La Grande cyclist Elijah Romer poses for a photo Sunday, June 21, 2021, at the Mount Emily Recreation Area near La Grande. Romer rode his mountain bike on MERA’s trails for eight hours over a 12-hour period as a tribute to his father, Larry Romer, who died 18 years ago.

LA GRANDE — La Grande cyclist Elijah Romer saluted his late father at the Mount Emily Recreation Area Sunday, June 20.

Romer rode his mountain bike on MERA’s trails for eight hours over a 12-hour period as a tribute to his father, Larry Romer, who died 18 years ago.

Romer, who has three children, made his Father’s Day rides with fellow dads, children and others. He started his treks at 6:30 a.m. and did not complete them until about 6:30 p.m., covering 55 miles and climbing a total of 10,000 feet. He emerged from the rides energized.

“I feel awesome, a lot better than I thought I would. At the end, I almost wanted to continue. I was in a zone,” said Romer, who grew up in La Grande and has two degrees from Eastern Oregon University, a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in teaching.

Eighteen years ago Romer was in no condition to do what he did on Father’s Day. He was at a low point in his life after his father’s death. Romer then saw something that almost made him feel like his father was speaking to him — a mountain bike his dad had left him. Romer, then overweight, gave serious thought to taking up mountain biking and soon did so after receiving strong encouragement from his friend, Whit Hartz of La Grande.

“I decided I wanted to take control of my own life and leap onto the bike,” he said.

Romer said the many long rides that followed helped him cope with the loss of his father.

“It helped me with my grieving. It put me on a path toward healing,” he said.

Romer lost 40 pounds soon after becoming a serious cyclist and later became an elite amateur national class cyclist.

The rides Romer led at MERA were meant to encourage people to make their mental and physical health a priority, just as he did after seeing his father’s mountain bike.

“A healthy you helps make a healthy community,” he said.

A community is filled with people helping others, Romer said, something they cannot do unless they have addressed their own needs.

“In order to take care of others, you must take care of yourself first. Change starts with you,” said Romer, who spoke not only to people riding with him, but also to those at the MERA’s Owsley Canyon trailhead.

Romer began his day by riding almost continuously for five hours before he received a big boost when his wife, Jeanna, brought a lunch from a local restaurant. He credited the meal with rejuvenating him.

The cyclist described the challenge he took as epic in nature. Romer said he wasn’t sure if he was up to it. Romer said it is important for everyone to take on such challenges because it leads to self discovery.

“Once in a while it is important to do something you didn’t think possible,” he said. “When you push yourself to your limit and beyond you will find someone hiding within. That person is your true self.”