host a slideshow and video presentation
of his 2,900+ mile mountain bike ride at
The Mountain Shop tonight.
(Photos: Daniel Fleischer)
Portland realtor Daniel Fleischer turned the big 4-0 last May, “So, instead of buying a red Camaro,” he told me recently, “I thought I’d take a bike ride.” But not just any ride. Fleischer set out to conquer the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. And conquer it he did.
Over the course of 48 days, he rode 2,934 miles from Mexico to Canada with an estimated 200,000 feet in elevation gain. Tonight, Fleischer will share a video and slideshow presentation of his journey that will let you “live the trail through images and sounds.”
- Total Distance: 2934.4 miles
- Total Riding Days: 41.5
- Avg Distance/Riding Day:
70.7 miles - Longest Distance In
One Day: 103.5 miles - Avg. Speed:10.9 miles/hr
- Highest Speed: 42 miles/hr
- Total Time Spinning:
276.8 hours - Total Elevation Gain:
~200,000 vertical feet - Average Elevation Gain/Riding
Day: ~4810 ft
Fleischer is no stranger to epic trips: In 1994 he through-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail; in 1996 he hiked around Asia; in 1998 he biked coast-to-coast; and in 2000 he hiked the entire Continental Divide Trail.
After that, Fleischer took a break: “I had two children and put my adventuring on pause for a few years.”
So, why start up again? What motivates him to ride 70-plus miles a day for 41 days over rocky, hilly terrain on his mountain bike? I asked Fleischer this and a few other questions via email:
“This trip, like the others, was a great way for me to re-establish priorities in my life. It allows me to breathe in a way that I am unable to in my daily urban life. When on the trail, moments seem like days, days like months, and months like lifetimes. Most long distance adventurers would agree that you have to experience it to truly appreciate it.”
What was the most unexpected part of the trip?
“I don’t think I went with a ton of expectations, so I wasn’t too surprised. I guess I expected it to be more difficult than it was (I trained really hard and hit the dirt rolling). Also, as lovely as much of the area is, I feel like i am absolutely blessed to live and bike in Portland every day. There is no place like it in the U.S. for cyclists.”
What was the most difficult part of the ride?
“The hardest part undoubtedly was the mud. Last June was the wettest in 30 years for the Rockies. I got rained on every day in Colorado. The rain itself isn’t the issue. It’s what happens to the dirt roads and trails. Many of them become un-passable by bike, so I ended up hauling my 75 pound, mud-laden bike up and down muddy mountains on foot. I threw my back out really badly on one such episode and had to take four days off to heal. The mud also wreaked havoc on my drive train.”
With summer approaching, I know many of you have epic journeys planned. Check out Fleischer’s presentation tonight to stoke your fire, or get inspired to take that trip you’ve been dreaming about. Read Fleischer’s blog for updates from the trail.
- The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Slide/Video Show
Monday, March 15th
The Mountain Shop (Corner of NE 7th and Broadway in Portland)
7pm
Free snacks to those who ride a bike or take public transportation.