I Ride Better Than I Walk

I Ride Better Than I Walk

Ain’t it the truth. My name is Jeffrey and I have Charcot Marie Tooth type 1A. An inherited neurological disorder that attacks the myelin around my nerves and causes atrophy in my legs and arms. This means that my calves and legs, my wrists and forearms, are skinny well beyond any celebrity diet. My feet are locked forward in place and my hands are losing dexterity a little more every day. In 2018 my attachment to gainful employment was over and the struggle was official. My disability has forced its way into my reality beyond any more denial. Bummer. Yeah, I know.

But you know what? I can ride a bicycle with more stamina than even I could have ever imagined. And I’ve done it. In 2022 I rode my bicycle from Dayton, Ohio all the way to Niagara Falls and then turned around and rode home. 19 days, 933 miles. In 2023 I rode from my front door up into Chicago before turning SW and riding to St Louis before turning back E and riding through Indianapolis and then riding all the way home to that same front door. 30 days, 1113 miles. Ooof. I mostly camp along the way and ride about 50 miles per day at a pace of 9 or 10 mph.

Why? I’ve lost a lot of my ability to move but not my dedication to keep moving. I can’t run, so what. I can’t hike up a mountain, oh well. I can do other things and I want to do them. I can ride my bike, loaded with my gear. I can push it up hills when my skinny little legs give out against a climb. I can rest, I can push on. I can spread awareness about my disability – my community, and my hopes. I can write about my challenges and my successes. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.

In March of 2024 I’m going to ride my bike across the USA and document my journey. I intend to rent a car and drive to San Diego with my 1994 Trek 520, named Fanchon. From the Pacific Ocean I will set out on a cross country adventure by bicycle that will eventually lead me to St Augustine, Florida and the Atlantic coast. 3080 miles before adding in my rambling nature and ability to get lost. Let’s call it 3500. I’m budgeting myself at about $1 per mile and 75 days to pedal across this beautiful country.

This money will allow me to budget for meals, bicycle repair, campgrounds and a once a week stay in a cheap hotel or hostel for a rest day. And also, ice cream. I will be following the Adventure Cycling Association’s Southern Tier route. I’ll be posting daily on social media and detailing the ups, downs, in-betweens, and chaos of my disabled cycling life. I hope that you will follow along, I hope that you can donate to help me make this happen, I hope that I can make it if you do. I think I can.

My Journal from 2023 - The Midwest Triangle