THE ROAD KING

Calgary HOG^® member Bruce Spies takes top spot in the Ride 365 challenge

By Dustin A. Woods

Calgary HOG^® Chapter member Bruce Spies doesn’t recall exactly how old he was the first time his dad took him for a ride on the back of his motorcycle, but it was as soon as his legs were long enough to reach the passenger pegs. After that, wherever they went, it was on two wheels. The day he turned 16, he got his learner’s permit and rode his dad’s trusty motorcycle until he purchased his own.

Now in his late seventies, Spies still rides every chance he gets – which is often. In fact, Spies came out on top of the nearly 300 participants in the annual Ride 365 challenge as the individual rider with the most miles logged in 2023, by a lot. Spies officially rode 68,980 km last year, which was more than 15,000 km higher than second place.

Spies didn’t set out to win any records; he just enjoys riding that much. Being retired allows him the freedom to ride as much as he likes. “The housework will still be there tomorrow,” he laughs.

Spies joined HOG back in 1965 and is now the second-oldest member in Alberta. The retired concrete contractor’s internal clock still wakes him up at 4 a.m., so he’s pounding the pavement as soon as the sun comes up. “By the time most local riders meet up for breakfast, I could already be 400 to 500 kilometres away,” he says.

Spies generally prefers to ride solo, but he makes an exception for charity rides – particularly in support of the Fresh Start Recovery Centre, an organization near and dear to his heart.

Rather than battling Alberta’s inclement winter weather, Spies joins a group of friends who trailer their bikes south each winter to explore some of the most motorcycle-worthy roads on the continent, including an annual pilgrimage to Sturgis. No stranger to famous routes like the Tail of the Dragon, Spies admits the best roads are practically in his backyard. The Rocky Mountains and the Sunshine Coast are among his favourites.

Spies said it’s not uncommon to ride more than 800 km in a day with his buddies. “We pick a place to have lunch and go,” he says. “I’m craving a beef briskest sandwich, so that’s the plan for tomorrow. I know a place that serves the best.”

The longest ride he’s tackled in a single day was about 1,200 km, from Victoria back to his home in Calgary.

Given how much mileage Spies did in just the past year, it is no surprise that his current ride – a 2020 Road King^® – has more than 300,000 km on the odometer. While his first Harley-Davidson was a Sportster^®, he switched to Road King models with his second purchase and hasn’t looked back. He even won a Fat Boy^® in a charity raffle but donated it back. With no plans to stop riding as he approaches his eighties, Spies uses cruise control to minimize shoulder pain on long rides and has picked out a Tri Glide^® as his next Harley^®.

So what keeps Spies logging as many miles as he does, year after year? “The freedom you get when you’re out on your motorcycle,” Spies says. “There’s nothing else like it.”

For a complete listing of the 2023 Ride 365 results, click HERE.

To participate in the Ride 365 program, make sure you get at least two odometer readings during the year. Aim for one as early as possibly after January 1 and another late in the year, close to December 31. These readings are the only official way to track entries and mileage, and your dealership must enter them in the system on the day of your visit.