WHO:
Veterans and athletes who care. We are currently building an International Team. Check out the roster below. Join us as we ride a bike 200 plus miles.
WHAT:
Raise awareness and funds for veterans in need with Honor Flight San Diego.
WHERE:
Death Valley is located in the Mojave Desert in southern California, USA. It is known as the lowest (-282 feet/86 meters) elevation point in the United States and the highest known air temperature (134 degrees) in the world.
WHY:
Our team goal is to raise $50,000 during a bike ride fundraiser to benefit Honor Flight San Diego.
Their mission is to fly World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans to Washington DC for 3 days of memorial tours, gala dinner and camaraderie to honor them for their service. Each full plane trip costs $300k to take 200 passengers ($1,500 per veteran).
Donate here to Honor Flight San Diego
I am a part of a team of Navy SEALs and like minded athletes who believe our veterans deserve full honor and respect. I believe very strongly that “to much that is given; much is expected” and I have an obligation to help others in need.
Our group will put our asses on the line – literally. I am paying for my own plane transportation ($750) from Florida to San Diego and driving a rental car ($500) to Death Valley for several days of type A fun and relaxation.
My personal goal is to raise over $5,000 to help veterans in need. Will you help me get the job done for veterans in need?
WHEN:
April 8-11, 2026
WHO IS THIS FOR?
When Lance first asked me about riding for this event -the first person that I thought of was my wife’s Uncle Steve. Steve Spradley was born in 1944 and grew up in Lake City, Florida. He played on the football team and graduated high school 1965. Steve joined the US Marines and served his country valiantly doing two tours in Vietnam (1966-1968).
He did not have to go back the second time – but he did it anyway as he loved his country. Steve passed away this past year but he will be remembered as a true American who served his country to the best of his ability. I know that Uncle Steve would have really loved to go on an honor flight to Washington D.C. This is a way to remember Uncle Steve and his sacrifice for this great country. Don’t let another Vietnam war veteran slip away without the honor and respect that they deserve. There are not many of them left.
DEATH VALLEY 210 POST RIDE REPORT
4-15-26
Our initial goal was to ride all 210 miles in 2 days. We finished 147 miles in two days. We were met with unexpected high winds (40 plus mph) on day two and had to cut our ride short. While we did not meet our 210 miles total – I am very proud of our team in all of their effort to help support Veterans.
Day 1 Crater Roundtrip from Oasis (100 Miles/3,935 ft)
This would be a 50-mile mission up Scotty’s Castle Road. We had a five man team rolling out and proceeded to zoom down the long hill into the belly of the beast salt flats of Death Valley.
Despite issues with shifting and a broken derailleur. I was able to finish the ride with alot of help from my team. Thanks to Rich and Brad Rambur for helping me convert it to single-speed. Thanks to Dee Folse (Honor Flight San Diego) for bringing me another medium sized bike to help me continue. This was teamwork happening as everyone wanted to keep the ride going despite a small mechanical.
Crater Roundtrip from Oasis RWGPS file
#2 DAYLIGHT PASS (DNF 47 Miles):
We had a four man crew leave out of the campground (-200 ft) and work our way up to the top of Daylight Pass (4,317 ft) near the Nevada border.
This course was a long slow grind up the mountain but luckily we had a tail wind.
The wind really started blowing strong at the top of the pass. We turned around and tried to head down hill but the wind was blowing like crazy. The grade was above 5% downhill but it was hard to gain speed and when you did the wind would almost blow you off course.
As we got the bottom of the hill the race director decided to call it off as it was a risk to the riders. Although we did not make our goal – we did finish 47 tough miles and arrived back in camp in one piece.
Death Valley Daylight Pass RWGPS file
The average temperature range for April 8–11 typically fluctuates between a low of 58°F (14°C) and a high of 88°F (31°C). These are about the temps that we had during our stay. The high winds were the problem but what can you expect when you go to a desert and the lowest point in America.
I will be honest with you. The Death Valley desert scares me a little. But that is what draws us closer as we want to challenge ourselves in nature- and for a good cause.
What I do know is that the blistering sun and cross winds can beat you down quickly if you are not prepared. I am very excited for the physical challenge in the natural elements and am grateful for this opportunity to help veterans in need.
SPONSORS:
We greatly appreciate the generous donations and sponsors that we have for this event. So far we have raised $6,315 and are 100% towards the $6,000.00 goal.
Event organizer Navy SEAL Lance Cummings
Glenn Bland – Sprinter van support and bike rider
George Shepherd – bike rider
Faris Amra – bike rider
Jason Smith – bike rider
Brad McLeod – bike rider
Sean Easton – bike rider
Jason Hathorn – $100
McLeod family – $250
Glenn Bland – $200
Scott Hooten – $50
Phil Gilbreth – $50
Linda Culbreth $50
Maine Marine Veterans $200
Shane Anglin $250
Joe Gunter $100
Ronald Rembish $50
Hamish Lilley $100
Derek Kozlowski – $100
Joe Jenkins – $500
Terry Dupriest – $25
Rick Hays – $100
Andrew Knasinski – $50
Danny Blaylock – $200
Turn & Burn – $50
Shawn Herman $200
Adam Barabell – $100
Francis Pizzani – $25
Anonymous – $50
Diane Stone – $100
Amy Deweese – $200
Joe Falcone – $50
Oliver Vollrath – $15
John Sites – $100
Billy Dewayne Avans – $25
Richard Lightsey – $100
Kristen Craig – $25
Nancy Montcalm – $100
Patrick Martin – $50
Tom Proctor – $25
Spencer Wolfe – $25
Curtis McWhirt – $100
Justin Sikorski – $50
Graham MacKenzie – $50
Michael Evans – $25
Andrew McCormick – $250
Jeff Naville $50
Shawn Henderson $50
Anonymous $250
Terry Guerard $50
Ryan Stearns $1
Brett Shields $100
Scott Hooten $100
The Slatons $100
Douglas Bell $100
Mike McLeod $25
Devin Martens $15
Jeremy Cummings $200
Christine Read $200
Bill Keefe $50
Your name here – $
Virtual Rider International Team
- Patrick Martin (Death Valley 210 Virtual SECURED) Missouri
2.Ronald Rembish (211 miles walk, bike) New Jersey - Dewayne Avans (180 miles rucking, walking, elliptical) Tennessee
- Charles Allen – (130 miles bike, run) Texas, USA
- Craig Patrick (90 miles ride) Florida
- Graham MacKenzie (46 miles row, run so far) Idaho, USA
- Michael Evans (52 miles ruck, run)
- Graham MacKenzie (60 miles trail run) Washington
- Neil Heckman (40 miles ruck, ruck, walk
- Brian Oullette (60 miles bike hike)
- Bob Yu (32 miles ruck, run) China
- Phil Gilbreth (30 miles walk)
- Scott Hooten (20 miles run)
- Simion Candrea (run) Canada
- Hamish Lilley (run, ruck) New Zealand
- Ronald Wyncott (walk, hike, run, row)
- Curtis McWhirt (run, ride)
- Matt Rogers (run, ruck) Australia
- Doug Freer (run, walk) California
- Renee Petruna (run, walk, row) Pennsylvania
- Richard Charette (row) Canada
- Jeff Naville – ride New York
- Graeme Thomas – (walk, run) New Zealand
- Virtual – your name – join us.
GEAR SPONSORS:
BUBS Naturals – electrolyte and collagen protein check out our BUBS collagen protein review.
Many thanks to BUBS Naturals who has stepped up again to be a kick @ss sponsor of SGPT projects. We used BUBS hydrate or die during our last trip to climb 14ers in Colorado last summer. Thanks BUBS for your generous show of support!
Con-cret Creatine
All of the riders received a tub of Con-cret Creatine in their grab bag. Thanks so much, I used it every day during the ride.
Thanks Mark Faulkner and Con-cret creatine for supporting our cause.
Kuhl Clothing
Many thanks to Kuhl as they have allowed me to review their gear and sent me some really cool stuff that I have worn on several bike ride fundraisers (TNGA & Natchez Trace).
I will be wearing Kuhl shorts, trousers and shirts on the bike and off during the Death Valley event. Thanks so much to all the Kuhl reps. Check out my review of the Kuhl Outsider shorts here:
Past Bike Ride Fundraisers
Natchez Trace 440 Bike Ride to Help Veterans in Need 2024
TNGA 350 for Tallahassee NICA Thunder Mountain Bike Team 2020
TNGA 350 for Navy SEAL Foundation 2019
You can help Honor Flight San Diego which will give veterans get the respect and honor they deserve. DONATE here
About the Author:
Are you looking to achieve big goals? Do you have a monster event on the horizon and you want to finish the drill?
Wanting to complete a Spartan race, GORUCK, Tough Mudder or climb a big mountain?
Get individual athlete and life coaching from former Navy SEAL Coach Brad McLeod. Check out SGPT coaching here: