Charles Kuralt once famously noted that the American freeway system now allows one to drive across the country and see absolutely nothing at all. Having driven across the U.S. a dozen or so times, I concur. I’ve always longed to explore the lonely backroads that lie just over the horizon, to dive into the giant something that exists beyond that 70-mile-per-hour view. Since I was a kid, this curiosity has driven me to ride my bike, to get lost in strange precincts and find my way home. Along the way, I would see the hidden beauty of each place that can only be viewed from 2 wheels in open air, with no motor drowning out the scents and sounds.
Riding across the United States has always been a goal of mine. One of my first introductions into cycling as a sport, not mere transportation, was a 1981 issue of Bicycling Magazine that chronicled the first Race Across America. In that issue, I found the essence of what would become my lifelong obsession: pushing the limits of my mind and body into uncharted territory, and growing stronger and wiser with each new venture. Keeping that ethic in mind, a simple tour, while fun and somewhat adventurous, is not much of a challenge. For me, an element of risk must exist. While I no longer identify with the single-minded obsession that RAAM racers possess, I still wish to push my body beyond “sensible” limits while exploring that “inner frontier”.
On September 10th I turned 40 years of age. I believe that milestones should be marked with grand undertakings, and pedaling from California to New Jersey seems an apt celeberation of my life thus far. Balancing my career and my marriage and my coaching business, EnduranceGuru.com, I am limited to only 3 weeks of riding time, from October 20 to November 11, 2007. I will ride 170 miles each day on average. The challenges are many: the daily distance is long enough to require excellent recovery, the hours of daylight in the fall are too few to waste, and the simple logistics of eating, drinking, and sleeping are anything but. My plan is to travel light and fast, with minimal gear, only the bare essentials: a second jersey and shorts, basic tools, arm warmers, a light windbreaker, jeans and t-shirt and flip-flops to wear off the bike, cellphone, camera, and toothbrush. My equipment and my body must be flawlessly reliable.
As I began planning for this trip, my stepmother passed away, finally losing her bout with lung cancer. Always a plucky, audacious, courageous lady, Marilyn had been enthused about and supportive of my adventurous instincts. Her fight with cancer inspired me to start the EnduranceGuru Foundation, dedicated to raising funds to support the Tomorrow’s Children Institute for cancer and blood disorder research at Hackensack University Medical Center. Under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Thompson, this group is fighting on the front lines of the battle against cancers that afflict children and young adults. Their groundbreaking research has helped countless people defeat cancer and go on to live healthy lives.
In addition to Marilyn Arthur, my trip is dedicated to the memory of my friends Carl Barnett and Alexandre Zinoviev, both of whom lost their own battles with cancer. Both were cyclists who inspired me with their warmth, extra-large spirits, and love of life.
This is going to be a great adventure! Please visit this site daily to find out what is happening and to hear about my latest adventures.
Some upcoming dates to watch:
⌐ Friday October 12, Endurance Guru Cross Country Quest kickoff party at Jay’s Cycle Center in Westfield, NJ. 7-10 pm. Wine, beer, and hors d’ouvre will be served. Come join us for a fun evening of socializing! I will talk about my upcoming travels and the causes that the Endurance Guru Foundation will be supporting with the funds raised from this ride.
⌐ Sunday, Novermber 11, Ride the final stage of my Cross Country Quest. Meet me at dawn in Cape May and spin the last 150 miles to Westfield with me. Or if you would prefer a shorter ride, many riders will be joining us at Allentown, NJ for the last 50 miles. I will publish the route online if you would like to join us somewhere along the way and finish the ride with me
Thanks for visiting EnduranceGuru.com. Feel free to explore the site and learn more about what I do. Come back and visit daily to catch up on the excitement.
Live clean, train hard, have fun.
-Geoff