Later this week, two ERIK’S employees are embarking on a long journey beginning in Anacortes, Washington, and ending at Eglin Air Force base in Florida. The ride itself is planned to be 4,600 miles, prompting some to ask, “Why?” For Zach Garner and Adam Smith (both of ERIK’S Eden Prairie), the answer is an easy one. As Green Berets, they chose to do the trip both as a challenge and to support their fellow soldiers. The mission is to raise money to support Task Force Dagger, but the "Ride to Valhalla" is also about raising awareness for the issues facing special operations soldiers, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
The Ride
Leaving Fort Lewis in Washington, Zach and Adam plan to ride an average of 70 miles each day. With stops planned in Montana, Colorado, Dallas, Kentucky, and North Carolina along the way, there will be plenty of options to follow their progress. The plan is to regularly update the Facebook page for the Green Beret Adventure Team, where live tracking links via Spot and Garmin Livetrack will be posted.
The ride will be completely self-supported, and Adam and Zach are still looking for support in the form of gas cards. They welcome anyone to join them for a day on the ride. Each scheduled stop along the way is significant to their cause, either as a Special Forces base or as a location of historical significance to Special Services soldiers. All money raised as a result of this trip will go to benefit Task Force Dagger.
July 29 – Fort Lewis, WA
August 11 – Helena, MT (the first Special Service force was organized and trained in Helena)
August 31 – Fort Carson, CO
September 16 – Dallas, TX (home to Task Force Dagger)
October 2 – Fort Campbell, KY
October 14 – Fort Bragg, NC
October 30 – Eglin AFB, FL
The Bikes
Like all ERIK’S employees, Zach and Adam love bikes. As part of their preparations, they selected a few different styles to meet the terrain and their own personal preferences based on the day. Both Adam and Zach have the same bikes, except for size and personal component choices. The secondary benefit is the ability to ride every day. Think of it like this: the average chain lasts 1,500 miles, meaning if they only rode one bike each, there would be some downtime repairing bikes. By riding numerous bikes each, their support team can work on a bike or perform maintenance while they ride another. Take a look at what they're bringing:
Specialized Diverge
This is where the quiver started. The Diverge’s geometry, room for wide tires, and disc brakes make it an ideal bike for long rides on unpredictable terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Adam and Zach outfitted their Diverge Comps with custom frame bags so they can carry the gear they need, plus sandwiches—because who doesn't like a sandwich? The Diverge is a nimble handling bike that is designed to transition easily from pavement to gravel.
Bianchi Intenso
The second bike they're bringing with them is the Bianchi Intenso. The Intenso is for days they want to put the hammer down. Keep in mind that no day during the ride is a short day by anyone’s standards, so the comfortable yet responsive ride of the Intenso gives them a bit of variety on their journey. The Intenso is also the only carbon bike they have, so the weight savings alone might be all that’s needed to brighten spirits on some days! The C2C or "coast to coast" geometry is designed for long days in the saddle, which will keep Adam and Zach comfortable as the miles tick away.
Raleigh Willard
Finally, the Willard was the latest addition to the fleet for the Ride to Valhalla—but a worthy one at that. While similar in experience to the Diverge, Willard’s longer wheelbase and wider tire capacity make it ideal for the roughest of conditions. The guys will be riding the Willard 2, which has an identical drivetrain to the Diverge Comps they're riding, but the tires are wider and knobbier right out of the box.
We’ll be posting updates on their progress—if you have a question for Zach or Adam, send it our way and we’ll pass it along! Later this fall, stop in and ask how to gear up for your own adventure.