A Purpose Ridden

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 km 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.

Ryan Correy is one of Canada’s most accomplished adventure cyclists. In addition to writing about these adventures in two books, A Purpose Ridden (RMB, 2018) and Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies (RMB, 2018), Ryan regularly speaks to groups on turning passion into purpose and is also the founder of Bikepack Canada (bikepack.ca). Ryan lives in Canmore, Alberta, with his equally ambitious wife, Sarah.