Gabe and Ben's 50 Miler - Denver Cycle for Strays

A nonprofit fundraiser supporting

Denver Animal Shelter

Help Gabe and Ben give back and support Denver Animal Shelter during their 100 mile (combined) ride!

$595

raised by 13 people

$250 goal

Event participant

Event

Cycle for Strays 2025

$17,402

Story

Updates (5)

The Finale

Update posted 8 days ago

We did it!

In a blistering 3 hours and 55 minutes, Gabe and I both made it around the 52 miles of the DCR course. We actually spent over 5 hours on the road, thanks to me getting two different flat tires on my rear wheel at 29 and 38 miles into the ride. And then some brief stops for snacks at each of the three rest stations along the course.

So many thanks to everyone that has donated, Denver Animal Shelter keeps telling us how grateful they are. This was such an excellent and fun challenge, I haven't had to train for anything in so long so I loved having a goal that pushed me to be stronger than yesterday. And having Gabe as company on the ride makes it that much better.

Editing in a timely fashion is not my strong suit, but I'll aim to get some fun insta360 footage stitched together into a video shortly.

Until then, one last time - the fundraiser is open until the end of the day on October 5th (this Sunday). Should you feel inclined and able Denver's animals would appreciate your donation!

Cheers,
Ben

Ben and Gabe cruising towards the end of the ride

Ben and Gabe crossing the finish line

Ben and Gabe and queen Minnie Bean, the adoptee featured on this years team jersey!

I’m excited to share that I am once again participating in Denver Animal Shelter’s annual event - Cycle for Strays! I did the 25 mile ride as one of my longest ever rides in 2023. I'm really looking to amp it up this time and both myself and my brother Gabe will be riding the 50 mile route this year.

Pets and animals have always been a constant comfort and throughline in our lives. From romping through the woods spotting what creatures we could as kids, to our family of pets growing up, to the furry companions we now have.

Ben: I love using my frequent ebike rides to work as mini mindfulness exercise and a little creature-spotting on the side. I actually found out about the Denver Century ride because of my bike rides to work. One day I found and managed to catch a terrified Chihuahua and discovered Cycle for Strays in my later messages to Denver Animal Shelter following up on the rescue. She was adopted within a day of being posted online. My wife Jess and I have always rescued our pets off the street or from Shelters and are happy to have an opportunity to repay all the companionship and cuddles.

Gabe: I enjoy finding ways to turn traditional trips into bike trips, but got out of the habit after I switched work locations. Now, after enough conversation momentum, I’m excited to get back into longer rides! My wife Lana and I have been blessed with two black cats over the years, both coming from shelters. We’ve also fostered cats for a local shelter (even though we subsequently failed with Kaia). It’s great to be able to combine the two and bike for a cause.

This is a fun challenge for the both of us, and a fitting way for us to give back to our local community. We're hoping you will join us in supporting the homeless pets of Denver: donations will help support the shelter’s foster program, enrichment, humane education, community outreach, spay/neuter services, and emergency medical care.

Thanks for your time and, if you're inclined, your donation. It will help support the 10,000 animals whose lives are touched by Denver Animal Shelter each year.

Ben and Mango