Support Arizona Lion Patel On His Bike Trek Through The Rockies.

Naran Patel is one of the people who responded to my ad for GDMBR companions through Adventure Cycling Association (ACA). Although I was a bit leery when he told me he was thinking of doing this expedition on a folding bike, he has since purchased a hardtail and BOB trailer. From the descriptions of his physical training I think he is going to kick my butt for the first week or two.

I will be knuckle dragging my way through the first week or so as I recover from the intense output from my end of the school year duties. I will literally leave the classroom at noon, pick up another fellow, Cas, at the airport at 12:38, and then drive a couple hundred miles south to Deming, New Mexico. Early the next morning we will drive another hundred miles south to Antelope Wells in order to meet up with Naran and Dave around 8 am. After introductions and a few obligatory photos we will immediately start riding north. Hopefully, before the Chihauhaun Desert starts to cook us too badly.

A little later in the day Howard and Judi will start from Antelope Wells to make their way north on a tandem. We are only going about 46 miles to Hachita, so they should be able to catch up in short order. In fact I would not be surprised if we did not meet on their way to be dropped off at AW. That is how it is suppose to begin.

Anyway, getting back to Naran, he is raising money for the Lions to help save the sight of 2500 people. I have copied and pasted his brochure on his fund raising campaign below. I hope you will consider donating to this very worthy cause.


Arizona Lion Aims to Save the Sight of 2500 People

Imagine pedaling a mountain bike 2668 miles from Mexico to Canada through the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide - the ridge dividing the eastern part of the U.S. from the West. Imagine spending 68 days straight on that bike, travelling around 40 miles per day - at elevations up to 12,000 feet. And imagine that you will be pulling a trailer carrying your tent and food and water weighing 70 pounds with you - no supply caravan on this trip.

Most of us get tired just thinking about it - but Tucson Rincon Lions Club president Naran Patel is game to go - to raise funds for Campaign Sight First II. Patel aims to raise $15,000 - enough to save the sight of 2500 people or one person for each mile he rides.

A 67 year old retired international banker from Chicago, Patel has run marathons and biked cross country but never tried mountain biking before. He will leave Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the Mexican border May 23 - and plans to arrive in Banff, Canada on July 30, 2008.

He will be riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and another 215 miles into Canada. The GDMBR is the longest mountain bike dirt route in the world and crosses the Continental Divide 29 times. About 80% of the ride is on dirt roads through the Rocky Mountains.

Elevations for the ride range from 2500 feet in Montana to 11,910 feet in Colorado. Temperatures will range from 100 degrees at the start of the ride in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico to 30 degrees at night in the Rockies of Colorado.

Patel will make the trip with three other men ranging in age from 55 to 65. The group includes a teacher from New Mexico and two riders from Phoenix and Philadelphia. Patel is the only Lion in the group and has dedicated his ride to raising money for Campaign Sight First II.

Clubs or individuals interested in helping to save the sight of one person for each mile of the ride may send checks to Tucson Rincon Lion Sally Moffett at 8987 Tanqe Verde #309-310, Tucson, Arizona 85749. Additional information is available from Sally at 520 760-0152 or scmoffett@Yahoo.com

Support Arizona Lion Patel on his bike trek through the Rockies.
Send your tax deductible donation to
Sally Moffett, 8987 Tanque Verde #309-310, Tucson, AZ 85749
Make checks payable to LCIF.