whiskey drinkin dave nice - still in the race

update. this photo was taken by AARON TEASDALE of adventure cycling.

the Great Divide Race is going on now. It started June 15 on the Montana/Canadian border.

They ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike route to New Mexico - 2,490 miles and over 200,000 feet of climbing as the route crisscrosses the continental Divide 28 times.

The race has been finished in 20 days or less. 24 started this year. Dave Nice was among them. and he's riding fixedgear.

Last year, early in the race, he pulled over on a gravel road to nap and woke to find his bike was stolen. Just like that: months of planning and training ended for him. Some of us pulled together and contributed funds for his new bike. Dave commutes by bike and public transportation in Denver Co where he is a whiskey distiller. To prepare for this years race, he has trained and ridden over 6000 miles (fixed) up to the race date.

anyway, he's just a good guy with a big heart that loves to ride his bike and seems to thrive on challenge and hardiness and a good attitude.

here's to all the riders that started on June 15. some have dropped out and will have to try another day. others continue on with body aches and sickness, grizzly encounters, cold and hot weather, stream crossings, difficult sleeping and eating and bike issues.

whatever it is inside that makes them continue on is what we tune in for. we all have that in us to various degrees - its the open road and the challenges we will face that makes us want to set out for the unknown.

here's more info on the race.

• 07 Great Divide Race
• Race Route
• Daily Race updates from the riders
• Dave Nice's blog - he's sending in updates here too
• 07 photo gallery of the race start. photos of all the racers and their rigs and a little something about each of them