A Purpose Ridden - Updated Edition

by Ryan Correy

An honest memoir that deconstructs an evolving father–son relationship, uncovers the struggles in becoming one of Canada’s most respected adventure cyclists and the dramatic impact of a recent cancer diagnosis. In the summer of 1996, a father and his 13-year-old son embarked on a 3400 kilometre bicycle tour across Canada. Affectionately known as “Manhood Training,” this unique bonding experience became the inspiration for Ryan Correy to break away from convention and turn a passion for cycling into his purpose in life. The world’s most extreme cycling challenges serve as an evolving proving ground for the young rider – including self-doubt on a solo tour to Arizona after high school, falling asleep and crashing into a cemetery gate on the gruelling Race Across America (“The toughest sporting event in the world”), murder and robbery along the Pan American Highway (“The longest road in the world”), a near mountaintop helicopter rescue while traversing the infamous Tour Divide (“The longest mountain bike race in the world”), cashing in after being hit by a car in California, hallucinations and foot-crippling pain on a six-day, 20-hour stationary-cycling world record attempt, and plenty more. With a new afterword by the author detailing his move to Western Canada, eventual marriage and more recent colon cancer diagnosis, A Purpose Ridden is a riveting and emotional memoir that will appeal to cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

498 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2018

About the author

Ryan Correy is one of Canada’s most respected adventure cyclists. His passion on two wheels began at the age of 13, when he and his father embarked on a series of cross-country tours around North America. The Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership valedictorian has since taken on many of world’s toughest cycling challenges, including a 25,000 km tour from Alaska to Argentina, the grueling Race Across America, 4,418 km of remote mountain terrain on the Tour Divide (twice), and a crippling 6 day 20 hour stationary cycling record attempt. The list goes on. In between planning the next adventure, Ryan regularly speaks to groups on endurance and how to turn passion into purpose. He also serves as the Fueling Guru for Hammer Nutrition Canada – intrusting hard-earned sport nutrition advice to amateur and professional athletes alike.

Reviews

[Malcolm McKay]

For fans of endurance events like cycling or running, this is fascinating. Not so much for anyone else, I'm guessing. Written by a man in his 20s, about his personal experience with extreme endurance events and sports and family and personal struggles. Sadly, the author died young, cancer, in his 30s, in 2018. Most of the book is the author in his 20s when doing most of the events, like riding across Canada or biking from Alaska to the southern tip of South America or other similar rides. He is fairly hard on himself and his father, from whom he seems to have picked up some unpleasant "tough love" characteristics. He's also tough on others, in particular one friend that drove a support vehicle for him for 4 and 1/2 months--he says negative things about him publicly and apparently dumps him after the ride. The book is about 450 pages, and probably should have been about 300. It is filled with detailed accounts that should have been edited down, like for example descriptions of his saddle sores. It's also filled with cliches and other unnecessary writing, so avoid it unless you are keen on ultra long-distance cycling.