On Saturday, August 13th, around 50 family, friends and supporters were waiting to greet some cyclists who rode cross-country in a fund-raising effort. As predicted, the cyclists were seen on Court Street turning onto Broad Street in Newark around midday. Everyone started cheering and congratulated Irvington Council President John Sowell and his partner Joe.., Local Talk congratulated the two great bike riders, who achieved the goal in precise timing as predicted.
The Final Numbers for the entire coast-to coast trip are:
- 3,053: Total Miles from Oceanside, California to Irvington, New Jersey
- 212: Total hours in the saddle (on the bike seat)
- 186,829: Total calories burned or 53.25 lbs. of body weight, 3,500 calories equals 1 lb.
- 28: Total number of consecutive cycling days to complete trip from Jul. 17 to Aug. 14
Here it the final report:
Day No. 25: We are both feeling jittery knowing that we are so close to home. We started rolling at 6:30 AM from Frostburg, Maryland en route to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 100 miles away. The day was off to a terrific start, left the parking lot turn right and we had a 10 mile downhill, and we hardly pedaled for the first half an hour. It was a cool morning maybe 65 degrees, going downhill right from the start made it feel even colder.
We crossed from Maryland into Pennsylvania along Route 96 after cycling for about 12 miles. Once we crossed over we saw that there would be some work to be done because we were surrounded by mountains, just when we thought we were done with any major climbing here is more. We rode through the beautiful “Buchanan State Park. We did some serious climbing to day. We have done more than 20,000 feet of elevation in 347 miles in 3 days. We are both feeling much stronger now than when we started on July 17th; there is no substitute for riding to get stronger.
Day No. 26: This turned out to be a very nice rest day we started rolling at 6:15 AM from the Days Inn Hotel in Chambersburg, PA en route to the Holiday Inn Express in Lancaster, PA only 79 miles away. I must share this story while riding today I took a banana out of the rear pocket of my cycling jersey (like we always do as cyclist), when I finished eating I tossed the peel into some very tall bushes at the side of the road and thought nothing of it (the peel is biodegrade). A few minutes later a pick-up truck passed me and pulls over to the right side of the road, the driver gets out, puts up his hand and signaled me to stop. So I stopped thinking it is just someone checking on us or a fellow cyclist.
To my surprise he says to me “You better go back and pick that up.” He shows me his cell phone and says “I am going to call 911 if you don’t go back and pick it up.” I responded, “Sir, I threw away a banana peel; it’s biodegradable. I don’t litter.” He say it was a water jug and started walking back to his truck, I asked him was he going to apologize he just got in his truck turned around and drove the other way. I found it comical, and then I thought for a moment if I was a white male would he have confronted me like that and would he have apologized. Some folks are still not ready for the changing world.
Total Miles: 79.07 (this is our shortest ride)
Avg. Speed: 15 MPH
Ride Time: 5 Hours & 16 Minutes
Calories Burned: 4,639
Total Elevation: 2,594 Feet (not as much climbing today, just a few gentle rollers)
Max. Speed: 34.3 MPH
Day No. 27: How exciting to almost be home. Thus far we have 2,987 miles and we will have about 75 miles to get to Newark from New Hope, PA. This morning we started rolling at 7:30 AM along with a third cyclist, one of Joe’s teammates along with his wife (Jim & Nancy) showed up at our hotel in Lancaster, PA for a surprise visit. We rolled out from the Hilton Garden Inn in Lancaster, PA in route to the RAMADA Inn in New Hope, PA 90 miles away. Anything less than 100 miles is a rest day. We stopped for lunch in Quakertown after riding 61 miles.
We rolled in the Ramada Inn, and I was elated to see Randy & James there to greet us. Joe, Rosalie, Jim and Nancy are staying at the Ramada. I am spending the night in the home of James & Shona, feels good to be around familiar folks.
Looking forward to seeking everyone at Newark City Hall at 12 noon on Saturday.
The numbers for the day:
Miles: 92.91
Average: 14.9 MPH
Time: 6 Hours & 14 Minutes
Elevation: 4,987 Feet
Calories: 5,918
WOW Day No. 28: What a wonderful feeling to be home, amongst family and friends. The five (5) of us myself, Joe, Jim, Rosalie & Karen (Jim’s wife, her name is not Nancy) rolled out of New Hope, Pennsylvania at 6:55 AM from the Ramada Inn Hotel, we reached the bridge and crossed into Lambertville NJ at 7:05 AM. A childhood friend of Joe was there to greet us with a video camera; they had not seen each other for 40 years.
I felt very emotional and spiritual, as we crossed the bridge into New Jersey. The weather was beautiful today; it was good that we were a day ahead of schedule because heavy rains are predicted for Sunday. The first cyclist to meet us was James McCarther, President of the Major Taylor Cycling Club of New Jersey (I am a proud strong member of that club), then we met a group of our club members that live in the Princeton area. It was a beautiful site we had at least 30 cyclists at the Bagel Shop, the crew from Princeton bought me and Joe us breakfast. 12 to 15 of us proceed to Newark via Springfield Avenue through Maplewood, Irvington and into Newark, bear right onto Court Street, left turn on Broad Street and we are at City Hall being welcomed home by about 50 family and friends. I picked up my 5-year-old great nephew for a hug and he asks me, “Uncle John, how you ride your bike from California? Where did you sleep?” I love children.
From City Hall we cycled to the ironbound to Iberia Restaurant for another welcome by Joe’s family, we were showered with Champaign by Joe’s grandchildren, when the bottle would not spray any more. Joe leaned over and allowed his grandson to pour it over his head. I rolled out of the restaurant with another cyclist. (Gordon, who live in Irvington and we have been training together for about 5 years) Nice to ride up Springfield Avenue and see all of the familiar sights.
To my surprise my family was having a party for me at my house in the backyard, what a nice surprise family, friends and food. After I got full at my party, I got dressed and attended our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration in Irvington, I have attended all 10 of them. I got in my own bed at about 11 PM, wow back in my own bed, wondering what am I going to do tomorrow, I plan to do another 130 mile bike ride with the Cycling Club if it is not raining, looking forward to a group ride with over 100 cyclist. Many of you were concerned about me losing weight, I am pleased to report that I only lost 3.2 pounds during the trip. On July 17th, I weighed 175 pounds and I weighed myself on August 14th. The scale read 171.8 pounds. I did get leaner, I lowered my percentage of body fat. I have more lean muscle mass. Overall I feel great.
The numbers for Day No 28 are:
Total Miles: 66.03
Ride Time: 4 Hours & 32 Minutes
Avg. Speed: 14.5 MPH
Max Speed: 32.5 MPH
Calories Burned: 4,081
Elevation: 1,287 Feet
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