Just Keep Pedaling: A Corner-to-Corner Bike Ride Across America

by T.E. Trimbath

What started out as one person's bike ride to lose some weight became the story of a slice of America from the Pacific Northwest to the Florida Keys. There were big cities, rural towns and great stretches of open land. Heroes and villains are out there too, but mostly it's fine people living day-to-day and unknowingly impressing strangers. The weather wasn't left out either. From the first winter storm in the mountains of Washington through the tailwinds in Idaho to the heat and storms of the South, weather kept things from getting boring. Seeing America at ten miles an hour without the protective shell of a car allows all of the senses to get to know the country. It was an interesting ride with insights into culture and sore muscles. And then there was the awesome chocolate sundae in a ranch town in Utah This personal narrative also has an appendix that acts as a guide for others that might want to try their own adventure. There are details on gear, route selection, and expenses and most of all encouragement. You don't know what you'll find out there on the road until you get there.

322 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2002

Reviews

[Tony Valente · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit torn on this book. The author honestly did not seem to have a good time on this ride. And seemed to plan more for an early end to it, than to plan for his ultimate goal. Then he also did the ride on a mountain bike after crunching his road bike with his car. (Wish I knew him then, I could've told him insurance would've bought him a new bike minus a deductible.

However, then I started thinking about rides I have taken. Some of the ugliest and hardest I have considered giving up and turning around after the next hill. Or wondered seriously what the hell I was doing. The author here simply articulated my own thoughts. I also appreciate that he explained why he stuck to the mtn bike. Very sound reasons.

Kudos to him for finishing the ride. Even if it meant doing it in stages, he made it from WA to Key West. Something I can only dream of! This book may not inspire someone to ride, but it will spell out the pain and stamina needed to do a ride like this solo!

[Jeff Rosendahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than some of the touring books I've read, not as good as others. This author spends too much time complaining about stuff and not enough time reconstructing conversations. His special device is to build on emails he sent back to friends during the ride. So each chapter begins with the email giving an overview of his day, then he fleshes it out more in text following the email. That makes it a little confusing to read---hearing the whole story of the day beginning to end, then hearing it again beginning to end. Also a lot of self-doubt here, not as outgoing and positive as other touring books I've read.