MOAB — Phyllis O’Grady postponed postoperative cancer treatment five years ago to ride in the Moab Skinny Tire Festival, but she knew it was the right decision when she fell under the spell of Utah’s red-rock country on one of the rides.
“It’s a spiritual, magical, mystical place,” said O’Grady, who lives in Denver. “I just got so emotional. It was like a reassurance that I knew I was going to be fine. I had this epiphany.”
Since then, O’Grady has become a key volunteer for the annual four-day tour, which benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation. She won the award for top fundraiser that first year — qualifying her for a trip to Austin, Texas, for Armstrong’s Ride for the Roses — and now she works tirelessly accumulating items for the Skinny Tire silent auction.
She has a photo on her cellphone showing her kissing Armstrong on the cheek, and another of him returning the favor.
“He took cancer out of the closet,” said O’Grady, 54. “Before Lance, nobody talked about cancer. It was hush-hush, because it was always a death sentence. Everybody looks at him as being the miracle man, because of how severe his cancer was, and everybody wants a piece of that miracle — and prays that it will happen to them, too.”
Since its inception in 2001 with 12 riders motivated to do something about cancer, the Moab Skinny Tire Festival has grown to 500 riders and raised more than $600,000.
This year’s tour opened Saturday with a 50-mile ride northeast along the Colorado River with spectacular views of soaring, rust-colored canyon walls and the towering spires of Castle Valley. A 44-miler with a 1,700-foot climb Sunday took riders to Dead Horse Point, a dramatic vista 2,000 feet above the river where Thelma and Louise took the plunge. Some say the view rivals the Grand Canyon.
Some participants do only the two weekend rides, but there are two more. Monday was an easy 40 miles along the river that treated observant riders to ancient Native American petroglyphs. Today’s epic finish is a 46-mile trip through Arches National Park with a 2,700-foot elevation gain.
For Colorado riders itching to get on their road bikes in the final weeks of winter, Skinny Tire is an ideal way to start the season because its challenges are modest, never extreme. But everyone knows there’s more to this tour than bikes and geologic wonders.
“Because Moab is a beautiful place, and it’s a great cause, I like to be part of it and be a supporter,” said Marty Jemison, a two-time Tour de France rider for U.S. Postal who runs tours in Europe. “These are the kind of miles you want to be doing early season. And you’re with people who are riding for a purpose.”
Many are cancer survivors, or riding in memory of loved ones who didn’t beat it. As Armstrong might say, this tour isn’t just about the bike.
“Everybody will tell you, it becomes like a family,” O’Grady said. “That’s why so many people come back year after year. (Saturday) I wound up riding alongside somebody who was telling me her experience with breast cancer. I was like, ‘I’ve got to get your e-mail, and we’ve got to communicate,’ because she was talking about a lot of interesting things I didn’t know about. That’s what this is all about.”
At a social gathering Saturday night, riders heard a voice-mail message from Armstrong, who said he wished he could have been there in person.
“When people go to do something that challenges them, and they can attach that to a worthy cause, it gives them that extra motivation to do even more,” said Chris Brewer, grassroots events coordinator for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. “Even more could mean going faster (or) wanting to fund raise for the organization, but it adds another sense of purpose that isn’t necessarily there just because you’re going to a destination to do a bike ride or a 5K.”
Riders also heard from Saul Raisin, who was a rising young talent riding the European pro circuit for the Credit Agricole team until a crash in 2006 left him with a severe head injury just before he was supposed to make his major tour debut on the Tour d’Italia. The story of his miraculous recovery offered tremendous inspiration to a room full of people living with cancer.
“If I can come here and give one person hope, that’s a successful mission,” Raisin said.
Being from northwest Georgia, Raisin was astounded by the scenery here.
“It was beautiful,” Raisin said. “I was looking at these valleys and ravines, and I can’t help imagine the dinosaurs and the ancient rivers that created this. It’s incredible.”
Moab has that effect on people. Something about its timeless natural beauty touches people deep in their souls — and stays with them when they leave.
“There’s something here that you just can’t explain,” O’Grady said. “It’s all around you. When you look around, it is so magnificent, and it’s so huge, you know there’s something bigger and beyond yourself.
“It’s a healing feeling. I feel like I have to come here every year to get my dose of healing.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
Moab rides
Other rides organized by Moab Skinny Tire Events, which raises money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation:
Moab Century Tour: Sept. 19-21;
42-, 70- and 104-mile routes.
Moonshadows in Moab: Date TBA;
ride under the full moon into canyon country on a 40-mile route to Dead Horse Point State Park.
Information:
