Colorado women’s cycling team eyes record in cross-country ride

DENVER – A group of local cyclists hopes to make history during a ride of a lifetime this June. The women, who range in age from 49 to 62, are training hard–and they are in high spirits.

“We’re young at heart,” said one. “I’ll put it to you that way.”

The four riders, collectively known as “Love, Sweat and Gears,” will crank out 3,000 miles during a relay race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.

“It`s a process, and I like that whole process,” said another team member. “So it`s actually getting to the finish line.”

For perspective, the trip would take 43 hours and 33 minutes while driving non-stop at an average speed of 65 mph.

Riding at an average of 20 mph, the team is trying to reach their destination in record time: Six days, 11 hours and 33 minutes.

An RV will follow the cyclists as they ride in short bursts of six to eight mile shifts.

To maintain a record pace each rider will have to sprint all-out for 20 minutes for six days.

“There`s probably going to be a tug-of-war between, you know, the adrenaline and the excitement, and just the really physical fatigue that I`ve never experienced before,” said Ann Lantz, with Team Love, Sweat and Gears.