Cyclists Take Breather After 2,842 Miles
Published: June 22. 2007 7:00AM
They rode into Erie with agile limbs and farmers' tans, eager to plunk their weary behinds on Avalon Hotel beds.The finish line isn't far. The tired travelers have been riding for 43 days and covered 2,842 miles. They have just eight days and 573 miles left on a journey that spans 15 states, four mountain ranges and more than 3,400 miles.
"For most of us, this is just fun," said Gil, a 64-year-old cyclist from Fairfax, Va.
[Pictured: Tony, 59 of Connecticut, has been riding with a group of cyclists for the past 5 weeks, starting in Los Angeles and making their way across the country. The group took a day of rest in Erie today. Tony spent part of the afternoon cleaning his bicycle to prepare for leaving in the morning to finish final leg of the trip which will end in Boston, MA. (Vivian Johnson / Erie Times-News) (It appears that Tony also shaved his head. Joy, how'd you feel about that? -Jean]
On Thursday, the 35 cross-country cyclists kicked off their cycling shoes and relaxed in the lobby of Avalon, 16 West 10th Street. It was the last of five scheduled rest days on their 50-day tour. Nearby stops included Presque Isle State Park and the Conneaut, Ohio, White Turkey Drive-In.
"The cab drivers here are really friendly, and there are so many cyclists here," Gil said.
When they stop next week, the cyclists on this year's CrossRoads cross-country cycling tour will dip the front wheels of their bikes into the Atlantic Ocean at Boston's Revere Beach.
Most will cry. Some will rip off their helmets and jump into the water. Some will think back to May 13, the day they christened their bikes in the Pacific Ocean and then set out to realize their dream.
"I have no desire for this to end," said Cheris, 39, a cyclist from Tampa, Fla. "They tell us to find a goal after it's done, because people can get depressed."
Like many bikers on the CrossRoads tour, years of triathlons got Cheris thinking about trying a cross-country cycling trip. She had always wanted to drive across the country, but cycling provided a glimpse of America that can't be seen from behind four wheels, she said.
For Cheris, the trip is a milestone in a midlife career change. Going back to graduate school allowed her to train and make the trip.
Most of her comrades, though, are retirees, people with the physical and financial condition to devote 50 days to a $8,500 quest. The cost covers hotel stays, catering and support services, including four full-time staffers and two vans that follow the cyclists.
"You ride with your new friends, you eat with your friends, and you hang out with your friends -- and you get very close when you all hurt together," Cheris said.
AMANDA PALLESCHI can be reached at 870-1855 or by e-mail.
BREAKOUT:
To follow the last leg of the cyclists' journey, go to www.erieblogs.com and view the links to cyclists' blogs in the "News and Events" section. Gil, who blogs at http://gilsbigtrip.blogspot.com/, is also documenting the trip via video camera.
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