Your donations raised an amazing $4,600 for First Descents. Our mtb team’s combined efforts locked in for a total of $269,213… that means 84 individuals are going to be outliving it. If I remember correctly, that might be the highest the team has ever done.
Thank you for all of your support. You have made some incredible healing happen and definitely mine one day.
I think this is a testament to your impact:
And I know it meant the world to Dad to ride for this mission. He put in one heck of a ride and effort.
I told him to haul some ass at the start.
It’s always a crazy, emotional moment for everyone. The sacrifice it takes to ride Leadville, and dreams are literally becoming reality. Moms, husbands, wives, dads, daughters, sons, all generations of people. We are all so damn proud. 84 year olds, people with one arm, bike lovers, people who are blind, pros racing for a ride that could make their career, riders on a tandem, or like my Dad, riding for a daughter to overcome cancer. They all get on that start line.
Dad’s story, knowing all he’s been through and what Leadville has done for him makes me emotional. The feeling of making it on top together made it all surreal. Just a couple months ago I wasn’t sure what my life would look like.
Everyone has their own Leadville story. You don’t just ride Leadville.
Leadville just has this aura. The breathtaking small town on the top of Colorado was a mining town years ago. Mining slowed down and so did the town. Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin met in Leadville in the 70s after looking for a job in the mine and looking for a husband. They raced together for many years and then started the Leadville 100 Run with the hope to show the natural beauty and boost the town’s economy. With 45 runners in 1990, and 1994, the Leadville 100 MTB being added, the event and town is now a world renowned endurance challenge attracting only the best or baddest athletes who dare to try.
Despite this, Leadville still faces challenges, and many families go hungry. So, Ken and Merilee founded the Leadville Legacy Foundation. This raises nearly $75,000 each year to ensure every child and family is taken care of, to empower young students with college resources, and keep the town’s unique spirit. It’s more than a race. It’s like a testament to resilience, overcoming adversity, and just the power of connection through bikes.
The opening ceremony is a tearjerke to me. Ken and Merilee’s share their story, and the speech’s make the water works go. It is like a family reunion.
Ken and Merilee hype riders up and gives em’ their catch phrase “dig deep!” and they send you off like you’re going to school. “See you back home!” And once you make it back home to Leadville, they say… “welcome home, family.”
We had two feeding stations along the trail. Dad climbed up Sugarloaf like a badass and we saw him around mile 30. He was doing great. It was awesome being near the Trek mechanics for the pro riders. I guess they get a lot of people asking for supplies, but they can’t give them away because they’re for their riders. The riders in the Leadville Grand Prix receive a huge prize bag, so it’s serious stuff. It was great talking to them, and they cheered on Dad and team FD.
He got to the 64 mile mark and was absolutely crushing the course. I could tell he was in a lot of pain. Despite this, he got to the top of the power line. He was about to fly down to the finish and got cut off by a time cut.
I’m so proud to be my Dads daughter.
Dad and I set ourselves on an adventure of a 17 hour, 2 week, 3,000 mile, cross country RV trip. It was an unforgettable experience and a core memory. Shout out to PFM here in Indy, they got us all ready, and maybe they can support us next year too.
We met the best people on our voyage. I met Jay, who writes amazing blogs and has inspired and encouraged me from the start of my journey. He bike packed the Colorado Trail the week before Leadville. The most epic outdoor enthusiast and bike rider… total legend. Check it out: https://bikeskillcancer.art.blog
We were sitting down at dinner and the family next to us was like whattttt, well, they had just betted that they’d see someone from IN with Ball State gear on, and sure enough Dad came rolling in with a BSU shirt. We got to talking and it has been a while and I need a refresh on his name, but I’ll call him Robert, had just had brain surgery and he was preparing for treatment. It’s these crazy things that are so special when you’re dealing with cancer. They even donated to Team FD so to our new friends, hope to see you around and maybe we can go to dinner or a tailgate.
I met Ty Hall and showed him my video. I also talked to Hannah Otto, the badass who tied 8th in the Grand Prix this year. While Ty made it to half a million and passed the torch Rodrigo Jimenz as the Dream Chaser, I hope to see them next year.
It was awesome to be surrounded by so many half glass full people at the FD tent. I want everyone to get a chance to experience something like this which why I’m dedicated to fundraising.
Thanks to your support, my dad and I applied to Team First Descents to ride it together next year. What an incredible mission to be a part of. And, I hope to ride alongside him, and Jay next year.
First Descents is the link, lets go feel the healing power of the outdoors.
Outlivin’ it,
The Dean Machine and Pubmixer
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