About the Ride

Alone on my Trek Madone road bike with just the water and food I can carry, a change of clothes, an Ipad, credit card and a healthy bit of enthusiasm I am pedaling along the 2000 mile Pony Express Route from Sacramento to St. Joseph, Missouri. I don't know how many others have done this before me, certainly some, but clearly it's not a popular idea.

Pony Express 101: The Pony Express was established in 1860 as the first reliable means to send messages across the vast American West. The Civil War was looming and timely news and communication between California and the East was crucial. The Pony Express was, essentially, a relay. A specially designed horse saddle could carry important correspondence in leather pockets. A rider would leave St. Joseph, Missouri, where the railroad and telegraph lines from the East came to an end, and ride his horse westbound at full gallop. Ten-15 miles later at an established relay station rider and saddle would change to a fresh horse and continue. After a series of horses and 100 or so miles the rider would stop to rest and pass the saddle on to the next rider and so it went. 150 relay stations and 10 days later the saddle and its important contents would arrive in Sacramento. During the journey riders were subjected to extreme weather, high elevation, darkness, and particularly in Nevada, serious trouble with Indians.

The Express ran in reverse direction at the same time for returning correspondence.

If a series of horses with riders could manage the journey certainly a middle-aged family guy with plenty of energy drink and ambition could manage it too?

A Pony Express delivery would take about 10 days to complete the 2000 mile horseback journey. At 100 miles per day a strong bike rider should, ideally, be able to complete the same route in about 20 days. However, I've elected to break the ride down into 3 one week segments to better fit around family and work. A bit of back-and-forth shuttling is necessary but it helps keep the people in my life happy and keeps it fun and fresh for me so I don't burn out.