about blue sky velo
Blue Sky Velo is a Longmont-based group of cyclists dedicated to making our community a better place. Since 2001, we’ve been working to enhance the lives of members and those we touch through our connection with the sport of cycling.
We’re proud to partner with the Tri Velo Series to enable youth to thrive and hopefully to inspire them to be lifelong cyclists, positive influences and to empower them to embody the infectious enthusiasm of our former teammate and friend, Rob Winter. Learn more about Blue Sky Velo.
about rob winter ( 1976 –2019)
Rob Winter was an instrumental Blue Sky Velo club and board member. More importantly, he was a hardworking and dedicated husband and father of three. Rob started cycling as a Junior rider and continued his passion for the sport throughout his life.
In 2015, at the age of just 39, Rob learned that he had Advanced Stage Colon cancer, and that the cancer had metastasized to his liver and lungs. The doctors gave him an eight percent chance to live for more than five years.
For most people, they would likely take that news and want to take a step back from daily activity to start resting, healing and recovering. Instead, Rob was determined to make the most out of his remaining time, and to defy that diagnosis for as long as he possibly could.
“It was a moment where I basically took a deep breath. From the analytical side of myself, it was the ‘OK, what do I do next?’ So it wasn’t distraught, it wasn’t despair, it was basically trying to figure out OK, what the game plan is,” - Rob Winter
You couldn’t keep Rob down and happiness just exuded from him. An example of that came every Monday before his chemotherapy treatment. Treatments that would often leave him feeling sick and weak for days on end. Rob would have his picture taken – always sporting a big smile AND a Hawaiian shirt. He would post updates on Facebook with the heading “Happy Hawaiian Shirt Chemo Monday”.
Despite over 72 of rounds of chemotherapy, and the sickness that followed, Rob not only maintained a positive attitude, but an inspirational riding schedule. He led many of the team’s local rides and just 3 years later had logged over 16,000 miles! He inspired many casual riders to become cyclists through the club and proved a beacon of hope for those struggling with their own challenges in life.
Blue Sky Velo and Tri Velo Series hope that the Rob Winter Scholarship will continue to honor Rob’s spirit, strength and unwavering enthusiasm.
Rob was known for his infectious personality and smile.