Perspectives from First-Time Riders
Each summer, Smartwool employees, partners, and friends ride 400 miles from our headquarters in Steamboat Springs, CO, to Park City, UT, for the Outdoor Retailer (OR) trade show. This year was the 11th annual Ride to OR, and there were many new faces in the group. While their training and experience varied going into the Ride, they now all share in the connections and memories made during those four long days. Read on as they each provide a glimpse into the Ride to OR experience.
Serena Bishop Gordon - Program Director at The Conservation Alliance
Galen dropped a water bottle, as we sped over a set of train tracks. I was part of a small group, eight riders who had decided to start at the latest departure time, each making the assumption that we would fit into the “fastest” paced cluster.
I only recognized one face in the bunch, and his was the only name I knew. It was early, the ride had just begun. We had 410 miles and 4 days ahead of us.
I heard the bottle hit the ground, and quickly slowed, flipped around and picked it up. Galen had slowed, but fearful that the group would keep on riding, wasn’t committed to going to back to retrieve his orphaned bottle, until he glanced back and saw me with it in my hand. The other six riders also slowed, Galen put his bottle back on his bike and we all regrouped, and started chatting. Over the next few hours, I began to learn the names and the faces of my fellow “pain train” companions. The pace was quick, but not too quick. I felt comfortable sitting on wheels and taking my turn at the front as the pace line rotated. The miles ticked by quickly, fueled by beautiful views of Colorado and the amazing roadside aid stations Iconic Adventures strategically placed along the route.
I finished Day 1 108 miles later, still uncertain of my place in our small peloton, but confident I would again be starting with the same group on Day 2. We sat in the river, did yoga on the grass and ate at a little Italian restaurant next to our hotel in Meeker, CO.
At breakfast the next morning, most of the 65 riders on the tour had already departed for our longest day, 126 miles. Eight of us remained; and we silently committed to becoming a team for the remainder of our journey.
Garett, Ken, David and Trevor rode together often, all living in Steamboat and working at Smartwool.
Mark, the Global Footwear Designer from Vans, lives in Southern California.
Galen was studying to be a doctor and called Boulder home.
Ian hails from Carbondale, CO, and is the PR Director of Backbone Media.
I work for The Conservation Alliance, based out of Bend, OR.
Riding bicycles from Smartwool HQ to Outdoor Retailer brought us together, and along the way we learned we all had a lot more in common that just pedaling bikes. We also have a deep appreciation for frosted animal cookies, ice-cold Coke, and the opportunity to travel, under our own power, through the diverse and amazing backroads of the western United States.
The values we share began with pushing pedals, and grew into a love of hard work, brilliant landscapes, and family. Our commitment to the community and using business and our voices for good were frequent topics of conversation, and those conversations which only seemed to cease when Garett challenged me to a race up Popsicle Hill and when Ken dropped us on the way up Wolf Creek Pass.
When I registered for the Ride to OR, I knew it would be fun and I would have the opportunity to experience a part of our country I had never visited. I knew my legs would be stronger as a result of all those miles. What I didn’t know was that even my wildest expectations would be exceeded, that I would arrive in Park City a changed individual, part of a new community of awesome folks, and part of the Smartwool family.
With a passion for community, fresh air and the high desert, Serena Bishop Gordon has worked in and around the Outdoor Industry since 2002. An avid cyclist, published writer and general lover of endurance activities, Serena has completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail and currently channels her competitive energies into racing bicycles, mostly on dirt, but sometime asphalt too. She lives in Bend, OR with her husband Ben and their canine companion, Piper.
Joelle Hamm - Smartwool Planner/Buyer
I signed up without owning a road bike or ever clipping into one before. I knew that it would be worth the experience, so I went for it. My favorite part of the Ride was the new connections you make with folks you’ve never met before and the strengthening of the relationships you already have with others. When you’re on your bike, suffering for 400 miles in the heat, you get to know people better than ever.
I think the most unexpected part of the Ride ended up being the fact that I was able to ride 126 miles in one day and survive. I was pretty nervous about the physical and mental strength it was going to take to finish every mile. But I did it and I can say that I left the Ride proud of myself for finishing every mile.
Personal fun facts: 395.4 miles in 4 days, 25 hours on the saddle, 9 individual packets of chamois butter, chased by 10 dogs, zero flat tires, 2.5 total hours laying on my foam roller, 1 herd of wild horses, 10 packets of Honey Stinger chews, 5 Honey Stinger waffles, countless PB&J bites, 25 salt tablets, 5 Nutella & banana graham crackers (all at one aid station), 15-ish beers, 2 pounds gained (not lost!), 2 numb toes, countless laughs and lots of good memories!
Scott Bowers - Smartwool VP Sales & Marketing
The truth is, as a recently hired employee, I was mandated into doing the ride. I’m so glad I did it. When I was hired I was asked “Do you ride?” “Uhh, well, yes I have ridden a bit in my life, but I’m not very fit.” The simple reply was “Perfect, you are going on the Ride.”
Thankfully I committed, and while my fitness wasn’t up to what it should be, I had an awesome time. You didn’t need to be super fit! The comradery and support from others was simply the best experience of all. Granted, we rode amazing terrain and saw incredible changes in landscapes with every passing mile. But, at the end of each day the sharing of stories and commiserating on similar aches and pains are what motivated you to get on the bike the next day. That we all shared so many things in common was the best experience.
The first day was the toughest one for me. 104 miles, some rough roads, and wind. To feel good over the next few days, I needed a recovery day. Thankfully I was hanging out with a rider who had done the ride a few times and proposed an option: every year he’d been eyeing this lake about halfway through the second day. I was totally in! We packed our board shorts, and to all who visibly envied us for our super smart thinking, we dropped out at mile 60. After a good swim in the lake, we rode the sag wagon the rest of the day and helped out others along the way.
All in all, the Ride was simply amazing. For me, and I’m sure the many others who have accomplished the Ride, it’s truly an example of what the Smartwool brand stands for and how awesome our culture and employees are. I’m looking forward to next year and to carrying the legacy of the Ride to a new route from Steamboat to Denver.
Jon Pilling - Smartwool Financial Analyst
I signed up for the Ride to OR as a way to get to know my co-workers outside of the office. Spending four days riding hundreds of miles is just one way that I was able to create better connections throughout the company.
My favorite part of the ride was the reservoir, as it provided a relaxing location to cool off and hang out on Day 3. I brought my hammock along as I was hoping to get some solid R&R, which is exactly what happened after jumping in the water and refueling.
The most challenging part was the mental aspect. Having not been a huge cyclist prior to moving out to Steamboat, it was interesting getting used to the soreness in muscle groups that previously hadn’t screamed at me.
Overall, I had a great experience in my first Smartwool Ride to OR and am looking forward to what next year will bring!
Travis Campbell - Smartwool President
My favorite part of the ride was the people and the comradery. There were people of all different speeds and all different experience levels, but the commonality was the joy of being out there doing something physically challenging. People were amazingly supportive of each other and thankful for the opportunity to participate. It was really amazing.
Julie Shaffer - Smartwool Planner/Buyer
I’ve always wanted to do the Ride, but I had never ridden a road bike. Thanks to the help and patience of some seasoned Ride veterans at Smartwool, I was taught the basics of road cycling and couldn’t wait to hit the road.
My favorite part was the people! Riding with coworkers and meeting new people on the Ride and during training rides was great. When you’re pushing yourself to do something so new and scary, the encouragement and comradery with other riders made it fun and kept me going.
I’m terrified of the big downhills, and while I got slightly better through training, the fear was still there all the way to Park City. What I really enjoyed was how many people picked up on my fear of downhills and would fly past me and yell “no braking!”
It was a good reminder in the moment to overcome the fear. It feels like such an accomplishment to set a large goal like this and get it done (and still enjoy riding my bike afterwards)!
Zach King - Smartwool Product Line Manager
I first learned about the Ride four years ago, before joining Smartwool or even moving to Colorado. To an outsider at the time, the Ride was a representation of everything I valued in a company culture: love for the outdoors, physical endurance, healthy competition, teamwork, fun, and lots of beer.
The best part about the ride was how many people were eager to coach, teach, work together and help me and everyone else along the way. If someone got a flat, the group stopped to help. As a newbie rider, I learned a lot of lessons the hard way, but I learned even more from other people who coached me along the way.
