How the tour operates - Stephen French

We’d like to provide our perspective of the role of the Route Leader and how invaluable they are to the safe and smooth operation of getting nearly two dozen bicyclist from one coast to the other. In January, just a few days after my application was accepted, I received an email from Matt Brinkman introducing himself as my Route Leader. He acknowledged that fundraising was the immediate concern and may seem like a daunting task, but that he was willing to help with ideas. As I reached the mid-way deadline on May 1st of $1500.00 he started contacting us about sweet discounts from our sponsors, recommended gear lists, and was always available by phone, email, or facebook whenever I had a question. There are 3 full-time leaders who take turns driving the van with trailer in tow, and then of course there’s Don Fraser who drives his 4Runner as an auxiliary vehicle for emergencies and scouting out the route for the day. As avid bicyclists themselves, one leader usually drives the van, another rides shotgun to be able to answer the phone and read the map, while the third rides along with the pack and picks up the rear to be sure no one needs an extra hand with repairs, or some added motivation! Don as well as every person with a title has always presented themselves as one of us, never condescending, just offering thoughtful advice. At one point, Mason Cavell parked the 4Runner at our campsite and biked up seven miles of steep mountainside with frozen Mars bars as a treat for climbing Afton Mt! That’s dedication! They provide the days weather forecast and rest stops on a white board in the trailer. We have NEVER been without copious amounts of potable drinking water when we’ve needed it thanks to the tireless efforts of Bret Taylor. Joe Ferrell,who is proficient with almost every aspect of bicycle repair, is provided with professional grade tools, and has been very successful helping to maintain our fleet. All the videos you see posted on the website have been shot, edited and posted by the leadership team. As we enter into our second week on the road they still offer suggestions about what to eat for optimum energy output, how best to care for sore knees, ankles, and feet, and make recommendations for proper posture to avoid fatigue. When the unfortunate situation arises and a rider comes down with a cold/flu, they put that persons’ bike on the van and take them on as a passenger until they feel good enough to start pedaling again. Liason with the many eating establishments to let them know that they will soon be invaded by an army of ravenous bicyclists has been crucial, and finding a safe space to camp at night within striking distance of the starting point has been seamless. Whether on the back lawn of a firestation, a park, campground, or a church, there’s been no shortage of folks flinging their doors open to help us out. The Route Leaders are continuously proactive with providing information prior to a challenge/event because they all have extensive bicycling experience, most on this exact journey. Every opportunity to learn from what we could have done to make things easier goes into the “what we’re gonna do next year” file, but those moments have been so seldom it’s hardly noticeable. In fact, Don exclaimed today that it’s going so incredibly well he’s almost afraid that he’s doing something wrong!! So here’s to you Mr. Route Leader extraordinaire, we would like to acknowledge their hard work and dedication, and that without them being so invested in our welfare and success, this incredible undertaking would hardly be possible. Crack open a Natty Lite, you deserve it!