Active Expert: Gale Bernhardt: Estes With the Pros

Big-name riders from Rock Racing, Chipotle, Rabobank, Toyota and Health Net were in Estes Park yesterday on the Sunday group ride. Tyler Hamilton and Tom Danielson are two of the names you might recognize.

Before I launch right into the adoring-cycling-fans photo, let me begin by saying the ride today was to bag our monthly Estes ride. I've mentioned this monthly goal in past blogs, and I can tell you that today's weather was better than any of our other December Estes rides in past years.

We started with ten people from my doorstep. Scott Ellis, Steve Douglas, Todd Singiser, Bill Frielingsdorf, Bruce Runnels, Ron Kennedy, Peter Stackhouse and Dave McClure. It was one of those rides filled with flats. There were four flats on the way up, Todd and Peter had two each. Ron turned around early due to family commitments, Peter and Dave turned around at the top of the Glen Haven switchbacks...would they regret it?

The remaining members of the group arrived at Estes later than normal, by about an hour-and-a-half. Not only due to flats, but we were riding at a winter-out-of-shape pace. After a leisurely lunch, we were getting ready to head back down when a "that's no amateur" rider walked in the door. More followed.

Steve, his shy self, walks right up to Tyler Hamilton and says, "Hey you look a lot like that Hamilton guy" and that opened up the conversation. Turns out several of us know mutual people.

The photo below was taken at our favorite haunt, the Notchtop Cafe in Estes Park. Blog readers, please check me on this - left to right: Tyler Hamilton, Scott, Steve, Heath Blackgrove, Todd, Bill, Gale, Tom Danielson, T.J. Vanderharten (Thanks Steve), Bruce Runnels, Matt Cooke and Chris Baldwin took the photo (much to my dislike - I would have rather had him IN the photo). Anyway, thanks Chris.

The last time I saw Tyler was at the 2004 Olympic Games. The TT course was held just outside the city where the triathlon was held so a few of us walked up there to watch them warm-up and ride some of the course. The rest of the guys I have not met in person.

These guys were very friendly and approachable. How many professional athletes do you know are completely approachable (sans the triathletes, of course)?

Though not on my Sunday ride, they were out for a Sunday ride. I'm happy we were delayed on our trip up and got a chance to talk to them awhile.

Just how cool is that?

Attachments:

Pros-in-Estes---web.jpg (1.2 MB)

1,056 Views Tags: rock_racing, garmin_chipotle, chris_baldwin, tyler_hamilton, rabobank, heath_blackgrove, tom_danielson, matt_cooke, tj_eisenhart, toyota_united, health_net

Dec 7, 2008 7:26 PM

David Newman says:

I was kinda bummed that I overslept and didn't join you guys. Now that I've read the blog, I'm definitely sorry I missed the ride! I think it's very cool, but now that I think about it, I'm a little surprised that we don't see pros more often given how many of them live down in Boulder.

Dec 8, 2008 6:23 AM

Gale Bernhardt says in response to David Newman:

We were talking about you, wondering where you've been.

I think some of it is timing. We were at the Notchtop pretty late, compared to our normal timing. We ordered and sat down at 1:00 pm. We saw those guys probably around 1:30 or 2:00. We're normally home by that time.

Lately I haven't been carrying the camera, but I decided to carry it because it was the December Estes trip and I was carrying a pack due to my clothes change at the top (hate being wet and cold on the descent). So, luck had it we were late and I had a camera.

Dec 8, 2008 6:48 AM

Ryan L says:

That's so cool. Don't forget that Tyler is also the current national road champion, but I guess he doesn't wear the Stars and Stripes on training rides.

I'm bummed to have missed it, but I'm nursing a broken collarbone. I'll probably be trainer bound for at least the next few weeks.

Dec 8, 2008 7:22 AM

Gale Bernhardt says in response to Ryan L:

Yeah Ron told me about your pile-up, sorry about that. On the entertaining side, I liked the "pin" in your X-ray, but the freezer of cow was also funny. ... http://ryan-l.livejournal.com/

If you're looking for some structure back to fitness. See this:

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Return_to_Racing__A_Post-Crash_Training_Plan_--_Part_I.htm

Heal quickly...

Dec 8, 2008 8:43 AM

Peter says:

Damn right I regret it! Second time I missed out on meeting up with Tyler Hamilton this year....Oh well! Still had a great day. Peter

Dec 8, 2008 7:19 PM

You know it really is a shame I did not get to see Tyler Hamilton. Especially since I was wearing a US National Champion jersey on Sunday and Tyler wasn't!

Jan 21, 2009 9:33 PM

Suzanne says:

I live in Estes in the summers for work, so my "Estes Rides" start out going down one of the canyons, and I'm forced to ride back up (or call for a ride, LOL). Going uphill first is definately the way to go. Notchtop is also one of my favorite haunts for afternoons on call, sitting on the porch in the sun looking at RMNP. See you soon , Estes!

Jan 22, 2009 7:50 AM

Gale Bernhardt says in response to Suzanne:

Suzanne ~

What a great place to work in the summer. Maybe we'll run into you one day. Enjoy CO ~