Bean Ridge Endurance Challenge

To celebrate my 20th year of fighting and surviving Type 1 Diabetes, I have been fundraising throughout 2020 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through the Ride To Cure Diabetes. Since the main event was canceled due to COVID, I have been continuing my fundraising through pledge challenges and cycling.

My next challenge will be an endurance challenge through southern Illinois.

Bean Ridge is a gravel road in Southern Illinois cutting through the southern edge of the Shawnee National Forest. It’s one of my favorites to ride, and it has some tough climbing - up to 9% grade. I’ve built a 30 mile loop starting at the levee right across the bridge, riding out to Bean Ridge, coming down Grapevine Trail, through McClure, and back to the start through some farm roads. Elevation gain per loop is around 1,200 ft.

Levees? Check. Massive climbs? Check. Alone in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest? Check. Bears and Mountain Lions? Probable. Suck? Triple check.

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Here’s the challenge.

Start at 4AM on August 29 and do this 30 mile loop until I can’t any longer. The furthest I’ve ever rode a bike in one day is 104 miles, for reference. That’s just over 3 laps on this route.

Here’s a link to my map: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/40140819

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While taking The Bean Ridge Endurance Challenge, I will be riding as far as I can to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

For each 30 mile lap I complete, a pledge can be made - starting as small as $1.

For example: If a pledge of $1 is made, and I ride 150 miles (5 laps), then the $1 pledge would equal a total payout of $5.

Every dollar counts and adds to the fundraising goal I have set. My hope is by supporting JDRF through this ride, Type 1 Diabetics around the world will have better resources, better policy, healthier living, and eventually - a cure.