When Kiel Reijnen’s five-year-old daughter EmmyLou told him that she wanted to ride to Idaho (a 700+ mile trip), he suggested they compete in the 102-mile gravel stage of Rebecca’s Private Idaho instead. Kiel joins Payson to talk about how he brought this idea to fruition and got to witness Emmy’s grit, endurance, and competitiveness. With only one low point around mile 85, they won the tandem category on a 240-pound rig and raised thousands of dollars for World Bicycle Relief in the process. Kiel talks about the unique stresses of ensuring a five-year-old’s safety throughout a 102-mile gravel ride at elevation and how surprised he was that they completed the whole course. He also talks about raising a child who shares his hunger for adventure, and how seeing himself in his daughter is both a blessing and a curse. EmmyLou joins the conversation as well to answer a few questions about snacks, sailing, and why she likes riding bikes with her dad.

Kiel and EmmyLou's World Bicycle Relief fundraising page

Instagram: @withpacepod
YouTube: Payson McElveen