A Red Oak man is turning grief into grit on a 180‑mile ride across Iowa, reminding anyone who’s struggling to “keep going.”
Nate Payne rolled into Storm Lake Monday night with two friends as part of “The Kicks Memorial Bike Ride for Mental Health,” a four‑day journey aimed at sparking conversations in small towns and honoring those lost to suicide. Payne says the ride began after losing his best friend — a loss he couldn’t fix, but one he hoped to turn into action.
Payne began this year’s ride in Spirit Lake, and his first overnight stop was in Storm Lake — a place he says reflects a deeper challenge in rural Iowa. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Iowa’s suicide rate has risen roughly 40% since 2000, with rural counties seeing some of the highest rates. Payne says training with National Alliance on Mental Illness and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention opened his eyes to how widespread the need is.
One of the most visible parts of Payne’s ride is the green ribbon display on his bike — more than 200 names of people lost to suicide or battling mental health challenges. He says carrying those names is both motivating and humbling.
Payne says he touches the ribbons every time he gets off his bike — a reminder of why he keeps pedaling.
Along the way, Payne hands out bracelets and materials from mental health organizations — small reminders that someone cares. He says the most meaningful moments aren’t always conversations.
His message for anyone struggling is deeply personal — and rooted in the pain he’s willing to carry if it helps someone else stay alive.
Payne says he doesn’t expect to hear that he saved a life — but he hopes his ride helps someone pause, reconsider and reach out.
And his message for all of us?
Payne’s ride continued through Wall Lake yesterday and Prairie Rose Lake today before it ends in Red Oak on Thursday — carrying hundreds of names, countless stories, and a reminder that reaching out can save a life.
