Beginning Wednesday, August 13th, I will be departing Victoria, BC, with sights set on riding (primarily) off-road all the way back to Regina, SK—the city I grew up in, where cycling found me, and where this whole journey, which has now become my life’s work, its passion, began.
The route is effectively this → 2400 km and 26000 m over 9 days . I’ve raced my bike all over the world, and in the last few years, since stepping away from road racing and into the off-road scene, I’ve found both a fondness for and success in the ultra-distance world. This, while certainly not short, is not meant to be a race. While some days I may be racing for a ferry, and other days trying to make it to the finish town before the last of the two restaurants closes, I’m not chasing the Fastest Known Time (FKT). This ride will be my First Known Time, and I mean that on many levels.
At over 260 km and 2,800 m of climbing per day, this will be the biggest block of riding I’ve ever done—bigger than my longest race (Tour of Switzerland 2019), more kilometers than my longest week of training (when I rode the coast of California in 2023), and nearly double the hours of my biggest ultra-distance event (Trans Cordilleras – Colombia 2024). So when I say it’s a first and I’m not entirely sure of the outcome, I mean it.
Do I believe I can do it? Yes—and we’re going to take it one day at a time. I’ll be sharing recap videos in my Instagram feed as I go along, thanks to my friends at Reform Saddle and a larger group of incredible sponsors and partners who make this all possible.
The larger part of this challenge is to raise money for the Wirth Foundation. I first worked with them back in 2020, when the world as we knew it changed, and my best friend Taylor and I took on a challenge which, at the time, was a similar undertaking—we rode the length of Vancouver Island in a single day. The response from the community was incredible, and I hope with this ride I can achieve something similar.
I’m very aware that money is tight for everyone these days, but know that parting with even $25 is 25% of the way to sponsoring a counselling session for someone. I think mental health is still a very stigmatized topic, and one that especially men have a hard time speaking to someone about. Combine that with the cost of some sessions ($100+ per), and it’s a tall ask. Wirth helps make those conversations a reality for people who otherwise could never afford it.
The goal: To raise $9,000 over the course of the 9-day ride—that equates to 100 counselling sessions.
Thank you so much for your support. Every bit helps.
More information about Wirth Foundation : Our mission is to offer and expand access to mental health services for those who otherwise cannot afford it. Wirth Foundation works to remove the stigma associated with seeking mental health support & help, pair individuals with licensed mental health professionals who share our dedication to care, foster a community that supports and encourages individuals to be proactive in supporting their mental health.
