UPDATE: Daniel's journey down the Great Divide—THANK YOU!!!

76 views
Skip to first unread message

Daniel Roberts

unread,
Jul 17, 2013, 2:41:28 AM7/17/13
to
You are all SOOOOO wonderful!!!  

Thank you all so much for supporting me in my bicycle journey down the Great Divide.  I am proud to report that we raised nearly $2,000 in support of Life Rolls On and their work to help spinal cord injury patients—surpassing the $1,500 goal I'd set for the mission.  It was a wild ride, and I was constantly warmed knowing that you all were thinking of me and sending me your well wishes along the way.  Thank you. 

As many of you already know, my Tour Divide attempt ended prematurely before I could reach the Mexican border, my intended final destination.  My apologies for the radio silence to those of you who didn't get my MTBcast or Facebook updates sounding out my departure from the race.  In the end, I made it 1,600 miles down the Great Divide, from Banff Alberta to near Steamboat Springs, Colorado—about 1,100 miles short of the Mexican border.  It was an absolutely amazing adventure, replete with moose and grizzly bear sightings, miserable cold and brutal heat, hunger, fatigue, suffering, and existential elation.  

 Despite the hardships, I enjoyed every minute of the ride. Unlike most of my fellow riders, I found myself feeling like a ten year old every morning-- giddy to ride bikes all day as fast and as far as I wanted to go, through stunningly beautiful country.  For me, there's something that's just really cool about traveling at the speed of bicycle. Faster than a walk, slower than driving, and covering huge distances on one's own power.  Because we'd cover so much ground in a day, every day felt like traversing an entire universe, waking up amidst one mountain range, and going to sleep that night in a whole new geography and climate. 

I began having pain in my left knee shortly after the 1,000 mile mark and took a couple days in Ashton, Idaho to ice, rest and get medical attention.  I felt good pressing on after a day of rest, and I continued into Wyoming.  Wyoming wowed me with the magnificence of the Great Tetons and the unending desolate expanse of the Great Divide Basin.  Shortly after crossing into Colorado, it became apparent that my left knee was beginning to disintegrate under the stress of consecutive 110+/- mile days on the bike.  The cartilage repair surgery I'd had done in college had simply worn out— no quantity of anti-inflammatories or painkillers could fix the underlying problem of broken cartilage floating around the interior of the joint.  I had to throw in the towel and stop the race. 

It was sad not to be able to finish the Tour Divide this year, but I hope to make it back and try again in the future.  In any event, I'll finish that last 1,100 miles from the Brush Mountain Lodge down to the border as soon as I can. Promise. 

Again, your support has meant everything to me in this endeavor.  Thank you so much for your contributions to LRO.  Thank you for the words of support via Facebook, email and text.  For everyone who sent postcards and letters to me en route in Salida—I GOT 'EM!!!  (I had to get them forwarded to me back home, but I received them and they put a huge smile on my face after the fact.  I really wish I could have received them on the trail, but know that your efforts did not go to waste.)

If you're interested in seeing pictures from the trip, I've posted them HERE.  Of recent news, I'm sorry to report that the majority of my photos and Gopro videos were lost a couple days on account of my computer hard drive failing shortly after I uploaded them. (Thanks to Google Plus for the automatic backup on these few.)  I'll post the rest if they are ever recoverable from my computer, dangit. 

Much love and gratitude to all of you,
Daniel 

Pics: 






---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Daniel Roberts <drobert...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Subject: Daniel's journey down the Great Divide
To:


Hey folks! 

I'm about to embark on the toughest physical undertaking of my life and I thought I'd give you the lowdown and ask for your support.
 
A little over a year ago I learned about a bike race called the Tour Divide.  (Yeah, like Tour De France, except down the Great Divide.)  It's a mountain bike race, from Canada to Mexico, unsupported (meaning no lag wagons or people handing out water bottles). It's a gentleman's race—no contest fees, no rewards for winning other than bragging rights.  Taking on this beast of a race has become a dream of mine to accomplish.  This video gives a little primer. 

The course stretches from Banff, Alberta, Canada, and traverses the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Mexican border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico.  In short, I'm about to ride my mountain bike across 2,745 miles of dirt as fast as I can. 

Along the way, I expect to encounter huge mountains, lakes, rivers, grizzly bears, pain, hunger, cowboys, rednecks, Gila monsters, classic Americana, and hopefully some rainbow trout and an antelope or two.   

FAQ's: 
  • What is the Tour Divide? (See this link).  The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route constitutes the longest off-pavement cycling route in the world.  The Tour Divide races that route. 
  • Is it supported? Nope, the race is purely self-supported.  This means that there's no race organizers helping us out along the way.  No one handing out water bottles.  No massages.  No one directing our navigation down the route.  There are no rest days once the timer starts. But we ARE allowed to stop in hotels, grocery stores, restaurants to resupply, etc. 
  • Are you doing this alone? No. My buddy, cycling extraordinaire Justin Piccorelli is joining me. 
  • How long will it take? I'm really not sure! As long as it takes. There's no time limit. The course record, which must have involved unimaginable suffering, is just under 16 days. Justin and I are hoping to finish in 25 days or less. Doing so will require averaging about 110 miles a day, self supported with all of our gear. 
  • Will I be updating a blog along the way? No. But I will occasionally update my facebook page, etc.
  •  WHY are you doing this?  I just think there's amazing natural beauty to experience out there on the Great Divide and the American continent that I'd never get a chance to see otherwise.   Life's too short not to dream big and get out there to make it happen.  And I'm doing it  to support people with spinal cord injuries (read below).  
  •  How can I support you?   I would love if you would join me in supporting my favorite charitable organization, Life Rolls On. Life Rolls On gives people with spinal cord injuries opportunities to go surfing, skateboarding, skiing, and cycling, and facilitates programs, education, and services for people living with paralysis.  The days I've spent with LRO taking paraplegics and quadriplegics surfing have been some of the most deeply satisfying I've ever had.  There's nothing like being able to help a kid who's never walked experience the elation of riding a wave.  And, since my particular journey will involve A LOT of rolling, so I think it fits.  
    My goal is to raise at least $1,500. This money will enable continued programs, education, and services for people living with paralysis and their families.

    ***SO, I invite you to please make a tax deductible donation by visiting my Team LRO campaign page, (also found at http://www.liferollson.org/TeamLRO/danielgreatdivide).  If you want to look at it as a ride-a-thon, I'd love if you could contribute ONE CENT per mile, which would amount to $27.45, assuming I finish.  And if you're strapped, half a cent, or a quarter-cent per mile would be great as well. Ten cents per mile would be totally heroic. 

    The race starts from Banff this coming Friday morning, June 14th, 2013.  I'll be incommunicado for the most part, but I look forward to seeing everyone on the flipside!

    Much love to everyone, and thanks in advance for any contributions you can help with! I really appreciate your support. 

    Cheers,
    Daniel 

    *AND, if you want to write me a postcard or letter along the way for moral support, please send it to:  

    Daniel N. Roberts
    c/o GENERAL DELIVERY
    Salida Post Office
    310 D St, Salida, CO 81201

    ...just make sure it gets there before I do!  

    -- 
    Daniel N. Roberts, Social Venture Attorney



    Reply all
    Reply to author
    Forward
    0 new messages