Blog — Ian's Ride

Oh how time flies when you're having fun. I can't believe it's been over a month since I made it home from the big ride across the state. I will admit, it took me at least a week to decompress and rest my body after all those days on the road. After catching up with all the e-mails, messages, social media posts, and life in general I'm finally ready to express some post-ride reflections. But it can’t be done all at once. I need to start with the good people that were part of this. And there's quite a few who helped make Ian's Ride 2018 a success.

The brains behind our electrical modifications.

First off, I want to thank a few people who really helped in the background and haven't got the acknowledgment they deserve. I'll start off with Steve Smith and Russ Woodward. These two were the brains and muscle behind adding the lithium battery to the back of my chair. I never could have put the daily miles I did without the incredible ingenuity these two contributed. Steve is super handy with anything electronic, and Russ never ceases to amaze me with his incredible fabricating skills. Big thanks to both of you for all you did to help me in this endeavor. The next person I want to acknowledge is Kayleigh King. I met Kayleigh through my friends at Nelson Boyd Attorneys during my 2016 ride. She was a tremendous help with social media and even joined us at one of the breweries with her family. She is really awesome! Anyway, she came through again this year and really helped us out with aspects of the website and blog that we could not have dealt with ourselves on the road. She has a wonderful eye for design and a technical knowledge that proved invaluable. Thank you so much Kayleigh!

Now onto the crew… These are the people that were with me in the trenches. They put up with heat, smoke, long days, roadside food, and a slow 7 mph crawl across the state. They each set aside two weeks of their precious summer to spend time with me, and I couldn't have asked for a better group. I love each of them dearly, and the memories I have with them and this trip will be strongly cherished for the rest of my life. I'll try not to prattle on too long about each of them…

Josh Blaustein (Dr. B)

When it comes down to it, Dr. B is the reason I do these rides. He brought me on my first bike touring trip back in 2006 and has been one of my closest friends ever since. After I became paralyzed, he would schedule bike touring trips, so they would begin or end near my home in Port Angeles, so I could still feel like part of the crew. He's got one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know, has a sharp wit that keeps me on my toes, and has the kind of attitude that makes you want to be around him constantly. I'm so fortunate to have this man in my life, and as I've said before, he is truly the heart of these rides.

Josh Sutcliffe (Chauncey)

There is a lot to say about this guy. I met Josh several years ago when he was interviewing with me for a job as an attendant. I rarely hire males, but everything about Josh made me smile, and his keen interest in outdoor athletics made him the perfect match for me. I have never once regretted bringing him on the team. However, he is so much more than an employee. He is a close friend and really part of the family. His jovial demeanor, constant optimism, and willingness to help makes him someone I'm proud to have in my life. His willingness to go out on an adventure at the drop of a hat, and his physical ability to do so, makes my life a lot better. This guy can run dogs in the morning, climb a mountain with me in the afternoon, and still star in a Shakespeare show at the end of the day. He really keeps us all smiling during the rides and is always there for me when I need a hand. Thanks for everything Josh, I'm lucky to have you.

Jimmy Quenelle

That brings us to Jimmy… Oh how I love to give this guy hell. I do so because the damn guy is perfect in every way. I mean for Pete's sake, riding his bike across the state wasn't enough; he had to run more than 180 miles of the way! He is an animal, physically, and one of the kindest, friendliest, most thoughtful people I know. His vast knowledge of natural history, beer, and all things outdoors keeps me in awe. He has taught me so much in our nearly 14-year friendship and some of my fondest memories are while in his presence. I've made a trip to California every year, for 10 years straight, to visit him and his family and I hope to do so for the next 10 years. He means the world to me. Cheers Jimmy, here's to an amazing friendship.

Ben Boyd

I have known Ben longer than I've known any of the other guys. We met back in 2002 when we were both attending Santa Barbara City College. We were both young and ornery and had a common interest in drinking beer, chasing girls, and playing disc golf. We became fast friends. He is a guy you can always depend on, super faithful to his friends, and has a never-ending fun-loving energy. He is not a distance cyclist, but he wanted to help and be part of the ride anyway. His contribution turned out to be critical to the success of our ride. Despite all the planning we never considered that the weight of people, wheelchairs, and gear were more than my minivan could handle. Ben really came to our rescue with the U-Haul truck he drove across the state. He was able to haul the bikes, gear, and an extra person to and from the start and end points of each day. Even more, he would deliver our stuff to the awaiting hotel room and make sure that the facilities were accessible. To top it off, he would take care of extra errands (such as beer runs, he is also a beer aficionado) we needed ran, check on us riders during the day, and he even got out there and put a bunch of miles in with us. He was essential. I don't get to see Ben as often as I would like, and to be able to spend two whole weeks with him was awesome! Thanks for everything Ben, I love you like a brother.

Teena Woodward (Mom)

That brings us to my mom. She is always the hardest for me to write about because I could never illustrate in words just how amazing she is. She is my hero, my role model, and my best friend. She has done everything she could in the past 10 years to push me to succeed in life as a paralyzed man. The role she played in this year's ride demonstrates just how incredible she is. Every morning, she would wake up well before I to get started with the morning routine. She would stretch me, prepare the wheelchair, proofread the blog, make sure the crew was all up and moving, get me in my chair and ready, and all of this before she could even have her breakfast. She would then drive us to the starting point of the day and begin managing all the publicist duties and the social media aspects of this endeavor. She would have an hour or two before needing to bring Jimmy his bike and delivering us all lunch. That is just what she had to do before noon, the afternoons and evenings could get even crazier. The amazing thing about my mom, is she did all this without complaint and with a smile on her face. I love you mom, and I know how lucky I am to have you.

Before I wrap this up, I'd like to thank a few others that deserve an honorary mention. I'll start it off with Todd Stabelfeldt, the Quadfather. He and his beautiful wife Karen drove all the way out to Spokane so they could start the ride with me. They both were also there on the final day to see me through the finish line. I love them both and was thankful to have them be part of the journey. Next, I'd like to thank Denise Smith-Irwin, Joe Meyer, and Tyler Schrenk. These three wheelchair users joined me on day 11 and really lifted my spirits. It was wonderful having some other chair users join me along the way to remind me of the importance of accessible trails. Next, big thanks to my dad, brother, uncle Al, and cousin Jason for driving/flying all the way to Washington so they could be there for the finish of the ride. My uncle Al drove all the way out from Wisconsin and the rest flew up from San Diego. I've got some great people in my family. I'd also like to thank one of my very best friends Matt Marks for also flying up to be part of this. Lots of love brother. Finally, a shout out to Kenny Salvini, Jesse Collens, Bonnie Richardson, and Marsha Cutting for making the final day that much better. Thanks guys for helping to represent the wheelchair trail riding community.

I could not do what I do without the love, support, and enthusiasm of the people in my life. Those mentioned here are just a few.

I'm home, and I've had over a week to rest and decompress. There's plenty I'd like to share here as a wrap up to my experiences on this adventure. But first I need to tell you all about my crew. They were not only supportive and helpful. They were funny, clever, interesting, and uplifting. I couldn't have asked for a better team. I had the easy job. The two Joshes were with me for the distance. These guys really did the work. They put themselves at risk on some dicey roads. Without them, and the rest of the crew, this trip never could have happened. So here's to you guys.

Josh Blaustein, aka Dr. B, aka The Umbrella Man, aka John Craigie Fangirl - hailing from Santa Cruz, CA where he is a chemistry professor, a father of four daughters, and to my mother’s dismay, a vegan.

He was the mechanical guru on the team and our fearless leader. Stuff breaks frequently on a wheelchair, particularly after 300+ miles, and he was always there to get things back in working order. He developed a love-hate relationship (he may disagree with the love part) with the numerous umbrellas we went through. He tried every MacGyver move possible to help keep me shaded and his skill with a bungee cord is unmatched. His mechanical assistance was appreciated but the most valuable asset he brought to the table was his never-ending positive attitude and ability to always make me laugh. I could never say enough good things about this guy; he was truly the heart of the team. Thanks Dr. B, you bring fun wherever you go.

Josh Sutcliffe, aka Chauncey, aka JS – hailing from Port Angeles, WA where he is a dog runner, a barefoot runner, a thespian, and keeps me alive on a weekly basis.

This Josh has worked for me for over a year. I've known him not nearly as long as the other crew members, but his contributions were critical. He is a man of many hats – he can handle my respiratory needs, my wheelchair glitches, beer pouring, and personal needs that I'd prefer not to ask of old friends. He forced water on me when I didn't want it, and sprayed me down to cool me on the scorching days. This was his first time meeting many of my close friends, and he handled it with humor, tolerance and grace. You the man Chauncey.

Adam Mackay, aka My Brother – hailing from Port Angeles, WA where he dominates in disc golf, works construction and is an awesome Dad to my beautiful niece, Paige.

Adam was able to start and end the trip with me. He is not an avid cyclist but made the long miles look easy. I was super thankful to have him. He is a busy guy and I don't get to spend nearly as much time with him as I'd like. He had to miss work to do this. Being able to share part of this ride with him meant the world to me. He enjoys his beer at least as much as I do and is a smart, funny man who I really admire. He will soon be moving to San Diego and I will miss him tremendously. Thanks bro, you made it an unforgettable trip.

Matt Marks, aka Matty Mizzo – hailing from Oakland, CA where he shapes the young minds of Oakland’s youth.

Where to start with this guy… Matt has gone with me on every vacation/trip I've been on since I sustained my spinal cord injury. That is at least one trip a year for eight years! He is one of my very best friends, is always there for me when I need him, and I couldn't imagine doing this trip without him. He can single-handedly transfer me into any hotel bed (often despite my reluctance) and can stretch my legs and arms like a champion. His happy-go-lucky attitude can light up a room and his quick wit forever keeps me on my toes. I'm extremely lucky to have a friend like him. Lots of love Mizzo.

Jimmy Quenelle, aka The Beer Guru, aka Stud – hailing from Morgan Hill, CA where he is a biologist doing important conservation research, a father to two daughters, and brews some quality beer.

I asked Jimmy to join me on this ride months prior and it just didn't look like things were going to work out. I had written him a letter (more like a desperate plea) a week before we left asking (begging) him to consider joining us. He really wanted to, but just couldn't make it happen. So imagine my surprise when he was at my hotel door the night before the final day. I was ecstatic. He's been one of my closest friends for a long time, and I generally make a yearly trip to California to stay with him and his lovely family. He is one of the smartest guys I know and has been there for me during all the trying times after my accident. The sparkle in his eye, his sensitivity, and infectious laugh make him an absolute delight on any excursion. Thanks for the surprise arrival Jimmy. Your company was appreciated more than you know.

Teena Woodward,aka Mom, aka Supermom – hailing from Port Angeles, WA where she manages a small business, maintains a beautiful piece of property, and keeps me alive around the clock.

This is a hard one. We all have a special place in our heart for our mom. Many spinal cord injury survivors have an even greater appreciation for these maternal figures. My mom has been my rock ever since I broke my neck (okay, since I was born). She has sacrificed so much to ensure that I am a healthy, happy man and I will never be able to repay her for all that she has done for me. I love her more than words can describe and will always be thankful to have such an awesome person as a mother. I truly lucked out in the mom department. During the trip she was nothing short of amazing. She was the publicist, social media manager, Sherpa, bringer of lunches, and the road crew. This does not even include the caring for me every night of the journey. I'll admit I am a pain in the ass during the nights. I sleep on a ventilator and often have respiratory needs throughout the night. She went to sleep after me and woke up before me every single night. She woke up when I needed help coughing or needed to be turned and got the least sleep of anyone. She had the hardest job of all and did it with class, style, and a smile on her face. Thanks mom, you are amazing!

Thanks to the Supporters and the Crew

The Crew