Pony Express Bicycle Challenge.org

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In 2010, the Pony Express will be 150 years old. Congress and the President are in on the Sesquicentennial commemorative celebration. After the official 20-day 500 participant photo-op Reride, I suggest riding bicycles, Pony Express style, the same 2,000 miles from Sacramento CA to St. Joe MO in 7 days 16 hours. (Their awesome record is 7 days 17 hours carrying Lincoln's Inaugural Address.)

The way this is competitive is that significant parts of the original Trail are now improved roads, highways and cities. Horses must wear 'slippers' and stage often on these sections while we pace line the same distance. Also bikers carry 1/4 the mail pouch (mochilla) weight because we generate 1/4 horse power. In our 15-20 pound mochilla, we can carry enough digital data to chronicle the 150 years of US history, including the genealogies of the original Pony Express riders and their horses. We will generally be with the wind, west to east.

We are looking for all types of bikes and riders. We have recent Pony Express Trail data history and GPS coordinates from the Pony Express National Tracking (official web site). Hundreds of you are encouraged to ride a section this summer and adopt it so we can race next summer. I like the idea of Congress and the President taking a victory lap... on bicycles!

I am actively seeking corporate sponsorship to reduce individual rider expenses. It is expensive for BLM/national park permitting, police protection through cities and other logistical difficulties.

Personally, I am generally a solitary retro mountain bike rider in rural Northern Nevada. However, the concept of 500 bicycle riders placed strategically throughout 8 Western States relay racing head to head 24/7 against the actual Pony Express next year has forced me to put my anti-social preferences on hold (at least for a year)!

Thank you very much. Please visit the site, join the team in some capacity and help us ride to victory in this historic event.

Gary

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