Introduction to the Great Divide Mountain Biking Route, 2015 Expedition

Bicycle Expedition Along the Spine of the United States

In the middle of August, I will be embarking on an adventure that has been in my mind for the past 14 years and on the drawing board for the past year.

I will be doing a mountain biking trip down the Rocky Mountains from Banff in Alberta, Canada through the Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and finally ending in Antelope Wells, New Mexico near the Mexican border.

The name of the route, which was mapped out in 1998 by the Adventure Cycling Association, is called the Great Divide mountain bike route (GDMBR) and follows the Continental Divide within 50 miles for its entire 2,800 mile length. It is the longest mountain bike route in the world, and is a compilation of forest service roads, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) roads, and remote local roads. There are also some single-track and paved sections as well.

(map from Adventure Cycling website)

I will be travelling with a company from the Netherlands called Bike Dreams, and they have put together an international group of cyclists. We will be biking an average of 65 miles per day for 49 days for the 2,800 mile journey.

I have been training and testing equipment since last June, and I believe I am up to the challenge – but we shall see!. As part of this blog I will include text and photos from any of my trial runs, one of which will be through Lancaster county.

Much has changed since my last major bike touring trip, from camera technology to new types of biking equipment. One change that I did not anticipate is how much more difficult it has been to get in shape. It has been a struggle, but I feel that after a year, I have a good base level of fitness and we shall see if I am up to the challenge.

Lorraine will not be accompanying me on this trip as she is not a fan of off road riding, but she has been integral to making this possible, from her emotional to her technical support. I would not be able to do this without her. She will be taking care of both our home and practice while I am away fulfilling a dream of many years. For all you have done and will do, I extend my heartfelt thanks and love. 

Finally, as part of the ride, I am asking chiropractic supporters to donate to the Berkowitz Scholarship at Sherman College of Chiropractic, a fund that Lorraine and I founded 14 years ago. The purpose of the scholarship is to help defray the high cost of a chiropractic education. Students are selected based upon their demonstrated service ethic as tribute to the namesakes of the fund (Samuel and Sandra Berkowitz) whose service to their family and community was a way of life.

You can find out more and donate online by clicking on the following link: http://www.sherman.edu/give/berkowitz/. Please select Berkowitz Scholarship from the
drop-down menu that indicates "My donation is for" under donation options.

Alternatively, you can send a check to Sherman College of Chiropractic, P.O. Box 1452, Spartanburg, SC 29304 and put "Berkowitz Scholarship" in the memo line of your check.
Thank you for supporting this worthy cause!

(Photo from Adventure Cycling website)