Because of a death in the familia
By ROBERT CORDOVA
The Annual Rick Spyder Madril Motorcycle Run was postponed this year due to the passing of Spyder’s beautiful mother Charlotte. This was a great loss for the family, and we all send our deepest condolences. This year Instead of the motorcycle run, a memorial gathering will be held at the Veterans Tavern on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. The annual motorcycle run would have been Spyder’s 15th anniversary.
There will be no cover charge. They will have food and drink specials. There will be prizes, 50/50 raffles. DJ Caliente will be spinning the tunes to dance the night away. All proceeds collected will go to the Jingle and Mingle Event. This is to provide bed comforter sets for Christmas. Spyder’s sister Susan created an event to give back to less fortunate children in the community. This event has a Santa who hands out the comforters to children. They provide candy and a free slice of pizza for the children. Please contact Susan for more information about this wonderful event.
Spyder was the oldest of five siblings (Rick, Donna, Ron, Trisha, and Susan). He grew up in the Grove Neighborhood on Spring Street. According to Spyder’s Sister Susan, Spyder loved old cars and riding motorcycles taking after his late father Patricio. Spyder attended Pueblo Schools graduating from Central High School. After high school, Spyder enlisted in the Marines to serve his country. After his service duty he returned to Pueblo. He held long-term positions at both the St Mary Corwin Laundry Department and an asphalt company, demonstrating experience in those fields.
His brother Ron always looked up to him. Since they were kids, they did everything together like best friends, playing sports, creating model cars. They had a race car track in the basement of their house which at the time was special. He said Spyder enjoyed fishing, camping, going to car shows, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with family and friends. Ron recalls Spyder was the reason for all of family rode motorcycles. Ron recalls Spyder riding a motorcycle when he was still riding a bicycle. Spyder was the oldest, so we looked up to him and our family loved him.
Spyder enjoyed attending the Annual Red River Memorial Run and the Pueblo Bikers United Toy Run for many years. Ron’s brother reflects on earlier journeys to New Mexico, noting that at that time the event was significantly smaller and included only a few hundred motorcycles. Ron remembers Spyder’s old Harley Chopper breaking down on the way or riding back to Pueblo and had to go pick him up. Spyder had several friends, including Richard “Thumper” Howard, James “Smiley” Blankenship, Robert Lovato, Finley, Tony and John Casack.
A dear friend Santo “Saints” Granillo was selected to be one of Spyder’s pall bearers at his funeral, but sadly he passed away a month before Spyder. Dale Arellano and Spyder enjoyed fixing up cars and cruising as most did in those times according to Susan. Spyder married and had two wonderful children, Jessie and Michelle. Spyder enjoyed the outdoors. He and his friends enjoyed riding down to Walsenburg and Gardner where his mother Charlotte’s side of the family resided.
In 2008, Spyder started having health issues. Family and friends were devastated hearing about Spyder’s health. While Spyder was still alive, they began a motorcycle benefit run to raise money for medical expenses. In September of 2010, Spyder passed away from his illness. As you can imagine, even for the family to speak about Spyder’s passing, their hearts break for their brother.
His loss was extremely difficult, but the family was determined to keep his memory alive. Since the family, including Spyder’s dad Patricio, were all motorcycle riders, they created the Rick Spyder Madril Memorial Motorcycle Run. The first motorcycle run was free to the public thanking everyone for their support when Spyder became sick with his illness.
To this day, the event remains free to the public, including food and entertainment. According to Ron, his sister Susan keeps the run going, organizing the memorial event. The memorial run would include stops where Spyder liked to ride his motorcycle. Annually, they would ride to Walsenburg then to Gardner through Westcliffe and head back to Pueblo. The stop in Gardner was a mandatory stop due to Spyder’s ashes being laid to rest there in the town where their mother was born and raised. The motorcycle run has become a big event in Pueblo showing respect for our fallen biker.