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Mel Dick cycles across U.S. to support youth

by DYLAN GREENE
Sports Editor | August 13, 2020 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — Where in the world is Mel Dick? Well, let’s just say he’s not in Sandpoint.

Dick, 67, is riding over 5,000 miles across the U.S. It’s just him, his bike and the path that lies ahead.

Dick, the immediate past president of the Sandpoint Rotary Club, departed North Idaho on Aug. 1 with his sights set on Key West, Florida. He expects to arrive in Key West around Oct. 15.

Dick has ridden over 800 miles so far and is currently in Lander, Wyoming, as of Wednesday night.

“I really just wanted to get on my bike and ride,” Dick said in a interview with the Bee on Tuesday.

About 12 years ago, Dick retired from the corporate world and went on a cross-country biking trip that spanned four-and-half months and was over 10,000 miles long. Ever since, he’s had the urge to do another trip.

Dick’s ridden in the Race Across America, one of the world’s toughest bicycle races, on a team from Sandpoint and has done other tours of over a 1,000 miles.

Dick began planning and training for this two-and-a-half month trip about a year ago and right now he is following the TransAmerica Trail. He said he knows the general idea of the route but he didn’t set an exact location he wants to end up at each day.

“I pretty much play it by ear on a day-by-day basis exactly where I’m going to stop and what I’m going to do,” Dick said.

A lot of where Dick ends up each day depends on two things — weather and his home for the night. He sleeps in a tent, a hostel or a hotel and he takes advantage of a hot shower every chance he gets.

When Dick told people he was doing this trip, they began asking him what cause he was going to ride for and he chose a cause near and dear to his heart — the youth services programs of the Sandpoint Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club was forced to cancel its two largest annual fundraising events, the CHAFE 150 and May Gala, this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The gala supports Food For Our Children and the CHAFE 150 benefits the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s after-school reading program.

“My ride is not going to replace the kind of funds we would have raised through those two fundraisers, but it will make a difference,” he said.

Dick is asking people to donate a penny per mile, or $50. All the money donated goes directly to the Rotary’s youth programs. So far Dick has raised about $5,000 which has far exceeded his expectations.

When Dick started his ride he had an initial goal of raising $10,000, but he understands if people can’t donate.

“It’s a time tough for everyone in terms of money and funds,” he said.

The route Dick is on takes him on back country roads through small rural communities. He went through West Yellowstone and recently completed a trip through Grand Teton National Park. Dick is averaging 75 miles a day and on Tuesday he climbed to the top of Togwotee Pass, gaining 3,000 feet in elevation.

On Wednesday, Dick was hoping to complete his longest ride thus far — 125 miles. But the weather had other plans.

“Rode 75 miles through the “Wind River” area of West Central Wyoming today,” Dick wrote in a blog post to his website, ridewithmel.com, on Wednesday night. “There is a reason they call it wind river country. Strong winds most of the day and thunderstorms this afternoon. Winds from every direction and up to 30-40 mph gusts.”

Dick is pulling a small trailer behind him on his bike, packed with about 65 pounds of gear. He carries plenty of granola and protein bars with him, but he hasn’t had a problem finding restaurants to eat at along the way.

During his journey, Dick has encountered plenty of characters and fellow adventure seekers. He’s stumbled across several people that are on around the world trips and he even met a bartender from New York who lost his job due to the pandemic and is now cycling around the country.

While checking into a hostel in Jackson, Montana, the owner noticed Dick had a Sagle address and told him his best friend lived there. Sure enough, Dick knew that best friend.

Dick will certainly have a lifetime of stories to tell once his trip is completed and he has already become a master at replacing flat bike tires.

Dick said he burns 5,000-7,000 calories per day.

“I will probably lose some weight on this trip,” he joked.

One of the best parts about the journey has been the scenery. Dick said riding a bike gives you a different perspective on nature and allows you to see things you wouldn’t notice while driving in a car.

“I kind of describe it as the sights, sounds and smells of rural America,” he said. “Sometimes it takes me a half an hour to go four miles because I’m taking pictures.”

To support the cause Dick is riding for, you can visit ridewithmel.com and donate. Checks can also be sent to the Sandpoint Rotary Charitable Trust, PO Box 1666, Sandpoint, 83864.

You can follow Dick’s journey on his website. He writes daily blog posts about his progress.

Dylan Greene can be reached by email at dgreene@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @DylanDailyBee.