An Evening with Daniel “Dirty Dan” Connell

Trek Santa Barbara is proud to host an evening with world-traveling ultra-endurance cyclist Daniel “Dirty Dan” Connell on Friday, May 23 at 6:30 PM, joined by Trek President John Burke for a live interview. This free event invites the community to hear firsthand the stories and mindset behind some of the most grueling bike adventures on the planet.

Connell, a Santa Barbara local known for pushing the limits of endurance cycling, has completed multiple solo crossings of continents including Africa and South America, and ridden the full length of the Continental Divide Route four times. His most recent feat—climbing 90,000 feet in a single ride on Old San Marcos Road—amounts to the distance from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest three times.

“I want to show people what’s possible when you follow curiosity and lean into discomfort,” says Connell. “Adventure is out there for everyone—sometimes it just starts with a bike.”

Now preparing for the 2025 Tour Divide, a 2,700-mile self-supported race from Banff, Canada to the U.S.–Mexico border, Connell will share tales from the road, answer questions, and inspire cyclists and non-cyclists alike to explore their own boundaries.

This event is free and open to the public. Whether you’re a hardcore cyclist or simply curious about adventure, it’s a chance to connect, learn, and leave inspired.