McGuire to compete in Canada-to-Mexico bike race

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A year ago, Steve McGuire, 51, planned to compete in a 2,780 mile bicycle race from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide.

But then McGuire’s home was flooded, forcing him to abandon his trip. Now, a year later, McGuire is picking up where he left off. He leaves today for the starting point – Banff, Alberta, Canada. The race begins on Friday.

“I had put so much into it,” McGuire said of why he is attempting it again.

McGuire’s primary goal is finishing the race, but he hopes to complete the endeavor in 25 days. The off-road route includes a total of 200,000 feet of elevation. Bicyclists carry their gear and supplies on their bike, and often sleep on the roadside.

McGuire also has two ulterior motives for participating in “Tour Divide.” He hopes to raise $50,000 for Kidneeds, an organization supporting dense deposit disease research, and he hopes to collect experiences to use in his scholarly work.

The University of Iowa art professor studies storytelling. After the race, he can mine his experiences and thoughts for meaning, he said.

“The thing about experiences like this is it really changes you,” McGuire said. “Stories and experiences work in tandem.”

McGuire plans to travel to a few universities across the country in the fall and spring for storytelling performances, he said.

For now, he will focus on the race.

McGuire plans to pedal 16 hours and average 100 to 110 miles per day, he said.

McGuire is a bit nervous and excited at the same time, but mainly he has been just looking to get out there and get started, he said.

“It will be a challenge,” he said.

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