Winfield biking enthusiast Bobby Smith has returned after competing in one of the toughest mountain bike experiences in North America.

Smith, director of application systems at Southwestern College, completed the Tour Divide, an ultra-cycling event that follows the Continental Divide from Alberta, Canada, to the Mexican border in Antelope Wells, N.M. The route was 2,745 miles long and Smith finished it in 28 days, 12 hours, and 35 minutes. 

Smith, who is 30 pounds lighter after competing in the event, says that in hindsight, he could have finished the race sooner but rode with another competitor who had participated before in the Tour Divide. 

“I rode with him for quite a ways because he knew where the refueling stations were, had knowledge of where to camp out, and I didn’t want to get lost” Smith says.  “But once I got to Breckenridge (Colo.) I knew I had to pick up the pace if I wanted to finish in less than 30 days so I went on my own from there.”

Smith says that he hopes to ride in the event again someday. 

As a 1989 Southwestern College graduate, he is also encouraging alumni and friends to support his efforts by contributing to the college’s Builder Fund. A link can be found to see a map of the route Smith rode along with other race statistics as well as a link to donate to the Builder Fund at sckans.edu/BuilderOnABike.