Frequently Asked Questions

Why? 

Why not!  I think anyone who has ridden a bicycle has wondered how far it could take him/her. Back when I was younger, a friend of mine named David Hundley and I would go everywhere on our bikes. Then we turned 16 and started driving. When I rediscovered cycling a few years ago, my goals were all oriented toward distance, not speed. I have no desire to race, but I have done a century (100-mile rides) and several 40+ mile rides. With a series of short rides in 2003-04,  riding across the country just seemed like a logical extension of my previous goals. My primary goals for this ride is to take back my health, reconnect with my creator, and make some great new friends.

I want to share the awareness that I have found about living a healthy lifestyle. I'm just a normal guy that realized I could not continue to live the way I was living. I want to enjoy everyday of my life. This last health scare really has added fuel to my rediscovered desire to get healthy. While this in itself fits Earl Nightingale's definition of success "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.", I wanted to make this about more than me.

It's funny how when your waiting to have a surgical procedure done you have all types of revelations of what is really important in life. That is why I chose to make this a fundraiser for a stellar charity like The High Sierra Foundation's.  Help bring hope to those that bring so much hope and inspiration through music. Please consider giving your generous support. Thank you.

I hear you have a dog along with you. What kind of dog?

Yes, I do Her name is Brandy and she is a chocolate Lab. She is a working dog and trained to find mold. Brandy was rescued from a regional humane society and trained for mold detection by one of the world's foremost authorities, Bill Whitstine. We strongly support the rescue of animals from shelters.

How can I help?

Well, tell everyone you know about this site. Go to the Donate page and see the various options to give. Your prayers and good thoughts are much appreciated as well. Also, if you like to ride, come and ride a spell!

How much training will you do for a ride like this?

Actually, I started riding again at the end of January 2006. Now I won't do any real extended trips before I leave Savannah.  I will ride shorter distances ( 50 miles)  for the first week or two and build up from there.

Will you ride alone?

Going solo will give me much more freedom.  I'll be able to stop and hopefully speak to groups about the benefits of changing to a healthy lifestyle. Also, I want to be able to share my story and to raise awareness of the continued need for support for the musicians displaced by Katrina  and  how the High Sierra Foundation is helping those in need.

There may be disadvantages, too, but there was never any question in my mind about whether to go alone or with a group.

Why are you riding  from east to west?

I had several reasons for my riding direction. First, it seemed natural in a country that was explored and developed from the east coast to the west. Second, since my longest sustained trip to date has been 118 miles, it makes sense to build up my strength on the flatter terrain of the Southeast rather than on the mountains of the west. And finally, the more densely populated Southeast was a good place to develop the skills and confidence that I would need when I reached the west and had to travel much longer distances between towns.

How much do you weigh now and how much do you plan to discard along the way?

Well, it's not called PhatBoy riding because I'm thin right now. However, you might be surprised the endurance a fat boy can have. This is about my journey from fat to phat. In November 2005, I was 306 lbs. When I jumped on the bike for spinning class at the end of January 2006. I was down to 280. By May 2006, I was 257 lbs.  During the summer months, I shot back up to just shy of 300 which was where I was at when I started the ride.

I want to discard 40-60 lbs. of unwanted fat and pick-up 4-8 lbs. of lean muscle on my trip out west.

Can I join you for part of the trip?

Absolutely, if it's for a couple of hours for a couple days. It would be fun to have the company.

Where will you sleep?

Originally, I planned to carry a tent and a sleeping bag, but with having Brandy along it will be better to stay in motels or homes.  The only time I plan to camp is if I have to, I will plan my route so I won't. That may mean some days will be shorter or longer than I might  like, but I am willing to make that trade-off to have Brandy along. While camping would have been much cheaper, I  never underestimate the value of a hot shower and a warm or cool place to sleep after a long day of riding. Plus I have to take care of my forever friend.

What will you carry on the bike?

I will start out with  a 60-65 pounds chocolate Lab named Brandy being pulled in a bike trailer plus the weight of the trailer. I will have spare parts, clothes, computer, my favorite healthy beverage , Brandy snacks, her favorite toys ( AFLAC Duck and a Frisbee) , a tent and sleeping gear should we not be able to find a motel.

How will you basically get away from your life for two-three months?

Since I own my own business, I don't have to worry about missing work. However the bills will continue to come so I need to make sure that those are covered.

How much will it cost? 

 The choice has been made not to have  a full-time SAG vehicle. There may be a few sections that we have a volunteer sag but that's up to the bike angel. This has dramatically  dropped the cost of the trip plus not having to worry about somebody else's schedule and let the trip unfold as it will. Plus it's a lot more earth friendly.

Since most of those items will last for many years, and I plan to do many trips in the future I felt this the most prudent way to go rather than buying cheap stuff and having to replace most of it on every trip.  And seeing I will feel every single mile I want to have the right stuff. My biggest daily expense will be lodging, choosing budget motels (not dives, but Motel 6 and the like) may keep this reasonable, probably averaging $55 a night including tax. Food expenses may be $17-20 a day, including bottled water, snacks, and one or two " real" meals. There will be a few hundred dollars more in incidental expenses like souvenirs, books, postage, and laundry.  I will use a debit card for almost everything  so I rarely will have to use cash. (Just say no to credit cards, get out of debt, check out my buddy Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University Program.)

Is it safe to ride across the country alone?

What is " safe?" Staying home? There are plenty of hazards around the house. Any activity has some risk associated with it, and I don't feel that cyclo-touring has any more inherent risk than most other activities. Many people perceive something as dangerous simply because they've never done it. Sure, something could happen. I could crash or get run over, I could get attacked by a person or animal, whatever. Any number of things could happen to me riding the subway, so does that mean I shouldn't go to work? Cycling across this auto-centric nation is not without risks, but the rewards are great as well. As Ernest Hemingway put it,

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.

Or as Townes Van Zandt wrote, " You cannot count the miles until you feel them." On a bicycle, you'll feel them!

What advice do you have for those who would follow?

Ultimately, I guess my advice would be this: if you're thinking about it, do it. Don't wait around for " someday."  Get your butt out here and join me!!!!

Will you do it again?

That's the plan. Ask me that in a few months. China is definitely a possibility.

More questions? Send me an email at:  bob at phatboyriding dot com