Russell Hoppenstein’s Ride Adventure for Type 1 Diabetes
in Fundraising, Ride
Russell Hoppenstein, a dedicated rider and fundraiser, embarked on a week-long cycling journey through the Canadian National Parks to raise money for type 1 diabetes research. Covering over 275 miles in a week, Russell tackled this new feat, different than a single century ride in a day. Not only did he complete the challenge, but he also documented his incredible journey.
Read below to dive into the full details of Russell’s adventure, undertaken to support his son, Lance, who has type 1 diabetes. The Breakthrough T1D North Texas and Oklahoma Chapter is extremely proud of Russell’s efforts and encourages you to consider donating to his team. Help him reach his fundraising goals by visiting this link to contribute to Russell’s cause.
Fundraising Success:
Day 1: Glacier National Park to Lake McDonald
Day 1 of the tour begins in Glacier National Park and heads south touching the tip of Lake McDonald and then ultimately back to the hotel. It takes a while to get all the bicycles outfitted and our gear ready, but once we depart the outgoing road is peaceful and serene. Tall pine trees adorn either side of the road and there is hardly a car in sight. I ride steady to the lake where there are a myriad of tourists swimming, kayaking, and boating. The lake water is cold (I wouldn’t swim) and majestic mountains are peppered in the distance.
We had a bit of confusion from the lake where our GPS was simultaneously instructing to go straight, go left, and go right. Our guide rode up and set us in the proper direction. At 17 miles in we break for lunch at the van by the side of the road. Lunch was a delicious salmon and mozzarella sandwich with a balsamic glaze and even Crème Brule for dessert. After lunch, we continue to head south through curvy back roads.
This part of the trip had a lot of climbs and descents, except that the wind was picking up. The climbs were slow and methodical as expected, but the downhills were not quite as exhilarating as I expected because the wind kept your speed below 20 mph. The last part of the ride goes through the town of Whitefish with an eclectic mix of restaurants, flower shops, and bars. I completed the ride at the hotel and our group recanted our tales of glory over a cold brew on the back porch.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 3:08 Cumulative: 3:08
Daily Avg: 13.5 mph
Daily max: 34.1 mph
Avg Power: 127W
Avg rpm 78 rpm
Distance: 44.1 miles Cumulative: 44.1 miles
Total Ascent: 1637 ft Cumulative: 1637 ft
Day 2: Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park
Day 2 was an early start. We were in the van by 5AM to drive to the starting location at Lake McDonald. On this day we tackled the Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park. We start out at twilight, but soon the sun peaks above the tree line and kisses the mountain tops. It is a stunning ride, but a challenging one. For the first half of the ride it is a constant uphill of 5% to 7% grade for about 21 miles. The slow speed does give you an opportunity to look around at the mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls and really soak in the environment.
On the uphill I stop at the Heaven’s Peak lookout for a quick break and snacks. Further up I pass by the “weeping wall” where water trickles down the rock face at the side of the road. And further up still there is a cascading waterfall from the mountain top to the valley below. With a few more grinds of the gear I reach Logan’s Pass, the summit of Mount Glacier.
Then comes the fun part. The second part is all downhill at similar grades. I race down at speeds topping to 38 mph. Now I have no qualms about stopping by the side of the road to take in the views and snap some pictures knowing I can easily make up for the lost time on the downhills. Eventually the grade levels out and I have to pedal again, culminating at St. Mary’s lodge where we have lunch and dinner.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 4:19 Cumulative: 7:27
Daily Avg: 9.1 mph
Daily max: 39.6 mph
Avg Power: 128W
Avg rpm 68 rpm
Distance: 39.4 miles Cumulative: 83.5 miles
Total Ascent: 3808 ft Cumulative: 5445 ft
Day 3: St. Mary’s to Prince of Whales Hotel, Canada
Day 3 is the day our group rides from St. Mary’s across the Canadian border and into the 100 year old iconic Prince of Whales hotel. After a hearty breakfast we depart north. A pattern is emerging within our group. I am strong on the flats and the downhills, but weak on the climbs. Today had a lot of climbs. The first 10 miles is flat so I race ahead of the group. Right before the first climb of the day, there is a nest of Osprey on a pole. Then comes the climbing. The Chief mountain looms large to my right keeping a close eye on me as I grind up the hill. The climb is long but offers views of the rocky mountains on one side and Aspen tree forests on the other. I am passed by nearly everyone on the group on the climbs.
The summit is a welcomed respite, but only for a moment. There are a few more rollers to tackle before we get to the border. Once there, we re-group and cross together. The Custom Officers asks me the standard questions: where are you from? Dallas, Texas. Do you have any weapons or firearms on you? No. He quips, “But I thought you were from Texas?” I retort, “Nope, no weapons…and I don’t own any horses either.”
I did not know this, but the area we are riding is a joint national park between US and Canada. Both flags are flown at the rest stops and ranger stations. We scurry downward a bit and stop for lunch at a campground. It is about 26 miles in, but the legs are a little squishy. No problem, after lunch is a steep downhill section. I tuck in and accelerate up to 44 mph. But every down has an up and there was another climb. This one was not quite as long, but it felt harder given it was toward the end of the ride. The summit offers a bird’s eye view of the lake and our hotel below in the valley. I jump on the downhill portion toward the finish and get to ride right along the lake with craggily mountains in the distance. The farthest distance ride (to date) is in the books.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 4:28 Cumulative: 11:55
Daily Avg: 10.8 mph
Daily max: 43.9 mph
Avg Power: 136W
Avg rpm 71 rpm
Distance: 48.2 miles Cumulative: 131.7 miles
Total Ascent: 3504 ft Cumulative: 8949 ft
Day 4: Banff to Lake Louise
Day 4 is a ride from Banff to Lake Louis. But before I depart I am treated to a beautiful sunrise over the mountain bathing the lake below. We have a long van ride to get to our starting point. Halfway through we stop for supplies and get some delicious cinnamon rolls at a local bakery. I have to carbo-load don’t I?
The ride starts in the afternoon, and wouldn’t you know it the route is mostly uphill. Within a few miles I spot my first grizzly bear. He was just walking across the street from one forest area to the other. Everyone makes a big deal about staying away from them but I think I could outride one on my bike if I had to.
The path is a serene ride with pine and aspen trees lining each side of the street. Hardly any cars come by, so it is quiet and peaceful. I keep a vigilant eye out for another bear siting but don’t see more. Another member of our group has already seen three. A light drizzle begins to fall, enough to cool you off from working hard on the hills. With my legs squishy and sore backside, I tackle the hills slowly which gives me more of a chance to scan the forest areas. Eventually I make it through to the Lake Louis Inn for the ride completion.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 2:35 Cumulative: 14:30
Daily Avg: 11.2 mph
Daily max: 44 mph
Avg Power: 138W
Avg rpm 75 rpm
Distance: 28.8 miles Cumulative: 160.5 miles
Total Ascent: 1742 ft Cumulative: 10,691 ft
Day 5: Lake Louise Hiking & Rest Day
Day 5 is an off-day from the bike. It is a chance to sleep in, recover, and see some of the other sites in the area. I opt for a hike around Lake Louise and up to the famous Agnes Tea Room. I negotiated with the ride leader to give me one of the e-bikes for my travel to the Lake; It is only a few miles away, but I wasn’t keen on riding the steep hill on my regular road bike. The e-bike travel was perfect so I could leave and return on my whim. I want to give you an understanding of the e-bike. The road to the lake was a steep 8% grade. On my regular road bike, I would be putting out maximum effort and traveling at about 5 mph. On the e-bike (maxed out juice), I did that hill at about 12 mph with moderate effort. It was perfect for my travels to the lake, but I would not want to ride it very long rides; it is set-up like a mountain bike and has large pedals that you can’t clip into, so you have to “mash” instead, which is inefficient.
But I digress. Lake Louise is quite stunning. The water color is a fluorescent turquoise; I have never seen anything like it before. The mountains line the far shoreline with a glacier in the distance. Many tourists are canoeing throughout the lake. I proceed up the trail that leads to the Agnes Tea Room. This is a steep hill lined by tall pines on either side. Occasionally there is a break in the trees and you can see Lake Louise below. I still can’t get over the water color. Along the way I hit Mirror Lake which is more like a large pond but surrounded by large trees and mountains. I suspect on a sunny day the still water will truly reflect the surrounding scenery. I push on towards the top.
The summit is a 2.7 mile hike up 1258 ft. It takes me just under an hour to complete the hike. And at the top, there is the iconic Agnes Tea Room building. It looks like a small ski lodge with a few picnic tables scattered on the open porches. I wait in line for 20 minutes to get their signature Lake Agnus black tea. Honestly, it tasted like regular tea, but I enjoyed the idea of sipping a hot beverage while enjoying the scenery. I found the perfect rock that had an indentation for me to sit in and a flat part to rest my drink. It started to rain a bit, but I did not care. I put on my rain jacket and continued to relax in my rock-seat. Besides soaking in the beautiful Lake Agnes, it was fun to people watch. Kids would chase the nearly-tame chipmunk/squirrels. Dads were letting young kids dip their feet in the cold water. Other families debated resting here or moving on to the next hiking spot.
After a good while, I made my way back down. Going down was much easier as you would expect. I hopped on my e-bike for a brisk ride back to the hotel. I ate dinner at the Outpost Pub which (surprisingly) had a really good fajita skillet. Tomorrow will be a 50-miler so I will rest-up tonight.
–Russell
Day 6: Lake Louise to The Crossings
Day 5 was an off-bike day. I took the time to hike around Lake Louise. Day 6 departs from Lake Louise Inn and rides into The Crossings on the way to Jasper. The first half of the ride is all uphill, but there are stunning mountain-scapes and glacier lakes to see along the way. 13 miles in I stop at Hector Lake. 21 miles in I pull over at the Crowfoot Mountain Viewport. Can you see the bluish-white glacier on the left? Then at the summit of the climb at 26 miles is the Peyto Lake Overlook. I swap out cycling cleats for hiking shoes and traverse 300m to the overlook platform. Wow! The glacier feeds the lake and it has that fluorescent turquoise color indicative of the lakes in the area. I learned that the blue color comes from the rock silt brought in by the glacier. The silt reflects blue frequencies and absorbs the other colors. Whatever the physics behind it they are beautiful to see.
The next leg is downhill and therefore fast! 8 miles from the summit is the lunch stop. We dine by a babbling brook with the mountains in the background. I hop on the bike for the last leg, mostly downhill. The road ahead appears to dead-end into a snow-capped mountain. Given my speed I think I could summit it but alas the road curves at the last minute and I continue toward the Crossings. One last climb to get to the hotel completes the longest ride to-date on the trip.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 4:14 Cumulative: 18:44
Daily Avg: 12.0 mph
Daily max: 46.4 mph
Avg Power: 129W
Avg rpm 75 rpm
Distance: 50.9 miles Cumulative: 211.4 miles
Total Ascent: 3012 ft Cumulative: 13,703 ft
Day 7: Impromptu Ride along Saskatchewan River due to Wildfires
Day 7 is supposed to be a ride into Jasper National Park; however, wildfires just north of Jasper have shut everything down in that area. Our guides were quick on their feet and came up with an impromptu ride along the Saskatchewan River and into Abraham Lake. The first leg rides along the river as it necks down and expands across the rocky terrain. This part of the route is flat and I get to the break point fairly quickly. There is another rock with a “seat” cut-out which is perfect for stretching out to relax.
The next leg is quite a bit more hilly. The river feeds into Abraham lake. This is an expansive turquoise body of water with interesting mountain formations in the background. I still can’t get over the color of the water. Periodic breaks in the tree line offer incredible views of the lake. There is minimal wind so the surface of the water is like frosted glass. After the final 8th climb of the segment I reach the end point.
The ride is complete but the adventure is still underway. We travel by van to a trail head where we can see two cascading waterfalls. There is also a trail there to a lookout. I missed the memo that we were supposed to only look at the waterfall and not go on the hike. After 0.5 miles without seeing anyone I figured I better turn around. Yep, I was “that guy” who held up lunch for the group. After lunch we noticed on the drive the billowing smoke rising above the mountain. Those are not clouds; it is smoke. You can spot the hint of orange which is the fire itself burning. We are getting the heck-out-of-Dodge and heading to Banff.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 3:05 Cumulative: 21:49
Daily Avg: 13.1 mph
Daily max: 35.3 mph
Avg Power: 131W
Avg rpm 77 rpm
Distance: 40.4 miles Cumulative: 251.8 miles
Total Ascent: 1762 ft Cumulative: 15,465 ft
Day 8: Mule Shoe Trail to Banff
Day 8 is the last ride on the tour. After a nice breakfast we shuttle out to the Mule Shoe trail head and ride our way back toward Banff along the Bow Valley Parkway. The initial path runs parallel to the river and offers our last glimpse of the turquoise waters and majestic mountains. Then we snake onto a bike path and head into Banff and on to Canmore. This part is “city riding” which does not offer as great of views, but does provide shaded paths with the opportunity to people-watch other riders on the trail. At the finish we “un-gear” our bikes, load them up, and head to airport (after a nice lunch, of course).
I hope that I have not inundated you with too many emails from the trip. I have been hyping up JDRF with my cycle mates and bragging about how good my supporters are. I would not be here if it were not for you. I am grateful for your support to this cause. As of this email, you have collectively donated $17,814 to JDRF. That puts Team Lance-a-lot as the top fundraiser on the “My Team” event and the top fundraiser in the North Texas / Oklahoma chapter.
This bike adventure was amazing. It was also one of the most challenging physical endeavors that I have done. I rode a cumulative total over 275 miles. I climbed the equivalent of half-way up Mount Everest. You were with me with each pedal grind as I struggled up those hills.
Thank you Team Lance-a-lot 2024.
–Russell
Stats:
Bike Time: 1:53 Cumulative: 23:42
Daily Avg: 12.3 mph
Daily max: 29.7 mph
Avg Power: 120W
Avg rpm 74 rpm
Distance: 23.4 miles Cumulative: 275.2 miles
Total Ascent: 584 ft Cumulative: 16,049 ft
