ON THE ROAD AGAIN Alan Ward’s 3,000-Mile Epic Journey — Cycling Into Retirement
As Alan Ward wraps up his illustrious federal career, he’s not stepping into the traditional retiree’s world of relaxation and golf courses. Instead, he’s grabbing life by the handlebars and embarking on a thrilling journey into retirement. With just three weeks before his official retirement, Alan recently completed the challenging Great Continental Divide Trail, an epic 3,000-mile biking odyssey spanning Canada to Mexico. What makes his journey unique is the unconventional approach he and his two buddies have taken over the past seven years to ride the entire trail.
shared love for adventure and cycling continues to fuel their free time and is sure to continue into retirement. In August, Alan plans to take on the challenging Colorado Trail, a 400-mile journey that promises to be more arduous than the Great Continental Divide Trail. Nearly a quarter of the trail requires pushing the bike (mostly uphill) but Alan is readying for the challenge by spending the months beforehand researching tips on how to explore this arduous rocky terrain. As Alan embarks on this exciting chapter of his life, he encourages everyone to grab a bicycle and experience the health benefits and sheer joy of cycling. It doesn’t have to be an epic cross-country journey; starting close to home and gradually expanding horizons can be just as rewarding. In the coming years, Alan looks forward to more adventures on two wheels, meeting new people, and enjoying the freedom that retirement and biking bring. “If you’ve got a bicycle,” he says, “get on it!” The road ahead promises more stories, challenges, and the unparalleled joy that comes from pedaling into the unknown.
necessary repairs. This unexpected twist added not only to the richness of the journey but a solid night’s rest. The Continental Divide trail is seldom used and rarely sees cars or people, offering cyclists an immersive experience with nature and wildlife. Alan shared encounters with elk, badgers and other wildlife and left him awe-struck by the beauty of Yellowstone’s ecosystem. Meeting fellow riders from around the world on the trail became a common occurrence and has created a tight-knit community of cycling enthusiasts. Alan recounted a U.S. film premier about the Divide Trail featuring an Australian rider who finished the entire 3,000 miles in under seven days, showcasing the incredible feats achievable on this winding route. Now that he’s retired, Alan looks forward to more biking adventures with his wife, Stacey. Together, they dream of biking through South Africa and pedaling the Amalfi Coast. Alan and Stacey share a passion for biking, having met during the Ride the Rockies event 23 years ago. This
Rather than tackling the trail in one go, Alan and his friends would spend a week every summer cycling along the Great Divide. They finally completed the entire trail in October 2023, a fantastic way to culminate their extraordinary seven-year experience. However, this challenging trail didn’t come without its share of surprises and obstacles. During their adventure in New Mexico, Alan’s brakes failed at an elevation of 10,000 feet. Undeterred, he embarked on a long walk and hitchhiked to get the
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