Fairbanks Cycle Club member Dan Gilson recently completed the hardest bike ride he’s ever attempted! He rode a multi-day adventure that included all the Denali Highway and the northern parts of the Richardson and Parks highways. He had to deal with rain and some ferocious headwinds, but he also got tailwinds and many happy human encounters along the way.
Read his trip report below and see if it inspires you to set your own BFG.
Dan Gilson’s BFG Trip Report July 2026
I am a member of and volunteer for Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), an organization that helps veterans live healthy lives. One of the things Team RWB does is to encourage members to develop and publicly declare an annual Big Fitness Goal (BFG). I completed my BFG last year by finishing the Usibelli Running Series.
Over the winter I thought about what to do next. I have never considered bikepacking, as the thought of riding a bike loaded down with gear and sleeping in a tent every night doesn’t appeal to me. Then I came up with the idea of a bike tour that didn’t involve tent camping!
I did some research and came up with this plan: Bike along a route from my home in North Pole along the Richardson Highway to Paxson, across the Denali Highway to Cantwell, up the Parks Highway to Fairbanks and then back home to North Pole along the bike path system. Along the way I would stay at whatever accommodations I could find. This would allow me to ride from lodging to lodging with just enough gear to support my ride without having to carry all the camping gear. I could ride with less weight on my bike and have a bed to sleep in every night!
I checked Google Maps and found a series of lodging options that would support my ride with daily mileages well under 100 miles. Reservations were made with only one potential issue: the folks at Denali Highway Cabins in Paxson were not planning to be open on the day I would arrive. However, they said to reach out a day or two before leaving as they may be able to provide some lodging if their plans changed. Unfortunately, when I contacted them on Friday before my Sunday departure, they could not accommodate me. Fortunately, I had a contingency plan. I had use of a friend’s cabin just south of Castner Creek. Staying there would shorten day two and lengthen day three significantly. Not my preference but it would work. All I had to do now was ride!
Dan’s Journal Reports from the Ride
Sunday, 12 July 26, Day 1: Big BFG Bike Ride!
Well, it is BFG go time for me! Am I ready? I don't know but it doesn't matter because my BFG has started!
About 0812 this morning I rode out of my driveway in North Pole and headed south towards Paxson. I will turn right in Paxson and head towards Cantwell, where I will turn right once again to head back north to home. Should be about 460 miles if Google Maps is correct and I plan to be home Saturday evening. I've got motel, cabin and lodge reservations along the way, so I have goals for each day. I need to be better at taking photos of the cool things I see along the way, but I did get a couple photos today.
Speaking of cool things! My fellow Fairbanks Eagle, Michael Bradley, came out, made sure I was fed and watered, then rode a few miles with me. Can't thank him enough for making my day that much better!! (Editor’s note: an Eagle is a member of Team RWB.)
First stop, Alaska Frontier Inn, Delta, AK.
Monday, 13 July 26, Day 2: Big BFG Bike Ride
I left the Alaska Frontier Inn at 0815 this morning with every intention of riding about 60 miles to a friend's cabin to spend the night as my original plan to stay in Paxson at the Denali Highway Cabins fell through. After getting some water, a pastry, and a battery for my tire pressure gauge in Delta Junction, I was on my way south.
Delta Junction is known for its wind, but I didn't experience any until I reached Fort Greely and rode in the strongest wind I have ever experienced until I reached Castner Creek about 50 miles later. At one point I was pedaling hard downhill and going only 12 mph. I wondered if the wind was so strong it could stop me. I stopped pedaling and soon was coasting downhill at only 5 mph and my speed was still dropping! I decided to start pedaling again because I didn’t want to fall over!
During the ride I received a text from the folks in Paxson letting me know their plans had changed and they could put me up for the night. Change in plans and now I was heading to Paxson about 85 miles from my start. The good news at Castner Creek was that the wind reduced significantly. The bad news was that the rain started, which didn't stop until I reached the Richardson Monument 20 miles down the road. I started to bonk about 5 miles from my destination, so I stopped at the Summit Lake Rest Area where I ate some snacks, which was enough to get me to Denali Highway Cabins in Paxson.
Right turn onto the Denali Highway first thing in the morning to Alpine Creek Lodge about 70 miles down the road!
Tuesday, 14 July 26, Day 3: Big BFG Bike Ride
I left Denali Highway Cabins about 5 minutes before 8:00am. It was raining when I left and that would be the story of the day. Today's distance was planned to be 68ish miles, which is significantly shorter than the first two days. Additionally, there were two lodges spaced approximately 20 miles apart with the first one 20 miles from my start. This proved crucial to my well-being today!
I pulled into Tangle Lakes Lodge about 10am, soaking wet from head to toe. I couldn't have been more wet if I jumped in the lake! I stepped inside and asked if breakfast was still being served and if they had a dryer. Fortunately, the owners were accommodating. I ordered blueberry pancakes and stripped off all my wet clothes, then stuffed them in the dryer. (I did have some dry clothes to change into while my wet clothes were drying! I don’t think the owners would have been that accommodating!)
My friend, and fellow Eagle, Jane Lanford and her husband, Steve, met me at the lodge so that Jane could ride a few miles with me. It was such a delight to ride with Jane that I all but forgot about the rain. Jane jumped in the car with Steve about halfway to MacLaren Lodge where I met them for lunch. I am so fortunate to have such good people in my life!
After filling my belly and putting on dry clothes, I headed back out into the rain. My destination for the day was Alpine Creek Lodge 28 miles up the road where I'm spending the night.
Unfortunately, the rain and mist didn't make for very good photos, but I did manage to get a great photo with Jane!!
Wednesday, 15 July 26, Day 4: Big BFG Bike Ride
Well, today started the same as yesterday ended with plenty of rain to go around. Alpine Creek Lodge started serving breakfast at 8am so I figured I would start a little later today. Got to chatting with Andrew, a cyclist from Anchorage riding a hardtail mountain bike who was heading toward Paxson, and I didn't hit the road until 9:45am.
Fortunately, the rain slowed and then stopped about 2 hours into my ride. I had been enjoying asphalt and chipseal since I left Paxson but around milepost 92 it turned to gravel which I endured until just before Cantwell, about 40 miles.
Right around milepost 117 as I was descending a hill, I happened upon a runner which turned out to be a friend and fellow Eagle, Mary White! Mary and her husband, Tim White came out to surprise me, and surprise me they did! I rode alongside Mary for a bit while she finished up her 10-mile run and Tim made sure my water bottles were topped off. It was such a pleasure to see them! I am honored to have such great people in my life. I have come to realize that this ride is no longer just mine. Thanks to Tim, Mary, Jane, Steve, Mike and whoever else surprises me along the way, this has become a community adventure and I couldn't be happier!
I'm all checked in at Bluesberry Inn in Cantwell and currently at the Laundromat so starting tomorrow with clean kit for my 69-mile trek north!
Thursday, 16 July 26, Day 5: Big BFG Bike Ride
Third day in a row of starting my day in the rain. Fortunately, the forecast called for clearing skies with sun later in the morning. When I departed at 8:30am, I gambled that the rain would be short-lived and did not put on arm warmers, leg warmers or shoe covers. I donned my rain jacket and my wind jacket as the temps were not quite 50F.
Fourteen miles and about an hour into the ride I stopped at McKinley Creekside Lodge for coffee and breakfast. Fortunately, the rain had stopped by the time I got back on the road. The tailwind was pleasant at the start of my journey and was becoming even stronger as the sun came out.
Another 13 miles later I was getting an obligatory photo at the Denali Park Entrance Sign. I shed the rain jacket as it was no longer needed but kept the wind jacket on.
By noon I found myself at the 49th State Brewery so I stopped for lunch. By happy coincidence I ran into Linda Winkels, a friend and former coworker, who was there with family from Arizona. So nice to catch up with her and meet her family!
I shed my wind jacket and got back on the road after lunch while continuing to enjoy a generous tailwind. One more stop at 60 miles in for water and a snack then the final push with a total of 70 miles on the day in a little over 4 hours. That tailwind!!
I checked into an Air BnB and had dinner at Clear Sky Lodge. That place was busy!!
The next two days are considerably shorter but include the Nenana hills. Plenty of climbing in my future!!
Friday, 17 July 26, Day 6: Big BFG Bike Ride
The weather was looking promising when I left the Airbnb in Clear at 9am on my 50ish mile ride to Northern Sky Lodge and I was pleased to feel a little push from the tailwind I had enjoyed the previous day.
I was expecting Michael Bradley to join me on the ride at about 9:30 and to my surprise, Ron Oliver was with him! The three of us chatted for a few minutes then headed north as we were going to meet my wife, Barbara, at the Monderosa for lunch. We rode together for close to 10 miles and stopped where they had parked for a snack before I headed back on the road. Ron and Mike loaded up their bikes and headed to the restaurant.
Just a few miles up the road I spotted a couple bike packers heading south, so I stopped and chatted with them. They had started their journey at Deadhorse and we're heading to Tucson!! We parted ways and I headed north.
Ron and Mike surprised me just south of Nenana and rode the last 5 miles with me to the Monderosa. It was so good to see Barb as I hadn't seen her since I left home nearly a week ago! We had a leisurely lunch as I had made great time and arrived a little earlier than planned. About 1pm I left and headed north for the last 20 miles for the day, but this part was in the hills. I had to ride in a pilot truck through construction for a little over a mile and then I rode over the last hill before my destination for the night.
It was a fantastic day and tomorrow I'll be home!
Saturday, 18 July 26, Day 7: Big BFG Bike Ride
I left the lodge this morning about quarter 'til 8am and headed north. I knew the first 25 miles were gonna be hilly with some respectable climbs, but I was well rested and had 2 bagels for breakfast!
The hills slowed me down, but I was able to get over them in better time than I expected. My route took me right past Bankstown Bike and Ski and Frosty Feet Running Company, so I stopped in about 11am. As I pulled up in front of Frosty Feet, I was greeted by my wife and Scotty Berg! I chatted with them for a few minutes and headed to the bike shop where I regaled the staff of my adventures over the past seven days. Then it was a quick lunch at LuLu’s Bread and Bagels and back to the running store to chat with Stacy Fisk. I left there and headed for home with about 25 miles to go for the trip.
Then it happened! With under 20 miles to go, I experienced my first puncture. I managed to plug the hole, but it was still leaking, so I installed a tube and took off only to have the tube fail about half a mile later. Corrine Leistikow, who was 85 miles into a 100-mile ride stopped by to chat while I installed a new tube and tire on the wheel. Then I was on my way!
About 5 miles from home, I was surprised to see Lara Freeman and her son on the side of the road cheering me on! A quick stop to chat with them and then away I went. Made it home just before 6pm.
Just like that my Big "BFG" Bike Ride is done!!
Gotta say though, it was a bittersweet ending as I had become accustomed to the daily routine of getting up, getting my stuff together, eating and getting on my bike. Now it’s back to my responsibilities, chores, and other adult requirements. I guess it’s time to work on planning my next BFG. I’m not sure if it will be another big bike ride, but I do plan on doing more big bike rides!