Jay Petervary’s path to recovery

First off, how are you?

“All things considered, I'm doing well. The change of seasons feels great, and with some snow still up high in the mountains and the valley I live in turning green, it presents a nice contrast to the eye.

I’m starting to ride more regularly and that makes me very happy. I received a new gravel bike that is the nicest bike I have ever owned. We are launching a new gravel race on July 6th, which has been keeping me very busy, as well as working on a rider concierge business to serve riders/bikepackers.

So, I’m not busy with my own personal races as I have been for the past 20 years, which feels odd and even makes me sad, but I am still working in my passion of cycling. Although I will get back to my own personal adventures one day!”

Can you tell us a bit about your crash?

“Last August, I was doing a project ride I created called Great Divide Unearthed. It was a multi-faceted project that was meant to bring attention to the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) that the Adventure Cycling Association created and that the Tour Divide uses today. One of the primary facets was to talk about the history of the GDMBR and the Tour Divide as well as its growth through a film filled with interviews from some of the early iconic and influential people involved. The project was also connected to a nonprofit, the BeGood Foundation, where we raised money for bikepacking scholarships. It was also an excuse to ride the event for my eighth time!

All in all, it was a successful project, and we did give away many scholarships —but it's still not done. On day 14, 2,000 miles in with 800 miles to go, I was hit from behind on a quiet country dirt road by a 16-year-old driving a car. My back got broken, my humerus was snapped in half, and my wrist was smashed, in addition to all the smaller cuts and abrasions. So, with the film piece and the ride not completed (the only ride I’ve not completed), the project is not done and currently sits on pause.”

As someone familiar with facing
difficulties head-on, how has your road to recovery compared to past
challenges?

“This challenge/recovery that I am facing is similar to but also very different from the other challenges I have faced. Mostly because, when it comes to big adventures or bikepacking events, I have volunteered and put myself out there on purpose, looking for challenges because I love it.

What I have been dealing with for the past nine months—and am still dealing with—is nothing I would have willingly signed up for. That said, many of the principles I have learned and concepts I have taught myself through adventuring, when applied to my accident, have helped me.

It’s not always easy staying positive in these situations, and I have spoken to and seen many people who struggle much more than I have with facing such adversity. My ‘Ride Forward’ mantra runs deep and has so much meaning beyond its literal sense.”

What role is cycling playing in your road to recovery?

“I love cycling so much. It has played a big part in my journey as it is the one thing that I am always looking at and striving towards. I’ll never be the same person or cyclist as I was, but from the very start, the first goal was to just be able to ride. Then it was to be able to ride for an hour, two hours, four hours, etc. I recently rode a century. I feel my back injury on every ride and all day long, but as long as I am not in severe pain, the happiness that I get from riding masks the discomfort. Besides the physical happiness I get from riding, there is also the community aspect. It would be easy sometimes to just hide or not engage in the community since I am not ‘racing’ and don’t yet know if I can take on big adventures again, but the reality is I don't need to do that to remain a part of the community. Recently going to the Gravel Hall of Fame and the Unbound event, but not riding the event, reinforced that.”

 What big goals are you currently working towards?

“My first goal is to get my body to a place where I feel I can ride all day for back-to-back days. I will then go back to where I was hit by the car and finish my Unearthed ride. I am also working towards building up my own events and making a sustainable mentoring, teaching, and guiding business.”

What, if any, adventures are on the horizon?

 “This question hurts in the sense I have nothing in the future that I am planning for. Early in my recovery, I put certain event goals on my calendar but couldn't do any of them. I have now accepted I cannot plan an adventure, but instead I am currently on the biggest adventure of my life.”