Andy's Trans Am Bike Race 2021

I am Andy and this is Ernie, my bike, and WE DID IT! We registered for the 2021 Trans Am Bike Race , and are planning and training to ride 4,181 miles from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia, starting June 6, 2021. The route , established in 1973,  goes through 10 states and will take 3 months to complete, averaging 50 miles per day. (Shockingly, some racers do 200 miles a day and cross the United States in less than 20 days!) This is a self-supported and self-paced event, and for me, finishing is winning!

This journey will take me biking down the Pacific Coast, turning east and pushing over the Cascade mountains, going through Missoula, Montana, touring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, cresting the continental divide at the Rocky Mountain's Hoosier Pass, pedaling the Great Plains, crossing the Mississippi River, climbing the Appalachian Mountains, and coasting through Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway to my destination on the Chesapeake Bay.

Besides the obvious reasons, the prospect of this ride is particularly daunting, as I am new to bike touring, although I've been training and bike camping for the past couple years. Complicating matters, I have a life-long struggle with allergies and asthma, and have been addressing this with Eastern and Western medicine.  And after working for the past 44 years, being a devoted husband for 30 years, and raising three awesome, incomparable daughters up to their adult ages, at age 57 and with my health conditions, now is the time for this adventure!

My funding goal is $20,905, which is $5 per mile. Funds will used towards the recent purchase of Ernie, my new Surly touring bicycle, as well as other required (or strongly suggested) items. These include high-visibility/reflective gear, front and rear lights, rain gear, a GPS navigation device, a GPS tracking device, bike tools and gear, personal tour expenses, and shipping Ernie and myself back to California upon completion.  All funds will be deposited into and withdrawn from an account created specifically for this purpose and excess funds will be donated to the Seva Foundation, which provides eye care to under-served people around the world. If the trip does not happen this year, my registration applies to next year. If the trip never happens, all unused funds will be donated to Seva Foundation .

This will be the greatest physical, and possibly the greatest mental, spiritual, and psychological challenge of my lifetime, and I am completely committed to the challenge. If you choose, you will be able to follow my progress on Trackleaders.com. 

Please donate what you can, as any amount helps. If you cannot contribute financially, please share this with your social circle. Any support is GREATLY appreciated.

Tailwinds,
Andy

PS Please see recently-posted Benefit Gala poster below. Click here to RSVP.




My new travel blog, Ernies Journeys  (Ernie the bike, of course) is up and running. Click on the hyperlink to see the blog. Subscribe to follow as we train for and participate in the Trans Am Bike Race.