About Me

I am a keen cyclist who enjoys a challenge.
Not unusual in the cycling world; where pushing further, faster and for longer is a bit of an obsession.
My USA challenge certainly incorporates the further and longer if not the faster. 
This trip has been planned to indulge my love of cycling and to allow an opportunity to explore parts of the USA  a little off the usual tourist route.
I've cycled on and off for some years, returning with a renewed passion a few years ago (midlife crisis of sorts).
Coming back to cycling started as commuting and local leisure rides. Then the wish for company spurred me to find cycling companions. This came in the form of Central London CTC and some very enjoyable group cycle rides out into the countryside at the weekends.

My return to cycling prompted a new bike.One new bike became two, then three, I know!
With a new bike came plans for some serious touring.

My first major ride was undertaken in April 2012. This is known as the LEJOG (for the uninitiated that's Land's End to John O'Groats). The course taken was 1080miles over 15 days, ridden with a companion (Paul) from the Isle of Man.

I viewed this ride as a bit of a tester for the USA trip. I wanted to see how it would feel to be completely focussed on cycling everyday. I found I loved it, and sorry when it came to an end. So on my return I started to put together serious plans for the coast to coast of the states.

To do the trip I am taking a sabbatical from my job in London, packing up my bike, tent etc and heading off to the States mid May 2013.

The start of the trip is a brief cycling meander down the east coast of America.  Starting off in New Jersey to travel through the Delaware and Maryland countryside to Virginia. From Virginia the plan is to head west following on the Transamerica bike trail. In all I expect to cycle between 4500 and 4750 miles and arrive on the West coast of America, south of Seattle, the 2nd or 3rd week of August.

Then if all goes to schedule I will then have a little time for fun and relaxation, off  the bike, before heading back to the UK and work in September 2013.