The Ride

Book excerpt: Written by an avid bicyclist, this book tells the story of a man who celebrated his 59th birthday by bicycling alone from Berkeley, California to New Jersey. Whether a bicycle racer, commuter, tourist or occasional rider, young or old, the author’s adventures while seeing the American countryside and meetings with interesting folk on the way will appeal to anyone who has ever pedaled a kiddy-car, tricycle or bicycle. The author learned many things, one of which is not to dive into Lake Tahoe, the story of the Winnemucca people, the location of the largest potato patch in the world and how to bicycle safely across the 120-miles of salt flats between Wendover, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah. His ride took him through the town through which “The Old Mill Stream” of song passes and Ottumwa, Iowa, the home town of Radar O’Reilly of Mash fame. The route crossed all the major North-South rivers and the high passes of the Rocky Mountains. If you have ever pedaled a two-wheeler, you will enjoy this book.