Five Things I Learned while Riding a Bicycle Across the United States

Lessons on a bicycle ride from Florida to Washington.

According to Forrest Gump, he started running “for no particular reason.” He simply liked to run. Of course, we know that he started running to escape his problems. What motivated him to keep running is the real question.

My tours on a bicycle were not, however, an attempt to escape anything. Truthfully, the bicycling for me started as a way to get healthy. From there, cross-country bicycling rose out of a thirst for adventure. What kept me pedaling was something I had to discover.

I have ridden my bike across Kansas three times and across Missouri twice.

Eventually, I ended up riding my bicycle from Daytona Beach, Florida to Seattle, Washington. I learned as much about myself as I did about the United States as I crossed mountains, plains, deserts and everything in between.

Here is a list of some of the things that I learned along the way.

1. It was difficult but doable

Riding my bike across the United States was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

The journey consisted of riding through heavy traffic in busy cities, long stretches of desolate roads, winds almost impossible to ride against, days so hot and sunny it was impossible to carry enough water, steep mountain passes, failing parts on a bike pushed to its limits, and a tired and achy body searching for a reason to go on.

But, day after day, I continued. It got much easier. The hardships were still there but I soon learned that true key to success was in my head and not my body.

Some days were slow going and miles seemed to creep by at a snail’s pace. Other days found me racing down mountains at speeds so fast that it was almost not safe.

But regardless of what I had to face in a day, eventually it was over and I got to my destination. This lesson has lifted me out of so many low spots in my life since then.

Not matter how hard what you are going through seems right now, eventually, sooner than you think, it will be behind you. You just have to keep moving forward.

2. U.S. roads can be dangerous for bicyclists

Every year in the United States, thousands of bicyclists are injured and hundreds lose their lives after being hit by cars on the road. Smart phones with GPS, social media and texting have contributed to the increasing numbers of distracted drivers. These distractions have not been kind to the cyclists trying to share the road.

Believe me, I would rather ride my bike on a separate trail away from traffic. But most times, the roadways are the only option.

When you have no other options but to travel by bike on a busy road, you can find yourself on a narrow shoulder riding right next to traffic going by at highway speeds. Frequently, there is no ridable shoulder available and you are forced to be out in the roadway.

Carefully choosing a route away from roads with a lot of traffic is one of the most important planning features when riding across the country.

Many drivers are reluctant or simply unaware of the need to share the road. I have had logging trucks speed by me at 70 miles an hour, missing me by mere inches.

It is not just the professional drivers. I have had close encounters with huge RVs towing spare vehicles, family cars and motorcycles. It can be deadly to share the road. This is the main reason I have not toured at all since the birth of my daughter. I don’t want to leave her without a father.

3. The United States is a beautiful country

This is absolutely the best part of cross-country touring, especially on a bicycle. The U.S. has so many different landscapes. I never tire of gazing at this country’s oceans, rivers, mountains, plains and deserts.

Cities and paved roads can certainly carve into the beauty of the country but there are still plenty raw and scenic places out there.

Crossing the entire country at 12 miles per hour on a bicycle is a great way to view it.

4. Diversity is everywhere in the U.S.

Without a doubt, the United States is diverse.

While I rode a bike across the U.S. in the summer, I encounter hot, sweaty days with temperatures in the 100s in the southern states as well as cold, freezing days out west.

I rode through plains, deserts, mountains, cities, rural communities, abandoned ghost towns and wide, open expanses.

There was also great economic diversity across the country. Some states spent a lot of money on their roads and infrastructure while others had roads that had fallen into severe disrepair.

The houses that people lived in along the way varied from mansions, to shacks, to vast estates, farms or small apartments. The vehicles they drove were as diverse as the clothes they wore.

This country has people living at every place along the economic scale.

Equally diverse were the people themselves. Most were kind; many were curious. I met new folks daily. The people made the trip just as interesting as the unique landscapes I encountered.

Meeting and talking to people along the way are often the best parts of traveling.

5. Life truly is about the journey, not the destination

At the beginning of the trip, I sometimes struggled to make my daily destination. I watched the white line on the side of the road and counted the miles. On days that it was really hard, all I could think about was how nice it would be once the day was over and I could get off the bike.

But, somewhere along the way, that stopped happening. Eventually, I started realizing the ride was the important part, not the end goal.

I took my time and enjoyed the views. I got off the bike and took pictures along the way. I stopped and talked to people who were interested. I visited the shops and restaurants in many of the small towns.

Somewhere along the over 3,500 miles that I rode my bicycle diagonally across the United States, I stopped counting the miles as much and kept more track of the experiences and the people I encountered along the way. It was then that I truly discovered all the beautiful things this country had to offer.

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