Tom's Cross Country Ride

When I was very young, five or six years old, I remember a sleepless night. A night that I tossed and turned with excited anticipation of the next day’s events. At that time my excitement was brought on by a scheduled appearance by Lassie, the lovable Collie, on the Captain Kangaroo show.

Last night as I struggled to fall asleep, I felt that same kind of excitement in anticipation of the beginning of the cross country ride. Excited and nervous is how I felt as the day began.

Everyone rode together as we traveled the five or six miles to the pier at Manhattan Beach. Once there we carried our bikes down to the waters edge and dipped the back wheels in the ocean signifying the start of our journey. After some group photos and well wishes from a small gathering of folks on the pier, we were off peddling east.

The first part of the ride was on city streets as we made our way through Compton, Lakewood, and Anaheim. It was overcast and cool for the first several hours which I found to be quite comfortable. Later in the day the sun came out and the temperature went up as we found ourselves on a wonderful bike trail riding up a canyon toward Riverside. We arrived in Riverside in mid afternoon after a 5 hour and 49 minute ride covering 78.9 miles. It was a good start to the tour.

Tomorrow’s ride will be a bit more challenging as we head east toward Palm Springs and our destination, Indio California. We’ll cover just over 98 miles in what will certainly be higher temperatures as we head toward the desert. Thanks for following along.

Tomorrow is the big day. The start of the cross country tour. More on that later. Today we met as a group with all the riders and support staff to introduce ourselves, get acquainted, and go over lots of logistic and safety issues. My hat is off to Paula Farmer and Big Dream Bike Tours for putting together this ride. To put together a plan to get 18 riders of varying abilities across the country safely in 50 days just seems mind boggling to me. But Paula and her team seem to be up to the task, meticulously covering even the smallest of details.

It was very interesting listening to the stories of the riders today as they explained their motivations for taking on this challenge. For many, like myself, it is a chance to fulfill a dream, to cross an item off the bucket list. For others it is a chance to prove something to themselves, to overcome an obstacle that appears daunting in size and scope. And still for others it is just the enticement of sheer adventure. It’s going to be a fun group.

Tomorrow morning we’ll peddle from the hotel down to the pier at Manhattan Beach around 7:00 A:M. At the beach we’ll take some group photos and then ceremoniously dip the rear wheels of our bikes in the Pacific Ocean. After that we’ll be off. The route tomorrow takes us through LA and on to Riverside California about 79 miles away. The first real riding day of the tour. It’s going to be great. I’m a little nervous tonight but can’t wait to get started in the morning.

We did get a chance to ride along the beach again today for 20 miles or so. I added a couple of more pictures. It was beautiful. Thanks for following along.

We made it to California and are getting ready for the start of the ride. Fortunately my bike also made it. Thanks to Chris and his team at Kettering Bike Shop for getting it ready for the trip, Roger at International Pro for packing and shipping the bike, and to the fine folks at Helen’s Bike Shop here in Manhattan Beach for reassembling and delivering it to the hotel.

I’m riding a 2017 Trek Emonda SLR. It’s very light (around 15 lbs) and is more of a race bike than a touring bike. But with this being a fully supported trip I won’t be carrying any gear so the lighter bike should work out well.

This morning we met a number of the other riders as well as several members of the support team that will be traveling with us. There are 18 riders in total, 15 of whom will make the entire coast to coast trip. Three of the riders are doing only segments of the ride. The group of riders includes folks from several states as well as France and Germany. I look forward to getting to know all of them as we make our way across the country.

I was fortunate to have lunch today with Andy Applegate of CTS Training Systems. Andy is the trainer I’ve been working with for almost a year to get me ready physically for this ride. Andy lives here in LA but through the magic of the internet is able to coach riders and other athletes all over the country and beyond. It was great to actually meet him.

After lunch Greg and I rode down to the ocean on a equipment check ride of about 20 miles or so on a great bike path. It was a little cool with the temperatures in the high 50s but it was a beautiful ride nonetheless.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the actual first day of the event but it will be spent doing orientation, bag checks etc. Sunday morning the ride begins. Thanks for following along.

In a few days I’ll be traveling to Los Angeles with a good friend, Greg Bell, to start what I’m calling a bucket list adventure. On Sunday morning May 12th, Greg and I and a small group of cyclists will dip the wheels of our bicycles in the Pacific Ocean and then peddle east. If things go as planned, 50 days and nearly 3,500 miles later we’ll repeat the ritual at Revere Beach in Boston on June 28th. I’m looking forward to what should be, well, a bucket list adventure.

Along the way I hope to post a little about each days ride, the sights, and the people we meet. And hopefully post some pictures that will help to share the story.

There are lots of people to thank for allowing me this opportunity including Paula Farmer and her team at Big Dream Bike Tours and CrossRoads Cycling Adventures. Paula has been wonderful to work with and has made the trip planning way easier than it could have been.

I’d also like to thank Andy Applegate and CTS Training Systems for helping and pushing me to get in shape for this adventure and giving me the confidence I need to take on this challenge.

And I want to thank my family and friends for all of the support and encouragement that has been given to me. I have been dreaming of an adventure like this for many, many years and with the support of those close to me, it looks like it’s going to become a reality. Thank you and thanks for following along!

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton