EVOLVE 36: Riding From Canada to Mexico With Ultra Bike Racer Ken Zylstra

Ken Zylstra is a 59 year old athlete that participates in Ultra Bike racing events +100 miles in distance.  Typically I am drawn towards multi day and self-supported races that include an element of risk and extreme conditions. 

 

Below are the highlights of my top events

 

Tour Divide 2021: 2479.9 miles Canada/Montana to New Mexico/Mexico

 

Iditarod trail invitational:  350 mile ultra-distance race across the heart of Alaska in the middle of winter. 

Finishes

2013

2015

2016

 

http://iditarodtrailinvitational.com/

 

Arrowhead ultra 135: 135 mile ultra-distance race across the Northern Minnesota in the middle of winter. 

10 Consecutive Finishes

2009-2018

 

http://www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php

 

Leadville Trail 100 MTB

13 Consecutive Finishes

2008-2019

*9 Sub 12 hour sliver buckle wins

*1 Sub 9 hour Gold buckle win

*1 1000 mile very big buckle

 

http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/mtb/leadvilletrail100mtb/

 

Other +100 miler Gravel Events

Ragnarok 105: 6 completed

Almanzo 100: 6 completed

Dirty Benjamin :  3 completed

Dirty Kanza 200: 1 completed

Lutsen 99r: 9 completed with top podium finishes

La Ruta de los conquistadores

Dirty Kanza 200

DaMn 240

Baja Divide, Cape loop 380

 

Current sponsors include:

Otso bikes

Wolf Tooth Components

Terrene Tires

Wahoo Fitness

Re-Lyte Hydration

 

Other fun facts

A proud of two awesome teenage girls and my wife Jayme  

I love being outside all year long

I worked at Life Time Fitness, Inc. for 20 years

I love to build things

Active in the bike community and in my church

A chatty, social guy on the trails and during races

Active on Insta and FB