Transcript
Rich: Welcome to episode 554 of the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. I'm your host. Coach Rich Soares and I am on a mission to help endurance athletes train smarter, race stronger, and build the grit it takes to achieve greatness. And today I am joined by two very special guests.
Rich: Bill Plok, who you probably remember from years of podcasting with me. yeah but great Good to see you. This is unique. He's the ride director now for Colorado's Ride. And I've got Zed Pitts here, who's the founder of VeloFlow Project.
Rich: And one of my great friends and also an athlete that I feel like I support really well. It's an organization that helps veterans find recovery connection and renewed purpose through cycling. and this is you know This conversation is going to be about...
Rich: It's particularly meaningful because I met Zed in my first experience with Colorado's Ride two years ago. And you know what we're going to be talking about is... you know it It's changed my journey and my vector as a coach because of my... you know, the you know getting to know Zed.
Rich: And there's this... this this It all started with like the seeds of something, and it's the seeds of cycling that have brought us all together. that you know it's because of cycling that I met you. Okay.
Rich: Rebetzod. that I met Mike, and it's just this ripple effect. We're going to tell that story as we go through the kind of the transformative power. of endurance sports, community.
Rich: uh and and and service really to yeah to to people that are in this sport that are really trying to find. purpose. So so Bill... For listeners who have never heard of Colorado's Ride.
Rich: Tell us about it. Ha ha. So it's a five -day road bike tour. This year we are doing it in. Crested Butte to Buena Vista to Salida. to Gunnison, and then back to Crested Butte. And we've been in our fourth year. First three years, we did this in Durango and Pagosa Springs, where you guys met.
Rich: And it's just a classic good road bike tour. People camp. People stay in hotels. And. Yeah, it's just... That's what. Kind of the overview, I guess.
Rich: but What inspired you to to start Colorado's Ride a few years ago? Quite honestly, we Felt that the model that was in place for another organization that have been doing this for a long time.
Rich: wasn't sustainable and we wanted to come up with something that could be sustainable. and to also build community. and make sure that the road cycling community could continue.
Rich: yeah Because we just knew that the what was in place couldn't continue. That's awesome. Yeah. So I had a question for you, and you're really mic'd up over there. What what is VeloFlow Project? What's its mission?
Rich: Well... Initially, the Bella Flow project started because... I saw a gap. in between. Big. NGOs are. non -government organizations that were built around adaptive sports for veterans they would have these high -level events.
Rich: And in between the events, I noticed a downturn or... an uptick rather in suicidal ideations within the population. So I decided to use the VeloFlop project.
Rich: as a catalyst to connect veterans to people like you red so people like Bill were. they can actually. get in contact with people like yourselves and when it comes to sport, using sport to...
Rich: actually kind of. could tell some of that suicidal ideation stuff. Yeah, so that's the main mission. That's the overview. And then also, as you saw in there.
Rich: our little party there. i'm I'm building. I'm building technologies. to health. veterans move their sporting equipment a lot easier.
Rich: without like being charged by Choir ears are air. air fear or airliners. when it comes to their sporting Yeah, I found what you're doing to be so impactful that you've really inspired me to take on kind of a new direction with my coaching.
Rich: I got certified for para triathlon so that I could actually help. adaptive sports. And it's you know opened up a whole new door for me, but we'll talk more about that later. What are some of the success stories that you've seen?
Rich: you know, working with some of these veterans. well I mean, you said we're going to talk about it later, but. if it weren't for my adaptive sports coordinator through the Army. connecting you to Mike Murphy. And then Mike Murphy.
Rich: connecting with me and then me connecting with Prince Harry and his team. and then working with the Invictus Games Foundation and connecting with. Bill. Bill would never. have Met. or connected me with you.
Rich: to where Mike Murphy could be under your coach and mentorship. and also working towards l LA 2028. I think that's one of the biggest.
Rich: line of stories that I have to offer right now.
Rich: And I met Bill through cycling. I mean, it was through triathlon, but, you know. We met at the airport coming back from a triathlon, but our first... outing together our first date.
Rich: was going on we We went on a bike ride. Yep. out of gold. Talk about the power of like some of the examples that you've seen of cycling.
Rich: and the relationships that have come through cycling. Go. Bye. Man, it's like. overwhelming to think about. you You've got a first you got a first row seat to a lot of relationships. I mean, rough There's countless people here. I've gotten to know.
Rich: through cycling but I knew them before I did this. And they've followed me. through my journey of creating this and they decided they wanted to be part of it. So. I mean, yeah, I...
Rich: There's hundreds of stories I could tell you if I thought sat down and thought about them. I mean, i've you know, like there's people on this ride who. I got to know because of. our 303. and going on cycling events.
Rich: going to triathlons in boulder for example getting to know So many so even Zack My business partner, I knew because of cycling. And that's how we connected.
Rich: So. it's Every... Buddy here. I could say is a connection through cycling. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. agree
Rich: Zed, how have endurance athletes used their passion for sport to make a difference in their own communities? Have you seen like... the work that you've done to help somebody. get extended to somebody else through. through athletes that you've worked with? right So.
Rich: I conserve myself because I think. You can't even help anyone else if you don't. Half the power. to help yourself. so When it comes to cycling, I look at it as a catalyst or an apparatus for self -empowerment.
Rich: i .e. you have to climb these. these mountains, for example. And. Only you can push yourself up that mountain. So... working with veterans like Mike Murphy.
Rich: and also were him telling me stories about how he pulled in other veterans. that may have gone through. issue PTSD issues. or medical issues.
Rich: and him connecting. them to a coach or to a program. is actually showing that the work we're doing here like do a Colorado's Ride. and i'm working through the velocity project and i'm just adding to the colorless ride I think...
Rich: That's just one little tidbit. not Just the... Conan on Mike Murphy, like I think. And we're setting the example for everybody else that's watching. us. on this ride so Participants coming here, seeing how we interact with each other, they're going to go back to their communities and spread that.
Rich: So I think that's powerful. I guess that's one example. What do you think it is about cycling? That. is healing for.
Rich: veterans who are struggling to find either purpose or you know find you know a way out of depression or. alcoholism or whatever it is that you know is like sheeping you know sitting in a downward spiral in a downward direction right What is it about?
Rich: the sport that actually starts to heal people you think. Well, first of all, if you try to Not to downplay like I know there are some dear endurance athletes that are able to drink or whatever and then go perform.
Rich: But that's not everybody. And. Once you start taking your performance journey or your cycling journey a little bit. more seriously. You would.
Rich: Get rid of the behaviors that would keep you from cycling. or keep you from the social connections that you're making. here. For example, you can't do something because you have a DUI now.
Rich: you know something like that so I feel like. once you understand the importance of staying connected to the cycling community. Colorado's rights community.
Rich: you will do your best to be on your best behavior and to take care of yourself so you can experience this thing every year. I'm assuming that you're going to do it every year. Yeah. You know, so that's one. I hope I answered your question. Yeah, yeah. Hmm.
Rich: right, Bill. so Five years, right Fifth year? fourth Fourth year. Fourth year. I'm speaking the fifth year into existence, I guess. yeah Without making any commitments.
Rich: what what What do you envision is the future of Colorado's Ride? What what do you want it to grow up to be? what do you like what What's like the ideal size or is it at the ideal size?
Rich: That's a tricky one. i mean It's at the perfect size if you're if you're working on a mission. which we are sort of. It's probably Needs to be a little bit bigger to be financially where we want it.
Rich: Okay. but we're trending in the right way. But the Brill mission, I mean, if... Not to divulge too much, but... And we've talked about this a little bit. I would love to see it turn into a nonprofit.
Rich: No. Yeah. I would love to get it to a size. and a financial situation where I could step back. Zach could step back. and we could make it a nonprofit that then comes in full. full throttle.
Rich: and does community development. under the mission or under the Athleticism of the riders. But we're coming into town. as a group to make your town better. To make a bigger impact than just be a ride. Right.
Rich: Oh. love that and that's why i always That's why I always try to include the high school mountain bike teams like or the mentors program like this year or like last year, you know, the the folks in Ignacio.
Rich: I want to be Welcome in the community. I don't want to be seen as somebody that's like just using the community as a place to go. Yeah. it's just passing Right. Yeah. I want to be Oh, cool. Colorado's Ride is coming again.
Rich: we can We can do this. We can do that. We can help the writers do this. We can show them places like where we are today. That's My my personal.
Rich: mission of it that sounds amazing yeah i mean i can just what a great attraction to you know like If you're a community and you want to like have a relationship with a ride, like you would want to have a relationship with a ride that was investing back in the community.
Rich: boycott. I would love it to the point where... Communities would be knocking on my door. Yes yes like Can you please come to our community? we andt got it Permits are already done. here Right. or Or also, I'd love it. to catch I don't want to get more than 350. I'd like it.
Rich: I'd love a waiting list. Right? I mean, I love that kind of demand where we are that. exclusive i mean there's a reason why we got nominated fifth best tour in the country. we won the nominee. We got nominated. We won that.
Rich: And... This is the ride people come back to you and want to come back to. you and i think I think it's a... We try really hard to. Dude. service people well. Yeah. it's just marketing getting the word out you know it's interesting with with the community thing not to take over you go for that it This is my fourth year in a row doing Color Rose Ride.
Rich: End. I have a habit, maybe I'm a loyalist. But. I went to the exact same restaurants and the exact same hotels. And they were like, I remember you from last year. So I was building that relationship.
Rich: and when you changed it on me i was like oh i can't see the people like yeah you know i feel the same way I made a lot of friends in Durango. Yeah, they were like, I remember you from that. and And so. to add to your vision, I'm thinking.
Rich: It would be cool to see welcome, right? Like big. banners everywhere and they're like, oh. oh you want to find the dna right yeah yeah yeah exactly so Yeah, I can. i i hope that too yeah i hope for that too All right. You guys want to do a little fun segment with me? We're going to do a little just quick.
Rich: Quick response, right? Rapid response. okay First thing that comes to your mind. All right, I'm going to start with you, Bill, and then I'm going to go to you, Zed. One person that you met through cycling who changed your life.
Rich: You.
Rich: Seriously.
Rich: I'd say the same, honestly. yeah would I would. After the first date. i I'm sure I could think of others, but i'm now I'm feeling on the spot. all right he's that nervous all right so One person.
Rich: Mark Catapan. Because without Mark Catapan, I couldn't meet you. We'll be back. You I couldn't meet. the lead domino he was the lead domino yeah so right off the bat. mark cat Awesome. That's amazing.
Rich: all right One lesson from the bike that applies directly to life. Endure. Endure, okay? I like it, in a word. Hmm. If you don't pedal, you don't move forward. You don't pedal, you don't move forward. Okay.
Rich: Favorite Colorado climb. Oh boy.
Rich: I mean, I would have said Pikes Peak a number of years ago, but now that I don't feel like I have the fitness to do it very well.
Rich: Yeah. Jeez. Look out, Mom. Lookout Mountain. Okay. How about you, Zed? I like Wolf Creek Pass. That's a pretty one. yeah like And the descent, I felt.
Rich: you know descending as my kryptonite. But I like that dissent. This might be a little cracks Yeah. well i love cottonwood coming down cottonwood pass that was great all right What is the toughest day you've ever had on the bike?
Rich: Hmm. i'd see I'd give it a toss -up between when I... Did that gravel adventure from Longmont to Winter Park? over Rollins pass. That was really hard. It was 86 miles and 12 ,000 feet, all gravel.
Rich: And. Had to walk in the top of Rollins Pass and we got into Winter Park in the dark. Oh, I remember that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Or. One time I rode from my house in Arvada.
Rich: up to Loveland. Up. Thompson. canyon Testis Park. over trail ridge down through Granby. and back into winter park and that was 155 miles Wow.
Rich: Wow! All right. All right. Zed. For me. It was Monday. when pass Like. I've never lost my vision before. That's crazy. Yeah. the so So I was...
Rich: Riding with Coach Rich. And. He was pacing me up the climb. and of course i tapped into my soldier mentality and was like suck it up and drive on But my body. was like You're about to... We're about to teach you some things. Vision started. fading And then I was like.
Rich: Oh wow! I don't know what's going on. Pull over. hold over so so With that that was my toughest one. But it was the most beautiful one.
Rich: I've ever seen. It's pretty awesome. One person that you'd love to bring on Colorado's Ride for the first time. Mark Allen.
Rich: That would be kind of cool. Yeah, that would be kind of cool. I was thinking about it in the day. I was like, why isn't he out? I was going to say Wendy, but Wendy already didn't want to come along.
Rich: Zal.
Rich: Somebody's going to ride. Someone who will ride. Hmm. I would say my wife, but she's gonna say no. Shaking your head now we sheakking her Let's see.
Rich: Man, i I can't just say Mike Murphy because he's already done it. But I would bring him. There you go. this's just harrison harrison harrison there you go his i he would be a great pilot. with with Mike.
Rich: All right, bonus question. What's one ripple effect from endurance sports that never would have happened if you hadn't signed up? for your first ride for that first ride, whatever that first ride was. Hmm.
Rich: man I mean obviously this Yeah, totally. Right? That's an easy answer. i'd say I would say it's that I learned that you don't wear underwear when you ride a bike. That's a good one.
Rich: and that's like oh yeah it'd be really brutal today yeah Bike fits matter. Bike fits matter. 100%. Hey listen. Whether you're preparing for a triathlon or you're...
Rich: want to do an iron man or you want to do what you really want to do is do this event and yeah We're already talking about next year. We want to have a team. We want to have we want invite all of our Grit to Greatness team members to come do this with us. so If you're listening to this, if you're watching this.
Rich: Join us. We're going to be doing some online. like training over the winter too to get ready for this we're taking a lot of great footage so I'm hoping that we can... Yeah, you've recorded the ride. I've been recording like crazy. so i've got three batteries a day that i'm going through you so Hey.
Rich: Folks, this episode was brought to you by... Best. Thank you guys, by the way. And by the way. This is really cool. We had our party tonight. Really quick. Can I just like really quick, like. the party We had a little party tonight. Thanks for you know the pizza and the beer and the soda and all of that.
Rich: We're in this museum here in Gunnison. And we're in a school room. like You can see in the background, like there's some old artifacts and stuff like that. It's like we're back in time. This is pretty cool. yeah How did you find this?
Rich: I... I was here in April just doing some stuff, you know meandering, looking for things, whatever. And seeing this building. several times and but i never knew i was behind the building so i just walked in I was like, wow, this is a pretty cool space. This would be a good place for.
Rich: Party. Hmm. And a podcast. Yeah. A party and a podcast. Thanks for doing this. Yeah. Thanks for keeping up. Colorado's Ride. wass your Thanks for doing the podcast with us. Hey.
Rich: Great riding, huh? thanks Hey, listen, this this episode was brought to you by Vespa Endurance. Vespa helps you tap into... steady clean energy so that you can stay strong, focused, and in the zone longer.
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Rich: We've got a link here for 15 % off of anything in your cart. The code is G2GVESPA15 or just use the link. Thanks for spending time with us today on the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us and leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps us reach more athletes like you. Stay gritty.
Rich: Train smart. And keep chasing greatness. We will see you next week.
