with any true champion, Tyler would emphasize that his retirement was not his demise! After a stint back in Massachusetts to spend time with family, Tyler has returned to Boulder to help the casual rider and the future champion alike train like a professional.
All in all, the evening proved to be a complete success. The goal of our kick off party wasn't just to sign up riders (we get most of our registrations through the easy online system anyway), it was to let the riders meet one another, check out some great new cycling gear, and get excited for the Elephant Rock ride which will be upon us faster than we realize. Throw in the rare opportunity to not only listen to a gold medal Olympian, but talk to him one on one, and the thoughts of brushing the snow off your car and face the Colorado winter seems to disappear altogether.
Brian Fakharzadeh
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