That confidence came not from arrogance, but from preparation — and the hard lessons learned from past rides.

 

Climate Ride is, for me, part personal challenge and part protest. I do it to stay hopeful and to remind myself that action, no matter how small, still matters. I ride because the path we’re on, with rising emissions, gutted clean energy budgets, and mounting climate denial from those in power, is unsustainable. I ride because I want a cleaner and greener future for my daughters. That vision gets my sore body back in the saddle, day after day.

 

Lessons From the Road

Here are a few lessons I carried with me this year — some new, some hard-earned from years of trial, error, and sore legs.

 

1. The weight of the world fits in an 11-pound backpack.
On day one, I thought I had packed lean. Turns out, I had overpacked and underpacked. It’s a delicate dance. I missed winter gear when rain and cold set in — and I lugged unused items for miles until friends bailed me out. Next time, I’ll remember: less is more, but not too much less.

 

2. Take the help. Always.
It’s tempting to do it all solo, especially on a ride like this. But one of the most important lessons of the week was learning to say yes to kindness. Whether it was a friend who hauled my gear, a stranger who opened a bike shop three hours early just for me, or an AirBnB host who volunteered to wake up early to cook pancakes — those moments of support made a profound difference.

 

3. Ride with someone if you can.
A single companion — even for just an hour — can ease the mental burden in ways you can’t imagine. When I was joined by Scott for 45 miles at the end of day four and the start of day five, the miles flew by. The silence in my head was replaced by conversation, and the hills were barely noticed.

 

4. Break it down. Always.
Mentally, I never let myself dwell on the full distance. The full ten days were broken into smaller milestones, and then each day was in turn broken into mini-milestones. Just get to day five and you're halfway there. Just get to the next town. Just make it to mile 90. Just ride to where the cookie might be. These mini-goals made the impossible feel manageable — just like the climate fight itself.

 

5. Capture the day in real time.
I shared daily posts online, and the only way I managed that after nine-plus hour rides was by jotting down thoughts during the ride with quick dictations in the Notes app. Random thoughts while swatting horseflies or climbing dirt hills. That running record helped me not just document the ride — but process it, too.

 

6. A message can change everything.
There were low moments: cold rain, bumpy snow mobile paths, steep climbs. And yet a single text — “You’ve got this” — could flip the switch. I can’t overstate the emotional boost from people cheering me on from afar. It reminded me that this fight isn’t mine alone.

 

7. Climate action is like a long ride: you need escape routes, but you also need resolve.
Some days I had to reroute. Some days I faced headwinds that wouldn’t quit. But knowing I had a contingency plan gave me the peace of mind to keep pushing forward. We need that same strategic hope in the fight against climate change. Have plans and adjust when needed, but don’t quit.

 

8. Remember why you’re doing it.
My legs hurt. My body (especially my butt) nearly broke down more than once. But every time I wanted to stop, I thought of my daughters. I thought of the world they’ll inherit. That’s what keeps me pedaling. That’s what keeps me pushing for a greener and cleaner future.

 

A Ride, A Movement

I started the ride short of my fundraising goal. I ended it over the line, supported by family, friends, fellow riders, and passionate environmental advocates. People I hadn’t seen in years stepped up. Cookies were delivered mid-ride. Donations came in at midnight. I was tired — but never alone.

 

And so, I finished this year’s Climate Ride reminded that the path to a better future is long and winding — but still possible.

 

We just have to keep pedaling.

 

Dennis Desmarais is a member of the Communications Committee of Sierra Club Connecticut.

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