LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Just a man and his, err, ... bike.
Like generations of Americans before him, Lackland Arts and Crafts Center woodworker Dale Shadley is embarking on a cross-continental challenge in search of adventure.
Unlike his west-oriented 19th century predecessors, Shadley's destiny entails a southward route, traveling the stretch of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to New Mexico, and use of a bicycle during the annual Tour Divide challenge Saturday.
The idea came to Shadley, 46, after reading an issue of Outside, an adventure-travel magazine, and learning about the 2007 bike race.
Since then, Shadley said, "It has increasingly seemed like something I need to do - before I get too much older."
The time trial traces 2,745 miles (and 200,000 vertical feet) along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, taking backcountry riders through Canadian provinces Alberta and British Columbia, and the U.S. states Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
As a self-described wiry biker, Shadley has competed in numerous Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association races over the past 11 years, including a marathon race in which Lance Armstrong won.
However, the Tour Divide rookie understands the enormity of the race that stands before him. Last year's winner, Matthew Lee, finished the course in 17 days, 16 hours and 10 minutes.
"It's hard to have any expectations," he said. "First and foremost, I would just like to finish."
A Texas native, Shadley is also trying to be the first from the state to cross the finish.
"It's going to be a kind of a Texas rivalry," he said about the other entered Texas riders.
In preparation for the race, Shadley trained at Government Canyon State Natural Area while bike commuting the 26 miles to Lackland.
Tour Divide riders are unsupported. Each provides his or her own provisions, shelter, bike repairs and navigation as they wind through the course's unmarked bike and jeep trails, passing through grizzly and mountain lion country.
"You can't have any help. I will be taking tools and bike parts," he said.
Shadley said riders can use shops that are available to all the riders to maintain his ride.
For most of the ride, Shadley said he will ride 16 hours a day and is counting on plenty of sleep and taking in around 8,000 calories daily.
"The really big challenge will be the northern section. Montana is basically under water," Shadley said. "They had record snow fall that is just starting to melt. It sounds like a cold, muddy situation up there."
Shadley said his goals are to take in the scenery and learn a little about himself in the process.
"There's no entry fee and you really don't get anything for winning or finishing," he said.
Shadley said he's also riding for people close to him, in particular, Carlos Medellin who is battling throat cancer.
"If I'm riding for anything, I would be riding for him," he said. "More than the purely selfish mode of being out there for a month, above everything else, I hope for a good recovery on his part."
Though the race begins Saturday, Shadley's adventure began June 4 when he rented a car to travel to the race start in Banff, Alberta.
People can track Shadley's GPS location during the race at
http://tourdivide.org/leaderboard.