Teen Cycles CA Natl. Parks for Charity
Fifteen-Year-Old Cycles All National Parks in California in Seven Months For Inclusive Cycling Charities
Cyclist Royce Felten, 15, will complete his 363-mile ride across the nine national parks in California for charity on July 9, 2021, in Redwood National Park.
A cancer survivor and a person with autism, Felten is an endurance road cyclist. His rides through the national parks have taken him over 363 miles, across 13 days with over 32,370 feet of elevation gain.
“I hope that through this effort I can raise awareness that unique people can do uniquely strong things,” says Felten. “I feel seen by my selected charities Team California Juniors and VeloYouth.”
Felten rides for cycling charities Team California Juniors and VeloYouth because they have empowered him both on and off the bike. Felten wants to pay it forward by supporting those organizations that include young cyclists of each unique ability and identity.
Felten is no stranger to long distance riding having previously competed in virtual Race Across the West, a 925-mile virtual cycling race, where he was the youngest competitor and person to complete. In that event, he raised $1,400 for autism and cancer charities.
Given the unique nature of the parks, there were two parks where Felten completed an alternate activity. Felten kayaked Channel Islands because it does not have roads, and he completed a through hike of Pinnacles due to its limited road system.
A list with his rides is listed below to highlight his efforts.
• Joshua Tree: 134 miles with 12,200 feet elevation gain across four days
• Death Valley: 35 miles with 7250 feet elevation gain
• Pinnacles: Alternate activity with a an 11-mile, 2,500 foot elevation gain double-through-hike due to no roads
• Channel Islands: Alternate activity kayaking Anacapa due to no roads
• Yosemite: 25 miles with 1,000 feet elevation gain on the legendary Tioga Pass
• Kings Canyon: 40 miles with 3,500 feet elevation gain through entire park
• Sequoia: 23 miles with 2,500 feet elevation gain
• Lassen: 50 miles with 5,000 feet elevation gain riding across park twice
• Redwood: 31 miles with 650 feet of elevation gain to be completed on 7/9 on Drury Scenic Parkway and Davison Road
A gallery of photos of his rides is available at: https://jessblock.smugmug.com/Pro-Associations-and-Nonprofit/Royce-Felten-National-Park-Ride-for-Charity and ride data is available at https://www.strava.com/athletes/royceroyce
ABOUT ROYCE FELTEN: When not on the bike in a park, Felten is a high school incoming Junior who dreams of attending Stanford and becoming a teacher. He loves his dog Kennedy. Felten also volunteers as an autism self-advocate in health care, education and policy settings. Follow his rides at https://www.strava.com/athletes/royceroyce
ABOUT TEAM CALIFORNIA JUNIORS: The elite division of GS Andiamo cycling nonprofit, with the mission of creating the next generation of cyclists. The nonprofit teaches young riders and their parents to be safe and effective cyclists; all while making rides fun and rewarding. We are passionate about cycling, athletics, and sportsmanship.
https://teamcabike.com/juniors/
ABOUT VELOYOUTH: San Diego VeloYouth is a values-based program that serves at-promise kids by infusing goal-setting, cycling and daily achievement into cycling and beyond. http://veloyouth.org
Contact for mom to Royce: [email redacted]/909-706-8525
