I think she is the type of the girl I want to marry to. Having the same passion of riding long distances across countries on an MTB despite all the challenges, what else would a man want to be happy?

11:20 Whoa! As soon as the guy asked, "How long you've been doing it?", I took the opportunity to answer for him, and guessed, although perhaps it wasn't a guess, but before he replied, out loud, I said, "Since I was twelve." Lo and behold, I nailed it!!!

5:46 Hy-Vee once had some killer freshly baked pizza available in store that you could buy by the slice, or even grab a whole pie, and they had punch cards where you could earn free slices. Not necessarily the best pizza I have ever had, but considering it came out of a grocery store, and coupled with the price, it was surprisingly delectable and still qualified for some of the best tasting pizza I have ever eaten. They also had a "kitchen" with eating area that served breakfast and lunch, where you could get your typical variety of deli sandwiches, and choice of sides, but also had other items one would not find in a deli. My go-to was the open-face turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy!!! Incredible easts for little cash!!! Yet, I haven't been in the area of a Hy-Vee for over thirty years now, and in trying to check if those amenities were still available at Hy-Vee, it appears they no longer are. Truly sad!!!

Came across this video after 5 years it got released. Still inspired by Lael’s story

My son (who was 14 at the time) and I (who was 40 at the time) rode the route in 2019 from south to north. It was pretty awesome meeting many of the southbound racers in Colorado.

Great stuff, Lael! Thanks for this excellent, inspiring story.

this whole thing with the facebook group nancy bs is exactly why i got off social media. go live your f*n life and leave me the f*k alone. with that i cannot listen to anymore bitching and whining and complaining and i cannot finish watching...... we get it there are dumb people who are drama queens briefly talk about it and move on the video is 38 minutes long why do we have to listen to you dredge on for 5-7 minutes at least???? bye i am out.

Great documentary- 😊 always getting inspired and I’m creating more cycling videos on my KZbin @ndoliranman in Africa

How come Port Gamble has so many trails not on trail forks?

I love long distance cycling but the community is full of people I have nothing in common with (except cycling) & actually most are really annoying jerks Love Lael ❤

When you see the race winner and his family at the Hachita market hours before the finish you really get the picture that whoever was on Facebook really sucks.

I did the Arizona Challenge a couple times in the 1980's and decided to do a 2 day solo ride of about 350 miles. I remember having to make decisions on the fly about routes, sleep if any and riding in the dark. It takes a bit of courage to take a dirt road and hop fences as you journey an unknown road or trail. I finished my solo ride of 2 days at 2:30 AM and slept 5 or 6 hours, got up and showed for work at the bike shop an hour late and worked all day till 6. Those must have been great rides as I remember them 40 years later.

maybe you should cut your hair really short before any long race for lower maintenance and improved cooling

Damn that swimming hole at the end👌

I ride my first hand trike (a Nuke) Thus past weekend and I'm dying to get one

Thank you for the share! ❤❤❤💪👏👏👏

This "race" is now a joke. What kind of organization sets rules like this. A bunch if idiotic clowns.

Looks cool. 👍🏾

Just seeing the kids having fun on bikes is enough for me

It's still at the top of my list of the best places I've ever ridden.

its heaven on earth and i daydream about baileys constantly...pure bliss in that forest

Great lil film

Lael, I’m late to your video, but i admire your ability to stay you, and have the courage to ride your ride. This documentary means so much more because you stood up to the haters.

A wonderful and unique experience

24:02 Lady, you're adorable person and it's amazing what you do. F**k the facebook and other "social media" crap!!! Forget about the haters. Live your life and do what you do best. If it's riding bicycles - great!. You head for the record? You do it for yourself! Nobody else! Others will just have to face it, if they're brave enough.

How are you doing? A lot better than you... 🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣

Beat's the hell out of rocks, like Tinker used.

What am I doing wrong? I ordered, but do not think these will drop enough for me to squat and pee

Carey Springs to sawmill if I remember right

These people are amazing. Those on the side lines of life can only sneer. Keep going and keep showing us the best of humans

Lael, if you ever see this comment! You do your thing so incredibly well, I can hardly describe it! And these people from the Facebook group have no idea. In the end, it's your own conviction and your own strength that gets you through the Tour Divide! And that includes thoughts and conversations to and with your loved ones, phone calls with all your supporters and the absolute freedom to do what you want to do! Please flush away all bad conscience and worries and do what you want to do, because you do it so incredibly well! And if people from a sleepy, lazy and incompetent Facebook group don't allow you to enjoy your incredible success, then pity them, but don't pay any attention to them! Best wishes from Austria and you are, on a par with Lachlan Morton, the most inspiring person in terms of cycling history that I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know (so far only through videos and media)! Keep up the good work!

Jesus, Gravel gets romanticized too much. Guys we cant F our bikes. This video is too much I gotta turn this off

2:26 French fries in the top tube bag

Anyone who eats mc Donalds is extremely ignorant

It’s interesting that they got upset about your emotional support. That’s ridiculous. Do they test for doping? I’ll bet there is plenty of that going on among you.

don't know how "longest dirt touring route in the world" is defined exactly but the European Divide Trail has over 7500 km or 4660 miles

I'm trail angel, I met you Lael my home last year. I tried to provide knowledge of my home on route Facebook two years. Many and most these Facebook groups did me wrong, threatening by some, guys got to be stupid threatening me out wilderness home on a bike. Threatening me middle of mountains there is not 911. I own akita wolf, most own lots of guns, your on a bike. Facebook groups suck! Bonnie the worst. Lael thanks for pictures together!

I would love to ride wirh ya!!

Pockets!

Lael is hot! She looked really good when she was in the classroom 🔥

It would be lovely to mention care instructions for your pieces in these clips. Very helpful otherwise!

What a great message

Love clearing and ripping the trails at the Bird! BTW 4Life 👍👍🇺🇸

Proof that Facebook sucks.

Really well done film, you drew me in and kept me there, I'm inspired now to ride. Thank you, Lael and friends.

Wow,Gravel is Freedom...in youself...

I could watch this video a dozen times & still not get enough. Lael pleasure meeting you, water i give everyone riding, trail angel. Ute Pass Steven Colorado on the ride. Thanks to take a couple minutes to get pictures together, your the angel, i just provide water.

Wow! Just great. A massive inspiration. In 2016, I was 42 and halfway through school. I was burned out on school I made a spontaneous decision to buy a bike, take a leave of absence and ride coast to coast. In two weeks I was on my way to Oregon to start my ride. Now, 8 "much too soon" years later I'm 50 and need another challenge and I think this is it. I will transform my Surly longhaul Trucker into a gravel tour bike. What's cool is I use to be a long trucker and I own a business in Deming, NM which is a very short distance from Antelope Wells. Fortunately I'm a travel nurse now so time off is not an issue. This video really triggered the emotions I felt on my first trip and I think I may need this. Who knows, maybe I'll see another commenter out there!

👏 What a ride! This video captures the essence of cycling perfectly. Proud to add it to our collection and share the love. 🚴‍♀

Loved this film! Even the moron-book losers didnt spoil it for Lael or myself, absolutely awsum, and so inspiring!😊