05/29/2026
End of May is always tough for me, because it means we have riders graduate.
Usually, I am on it sooner than later, but this was a tough one for me, because this senior was pretty special to us. He and Pete still own the coolest picture out there with a sweet water bottle hand up at Glenwood Springs with Mt. Sopris in the background; they probably will for a while.
Jaris has always been a bike rider, and while he does play baseball really well and got a scholarship for it to college, I think he rides bikes better. But hey, I am biased. From him joining us his freshman year and riding with us all the way through his senior year, he qualified for state champs three times as a sophomore, JV, and varsity rider. One of my favorite memories was a couple of years ago when he OTC'd (off the couch) came out with us and rode up East Fork to Circle trail - 18 miles all at 10,000 feet plus. Those were also his only flats on the year. Jer Bear,
we're gonna miss you at practices!
Lastly, never challenge him at throwing juniper berries into helmets!