[category rides

 

Molly McNamara
3/23/22

Molly is one of the founders of this website. We asked her to join us because none of the other three of us has ever been able to keep up with her on a bicycle. That and she is a wonderfully pleasant person with whom to ride and with whom to converse….especially if you are able to do both at the same time.

A native Texan, Molly grew up in Lubbock but spent some of her summers in Boulder at a family cabin at the Chautauqua. Her early athletic career was spent on the tennis courts perfecting her swing (she later competed at level 4.5 to 5.0). In college at SMU Dallas, she got a degree in history, picked up a teaching certificate and began to tutor students with learning disabilities. After she and husband Doug were married, they decided to become Coloradans and first settled in Conifer. When a good friend passed away, Molly inherited her bicycle. That was about twenty years and many miles ago. Her cycling history included moving from Team Evergreen to Team RacerX, climbing the Bob Cook course from Idaho Springs to the top of Mount Evans in under three hours and establishing a PR on Lookout Mountain in the 24 minute range.

A few years ago while riding solo on an off day out of Telluride during a bike tour, a driver pulling a fifth wheel trailer took a left turn and unknowingly knocked Molly and her bike off the road. She tumbled down a cliff on Lizardhead Pass. Fortunately another driver saw the accident and called 911. Molly had a concussion and broken bones in her neck and was airlifted to Grand Junction for surgery. It took a near fatal accident to keep her off the bike for four months. Other than that hiccup, she recommends tours she has taken in Albania, Italy (Lake Como area), Big Bend, Las Cruces and especially the Colorado National Monument.

Thanks for the great story and the great example, Molly. Unquestionably, in spite of your easy going manner, you are tougher than Texas boot leather. Please consider that a compliment.