Local bike rider Daniel Gloor has proven that age is just a number when it comes to endurance.
Gloor completed a gruelling journey, riding his bike from Halifax to Squamish in 52 days.
As he rode into the ocean at Sp’akw’us Feather Park on Saturday afternoon, greeted by 30 friends and family members, Gloor said he would get back on his bike again tomorrow, on one condition.
“I would do it all again tomorrow, but I think only if I could convince my wife to come with me,” he told The Squamish Chief with a smile.
Gloor completed the journey entirely self-supported, meaning he set up a tent and camped for the majority of the almost two-month-long journey (unless the weather or location was too tough).
“I think the highlights for me were meeting all the different people along the way. Because when you're on a bicycle, a lot of people stop to talk to you,” he said.
“I also found out that you don't necessarily have to be fit, but you have to be stubborn.”
Having ridden bikes his whole life, Gloor said he decided to do the journey almost a year ago.
“There was a guy from Squamish, Sam Bowerman, who did it [10] years ago and I got it in my head that it would be a cool thing to do. Then last year I said to my wife, ‘I better do it this year because I am getting old,’” he said.
“But I think when you're old you don't have the spring capacity, but you have the endurance. I can go for 10 hours no problem.”
While he had only ever driven a portion of the route prior to beginning the long journey, Gloor said he knew riding in Ontario would be tricky.
“I'd only ever driven from Toronto to here, but never from Halifax. I knew Ontario was going to be a big one and it was, I did 13 days in Ontario because of Lake Superior,” he said.
“And those hills are big, people think we have hills but they have hills too.”
Like with any cross-country journey, hurdles are always to be expected.
“I had mechanical issues. I broke spokes because some roads are very rough with potholes,” Gloor said.
“I broke spokes and there was no bike shop for 690 kilometres, so I rode with a wobbly wheel. But I was lucky with my body, it never broke down on me.”
Gloor, who turns 69 in October, hopes that he can inspire others to take on the journey, regardless of age.
With a beer in hand and loved ones cheering him on from the sidelines, he said the community response was nothing short of “amazing.”
“That's what this is all about. Because I hope I can inspire somebody else to do it, because anybody can do this if they put their mind to it,” he said.
