RIDE4REAL
21 Days. More Than 300 Kilometres a Day. One Unforgettable October.
In October 2020, we set out to discover how far a bicycle—and a meaningful reason to keep pedalling—could take us.
The answer was farther than any reasonable person should probably attempt.
For 21 consecutive days, I rode more than 300 kilometres a day. That meant roughly 10 to 12 hours on the bike, followed by food, fluids, a shower, whatever recovery I could manage and a few hours of sleep before getting up to do it all over again.
More than 6,300 kilometres in three weeks.
Even now, thinking back on it boggles my mind. It remains the wildest and most demanding challenge of my career—and that is saying something. I have raced internationally, represented Canada, chased records and completed some fairly questionable adventures on two wheels. Nothing compares to RIDE4REAL.
It was completely ridiculous.
I am incredibly proud that we did it.
WHY WE RODE
RIDE4REAL was created during a year filled with uncertainty, isolation, stress and heartbreak. Through it all, the bicycle continued to give people somewhere to go, something to work toward and a way to feel connected.
The challenge was built around a simple question:
What are we capable of—and what are we willing to endure—when the reason is bigger than ourselves?
The goal was never to ride an outrageous distance simply to say we had done it. We wanted to use the size of the challenge to create attention, encourage people and support organizations filled with real heroes.
The rides were long. The legs were tired. There were plenty of moments when repeating the whole thing the next morning seemed completely absurd.
But the causes were worth it.
FOREST CITY VELODROME
The Forest City Velodrome is a one-of-a-kind, non-profit cycling facility powered by an extraordinary group of volunteers.
It has provided young riders with a positive environment in which to learn, train, grow and discover what they are capable of. Facilities like this do much more than develop cyclists—they create confidence, friendships, mentorship and community.
RIDE4REAL helped support the velodrome and its operating costs for the 2020–2021 season. It was our way of recognizing the volunteers who gave so much of themselves to keep the building alive and its doors open.
Those volunteers were—and remain—real heroes in our cycling community.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY OF CANADA
RIDE4REAL also supported the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a community navigating an unpredictable disease with remarkable courage.
We rode to help create awareness and support the research, resources and programs serving Canadians affected by MS. When people are already carrying something incredibly difficult, even a little relief can matter.
THE REAL HERO
The challenge also helped launch an idea especially close to our hearts: The Real Hero Project.
The Real Hero began as a simple thought:
What would a real hero do?
Not a superhero with a cape. Not someone waiting for applause. A real hero is someone who notices where help is needed and decides to do something about it.
The vision was to create a character and community project that could visit schools, hospitals and sporting events; celebrate unsung local heroes; inspire children; deliver bikes and equipment; and remind people that kindness, courage and service are choices available to all of us.
RIDE4REAL helped move that dream off the page and into the real world.
THE LEGACY OF RIDE4REAL
RIDE4REAL was never only about kilometres. It was about turning effort into attention, attention into support and support into meaningful change.
It showed us what can happen when people rally around a cause, share the journey and believe that one ambitious—or slightly unhinged—idea can bring a community together.
Twenty-one days of more than 300 kilometres still sounds completely outrageous. Honestly, it should. It was the craziest feat of my career, and I remain incredibly proud that we used it to help others.
I love a big challenge. I love helping people. And apparently, I have a difficult time saying no when bicycles and a seemingly impossible idea are involved.
If you have a cause that deserves more attention, a community that needs support or a meaningful challenge waiting to be created, please reach out.
I might be your guy.
Real effort. Real causes. Real relief. Real heroes.