MOST NOTABLE CYCLING ADVENTURES
My Adventures
Teenage Adventures
As a teenager, Ward took and helped organize two bicycle tours. The tours where formative in Ward’s lifelong love of cycling and adventure. The first ride was a 200 mile tour with his aunt and sisters through New Jersey to Dover, Delaware. His next tour started in New Haven Connecticut.
Velodrome Training
While attending college, Ward spent two semesters learning about track and road racing from Olympic athletes. With classes led by Olympian Valley Preferred Cycling Center Hall of Famer Leigh Barczewski, Ward trained on the road, on the track, and in the weight room ultimately racing in class scrimmages.
Cross-Country Adventure
Ward’s adventures took him across the United States, not in one sweeping ride but through meticulously planned tours, each starting where the last ended. From crossing the Appalachian Mountains, tackling Midwest headwinds, and navigating the Rock Mountains, Ward persevered through every challenge.
Harrisburg to Cleveland Tour
Ward completed a six-day, 350-mile solo ride from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Cleveland, Ohio, to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This ride presented significant physical challenges crossing the Appalachian Mountains with 50 pounds of gear.
The Big Muddy tour
Ward had a friend join a tour from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Moline, Illinois. Despite two days of 25 mph headwinds, they persevered and ended the ride at the Mississippi River.
Portland to Lewiston Tour
Ward Flew with his bike for a six-day, 350-mile solo ride from Portland, Oregon, to Lewiston, Idaho. The ride paralleled the Columbia River before he headed off through Walla Walla, WA, ending in Lewiston, ID.
Beartooth Pass Tour
With a group of 8 friends, Ward organized and completed a nine-day, 600-mile ride from Cody, Wyoming, to Rapid City, South Dakota. The ride climbed a total of 38,000 feet through the Rocky Mountains, over the Bighorn mountains, across prairie, past Devil’s Tower, before ending in the Black Hills.
Holy Rollers Adventures
Ward’s church community expressed interest in bicycle touring, leading to the formation of a riding group, amusingly named, the Holy Rollers. Together, with the Holy Rollers, Ward planned and completed a 4-day tour around the New York Finger Lakes and a 5-day hilly ride in northeast Pennsylvania.
Self-Supported Touring
Ward developed a keen interest in self-supported touring, carrying all necessary gear including tents, sleeping bags, food, water, stoves, clothes, rain gear, tools, and spare parts. He attended tour leader training for self-support touring with the Adventure Cycling Association.
Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania
Ward completed a self-supported group tour along the Pine Creek Rail Trail through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, the tour was notable for the canyon‘s grandeur and camping in remote areas with black bear precautions.