Unexpected Loss in the Touring Community: Mike Hall
03-31-17, 11:05 AM
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Unexpected Loss in the Touring Community: Mike Hall
As I'm sure some people have already heard, endurance racer and bikepacker Mike Hall was killed yesterday by a motor vehicle while participating in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in southern Australia. The race was immediately cancelled and the remaining riders were picked up.
It was very frightening for all involved, as Mike Hall was using a GPS tracker to record his progress. There was a long, tense period of no progress before the news came out. An absolute tragedy and a devastating loss for the community.
Neil Beltchenko did a great interview with him after he broke the 14-day mark for the Tour Divide last year. He's very humble, very appreciative (his thank-you section is one of the longest answers in the interview) and supportive of his fellow racers, especially the women at the front of the pack. Just an all-around class act.
Every example of this man is one of integrity. He's a leader on the course, and in the example he sets for others in the sport. Full interview here, if anyone wants to learn about him: Mike Hall: Tour Divide Champion - Bikepacker
It was very frightening for all involved, as Mike Hall was using a GPS tracker to record his progress. There was a long, tense period of no progress before the news came out. An absolute tragedy and a devastating loss for the community.
Neil Beltchenko did a great interview with him after he broke the 14-day mark for the Tour Divide last year. He's very humble, very appreciative (his thank-you section is one of the longest answers in the interview) and supportive of his fellow racers, especially the women at the front of the pack. Just an all-around class act.
Neil Beltchenko: What do you see for the future of the Tour Divide?
Mike Hall: Hopefully more exceptional performances, more people getting inspired to ride it and the principals and ethos of it being accessible and welcoming to them. One of the great things about the TDR is not only the abilities but also the humility of those who ride it and the mutual respect that goes on between racers. I have nothing but respect for those who I have come up against and have had very kind, thoughtful and meaningful words back from riders like Josh, Craig, Jesse and Jefe, all of which I hold in the highest esteem. Despite whatever commentary might be shared online by spectators we are really in a contract of integrity with our peers and it’s only them who have really been there who know the nuances of what is involved, so their thoughts and words mean a lot to me especially. I have to say something about Lael also, even though what can you say. A truly remarkable rider and human in outlook and performance both in TDR and now in Trans Am. I found the Trans Am particularly exciting this year. Not many egos have been spared there and with not just one but two ladies going the distance at a hell of a pace, it shows it’s no fluke and why people should be excited about unsupported racing, because it is really as level and accessible a playing field as you are likely to see. Long may TDR and bikepacking races be a stage for this and long may the principals of self-reliance and integrity hold strong.
Neil Beltchenko: What would you like to say to all of the aspiring Tour Divide enthusiasts, and the riders currently on route?
Mike Hall: Enjoy it, don’t lose sight of just how lucky you are to be there, and above all, manage your expectations. I was chatting about this with some friends in Banff. I think if we treat things as a pass or fail test that we can torture ourselves mentally over the outcome, but if we consider it more as an experiment with an uncertain outcome from the start, then we always at least get an answer.
Mike Hall: Hopefully more exceptional performances, more people getting inspired to ride it and the principals and ethos of it being accessible and welcoming to them. One of the great things about the TDR is not only the abilities but also the humility of those who ride it and the mutual respect that goes on between racers. I have nothing but respect for those who I have come up against and have had very kind, thoughtful and meaningful words back from riders like Josh, Craig, Jesse and Jefe, all of which I hold in the highest esteem. Despite whatever commentary might be shared online by spectators we are really in a contract of integrity with our peers and it’s only them who have really been there who know the nuances of what is involved, so their thoughts and words mean a lot to me especially. I have to say something about Lael also, even though what can you say. A truly remarkable rider and human in outlook and performance both in TDR and now in Trans Am. I found the Trans Am particularly exciting this year. Not many egos have been spared there and with not just one but two ladies going the distance at a hell of a pace, it shows it’s no fluke and why people should be excited about unsupported racing, because it is really as level and accessible a playing field as you are likely to see. Long may TDR and bikepacking races be a stage for this and long may the principals of self-reliance and integrity hold strong.
Neil Beltchenko: What would you like to say to all of the aspiring Tour Divide enthusiasts, and the riders currently on route?
Mike Hall: Enjoy it, don’t lose sight of just how lucky you are to be there, and above all, manage your expectations. I was chatting about this with some friends in Banff. I think if we treat things as a pass or fail test that we can torture ourselves mentally over the outcome, but if we consider it more as an experiment with an uncertain outcome from the start, then we always at least get an answer.
03-31-17, 11:29 AM
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Wow. RIP.
He looked so tough and grizzled, but spoke so softly and humbly. Such an impressive person all around.
He looked so tough and grizzled, but spoke so softly and humbly. Such an impressive person all around.
03-31-17, 01:46 PM
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Oh thats awful! Watched him in that Inspired to Ride documentary- his drive and ability to block everything out which wasnt absolutely necessary was really cool to see.
03-31-17, 01:50 PM
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I thought at first that there would be no way I knew who this person was. Then I clicked the link and realized I had watched the documentary "Inspired to ride" from 2014 which included Mike Hall. What a tragedy! He was a very humble man and an inspiration to many. RIP.
03-31-17, 02:08 PM
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How sad. I have seen race participants twice (in 2014 and 2016) on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway and at the start of that portion in Wise River, MT. I don't know how they do it.
BTW...The full interview is a great read.
BTW...The full interview is a great read.
03-31-17, 02:13 PM
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03-31-17, 07:49 PM
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Was checking FB before I went to bed last night and saw Juliana's video. Totally gutted me. Couldn't sleep.
I never met Mike and probably never would have the opportunity to but he totally inspired me.
Ride In Peace Mike.
I never met Mike and probably never would have the opportunity to but he totally inspired me.
Ride In Peace Mike.
04-01-17, 11:17 AM
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Last summer I rode The ACA Great Divide route on a small dual sport motorcycle. Some of the racers start in the south and go north, and some start in the North and ride south. As I was riding north I would stop and talk a few minutes with some of the Northbound racers that I saw along the way. (Most of the people that enter the race are not serious contenders and therefore welcome an opportunity to take a short break and talk). When I was in Colorado I saw a Southbound Rider approaching and I stopped and turned the motor off. As he approached me he stopped his bicycle to see what I wanted. I asked him where he was from (expecting to have a short conversation the way I had with other northbound riders I had passed), with an English accent he very politely responded "I believe I'm in the lead at the moment". Only then did I realize who I was talking to and I apologize for delaying him. He said "no problem" and rode off.
Later when I had read about all of his accomplishments I couldn't help but think how a military General would love to have an army of soldiers that possessed that level of mental toughness. He was an extraordinary individual.
Later when I had read about all of his accomplishments I couldn't help but think how a military General would love to have an army of soldiers that possessed that level of mental toughness. He was an extraordinary individual.
04-05-17, 03:43 PM
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I first heard about this last week on the Tour Divide Riders FB page.
Last year in March I encountered 'Ride the Divide' then it was 'Inspired to Ride', both excellent documentaries.
When I saw Ride the Divide something snapped and I knew I had to do this. So I made plans to go to Banff with my bikepacking rig.
Turns out Mike was there at the YMCA hotel that morning of the Grand Depart! I got to meet him very briefly; he looked bit surprised but had a huge grin on his face when I explained that I had never even done an overnight on a bike before;
"enjoy it, mate, don't look back!"
I was so proud that he had set a new record!
Its weird how I can miss someone like that that I don't even know.
Last year in March I encountered 'Ride the Divide' then it was 'Inspired to Ride', both excellent documentaries.
When I saw Ride the Divide something snapped and I knew I had to do this. So I made plans to go to Banff with my bikepacking rig.
Turns out Mike was there at the YMCA hotel that morning of the Grand Depart! I got to meet him very briefly; he looked bit surprised but had a huge grin on his face when I explained that I had never even done an overnight on a bike before;
"enjoy it, mate, don't look back!"
I was so proud that he had set a new record!
Its weird how I can miss someone like that that I don't even know.
04-05-17, 08:41 PM
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04-05-17, 11:39 PM
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04-06-17, 09:02 AM
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Fabulous!!
Anyone who ever thought that they enjoyed riding a bike should go.
I got hypothermic the first day despite being warned. At least I knew to stop and warm up. I didn't stop to fix the lack of oil in the front fork until I got to Whitefish MT. I got rained on, sleeted, hailed and some sun too (of course it was also raining anyway), serious head winds, serious tail winds, had to wade through creeks where the road was washed out for miles, hiked my bike for hours nearly every day.
Seriously some of the best memories of my life and my friends are really tired of hearing about it.
Anyone who ever thought that they enjoyed riding a bike should go.
I got hypothermic the first day despite being warned. At least I knew to stop and warm up. I didn't stop to fix the lack of oil in the front fork until I got to Whitefish MT. I got rained on, sleeted, hailed and some sun too (of course it was also raining anyway), serious head winds, serious tail winds, had to wade through creeks where the road was washed out for miles, hiked my bike for hours nearly every day.
Seriously some of the best memories of my life and my friends are really tired of hearing about it.
04-07-17, 08:06 AM
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Fabulous!!
Anyone who ever thought that they enjoyed riding a bike should go.
I got hypothermic the first day despite being warned. At least I knew to stop and warm up. I didn't stop to fix the lack of oil in the front fork until I got to Whitefish MT. I got rained on, sleeted, hailed and some sun too (of course it was also raining anyway), serious head winds, serious tail winds, had to wade through creeks where the road was washed out for miles, hiked my bike for hours nearly every day.
Seriously some of the best memories of my life and my friends are really tired of hearing about it.
Anyone who ever thought that they enjoyed riding a bike should go.
I got hypothermic the first day despite being warned. At least I knew to stop and warm up. I didn't stop to fix the lack of oil in the front fork until I got to Whitefish MT. I got rained on, sleeted, hailed and some sun too (of course it was also raining anyway), serious head winds, serious tail winds, had to wade through creeks where the road was washed out for miles, hiked my bike for hours nearly every day.
Seriously some of the best memories of my life and my friends are really tired of hearing about it.
04-07-17, 08:28 AM
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Start a different thread for your attempts to stir up trouble. This is a thread about Mike Hall, who just died.
Try some sensitivity.
Salu, no slight against you. The poster above has a history of saying inflammatory things to get people riled up.
Try some sensitivity.
Salu, no slight against you. The poster above has a history of saying inflammatory things to get people riled up.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 04-07-17 at 08:42 AM.
04-07-17, 08:46 AM
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04-07-17, 09:02 AM
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