CALGARY, Alberta (BVM) – Mat Thompson was first introduced to cycling as a kid, given an old, used bike so that he would stop asking his parents for rides. Decades later, this early onset passion would later inspire him to cross America by bicycle.

“Growing up in the 1980s and ‘90s, a bicycle to a kid was like a new car to a teenager who just got their driver’s license,” Thompson said. “It gave you the ability to go further, faster and see more of the world around you. That idea never really faded.”

Thompson rotated through periods of time where he would own six bicycles and ride constantly, then sell them all and not ride for a while. However, his passion and curiosity for the sport always returned throughout the years.

“I competed in cycling for periods of time; at first it was downhill bike races, then XC racing, and then long-distance cycling,” Thompson said. “I placed fourth in the 2014 Xterra Off-road Triathlon in Canmore, Alberta, sixth in the 2015 Rundles Revenge in Canmore, a 50 km mountain bike race followed by a 25 km trail run race, and finally 16th in the 2017 Colorado Trail Race from Durango to Denver.”

In 2015, Thompson came across the documentary “Ride the Divide” and he knew he had a new challenge to conquer. The documentary showcases the world’s longest mountain bike trail, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), which follows the Continental Divide from Banff, Alberta, all the way down to Antelope Walls, New Mexico – the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I remember the documentary well and how the trail made the riders cry, hurt, complain and suffer, but most importantly, it was a trail for someone to ride a bicycle self-sufficiently all day, every day, and explore remote areas,” Thompson said. “It was a real adventure, a real challenge. I wanted that.”

Traditionally cyclists ride the Divide from north to south, but Thompson decided to do the trail in reverse in 2016. Thompson bought a new bike, flew to Phoenix with his bike in a box and took a shuttle bus to Douglas, Ariz., which is located on the U.S.-Mexico border. To start his solo adventure, Thompson detoured on America’s loneliest highway called Geronimo Trail, a road connecting Douglas and Animas, N.M., which then linked up to the GDMBR.

The GDMBR is approximately 4,600 kilometres in distance with an elevation change of 230,000 feet, running through the heart of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta. In just 41 days, Thompson rode through it all.

“On average, I rode 120 km per day with my longest day being 220 km through the notorious high plains of Wyoming,” Thompson said. “I packed a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water filter, rain gear, two shirts, one pair of shorts, sandals and shoes, along with some smaller items. I slept anywhere and everywhere, from an old train station and campgrounds to forests, riverbanks, the desert and the odd motel.”

Fully loaded, Thompson’s bike weighed around 80 pounds – a heavy and less-than-optimal load to haul up and down hills across the continent, but a necessary companion.

“I built the bike to be bombproof — it never let me down,” Thompson said.

Throughout his journey, Thompson remembers the gorgeous Holland Lake in Montana, being enchanted throughout New Mexico, the stunning landscapes of Colorado, the Toaster House in Pie Town, and having a fantastic sleep next to a river in Radium, Colo.

Of all 41 days, Thompson said the most memorable was day two.

“I had a previous knee injury and on the second day, my knee was on fire,” Thompson said. “I had nowhere to go, no one to pick me up, and no escape. I met some fellow bikepackers who gave me some tips and were great company, so I pushed on. I rode on and off with them for the next three weeks, and I truly believe that had I not met them, I may have had a different ending to my journey.”

Now that it’s all said and done, Thompson admits he’d do it all over again.

“I would surely do it again, but I would rather do it with friends,” Thompson said. “I do enjoy cycling for the fresh air and exercise, but especially for the opportunities it offers in relation to travel, exploration, a sense of freedom and the challenges it brings.”

Thompson first started working with bikes when he was 19, and he has continued on and off to this day. He currently cycles 100 km per week and works as a bicycle mechanic in his hometown, Calgary, Alberta.

“I’ve always been a competitive person, which has helped me become confident and self-aware of what I am capable of,” Thompson said. “That goes a long way in everyday life when setting goals and objectives as it allows me to dream a little bigger and trust that with a little hope and hard work, nearly anything is possible.”