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NY man who cycled across America settles down in this city: ‘Smoother transition than I thought'
Fox News ^ | Sept. 3, 2022 | Ann W. Schmidt

Posted on 09/03/2022 10:56:13 AM PDT by libstripper

Bob Barnes, the man who cycled to all 50 U.S. state capitals in one year, is already planning his next journey.

Barnes, 52, of Syracuse, New York, rode his bicycle a total of 16,661 miles across the country in 359 days.

After following his journey, Fox News Digital spoke with Barnes this week, after he'd been back in Syracuse for about a month to see how he’s settled back into "normal" life.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bicycle; chat; crosscountry; megaride; newyorkman; nyman
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There are two terms to describe this guy: iron bottom and hard ass. I did the math and he averaged about 46 miles per day. Having done some long distance bicycle riding in the past, I can say that after a week of it at about 300 miles I almost needed a posterior replacement. More power to him, and I hope he makes his next ride. The incredible thing is that he doesn't look particularly underweight from his pictures. One thing I'd really like to know about his ride is how often he re-spoked his wheels. In my riding days I discovered that a bicycle wheel would last not much more than 1500 miles before it needed to be re-spoked.
1 posted on 09/03/2022 10:56:13 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: libstripper

“spoke” with Barnes. lol


2 posted on 09/03/2022 11:01:00 AM PDT by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
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To: libstripper

It would be difficult to ride to Juneau, but I really want to know how he rode to Honolulu.


3 posted on 09/03/2022 11:07:37 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

The Trans-Pacific bridge. Duh!


4 posted on 09/03/2022 11:11:42 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: libstripper

I had a roommate that bike across country. He left Wahington and headed to the South planning to enroll in college.

When he reached the Alabama coast he started asking about universities’

He was pointed to UF and pedaled to Gainesville.


5 posted on 09/03/2022 11:11:57 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

6 posted on 09/03/2022 11:13:49 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: Disambiguator

I thought that was part of the interstate highway system, and everyone knows you aren’t allowed to ride a bicycle on the interstate.


7 posted on 09/03/2022 11:19:58 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: TexasGator

Must have been something like that.

Re your post #5: When I worked on a Forest Service fire crew in the 80s, two of the guys cycled from Florida to central Oregon one year to get in shape for the season. I forget how long it took them, several weeks I think.


8 posted on 09/03/2022 11:24:09 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

He say on it in the jet cargo area. 🙂


9 posted on 09/03/2022 11:25:26 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/ny-man-cycling-50-states-reaches-alaska-hawaii-what-did-crazy


10 posted on 09/03/2022 11:26:17 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: TexasGator

he had to box up his bicycle? Should have just crammed it in the overhead bin above his seat.


11 posted on 09/03/2022 11:32:45 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

They put a special lane on it for adventurous types.


12 posted on 09/03/2022 11:35:55 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: libstripper

Forest Gump on a bike?


13 posted on 09/03/2022 11:36:57 AM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: libstripper

A properly built wheel (especially if hand-built, with the spokes carefully stressed) can last for thousands of miles if well maintained. The first things to go are usually the bearings rather than the spokes, then the rim if rim brakes are used. (The metal under the braking surfaces has become ridiculously thin in most modern wheels). But the increasing popularity of disc brakes makes this less of a problem.


14 posted on 09/03/2022 11:38:37 AM PDT by Winniesboy
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To: libstripper

our future

remember all those chinese on bikes?


15 posted on 09/03/2022 11:46:39 AM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
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To: libstripper

We have a friend in her 70s who does these types of rides. She’s gone across the country several times.


16 posted on 09/03/2022 11:50:03 AM PDT by Mercat
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

In 1976, as part of the Bi-Centennial Celebration, cyclists rode across America. Could go W-E or E-W on any course they wished as long as they started/ended either place & used west coast of Oregon & William & Mary College as anchor points.

Plane loads of DUTCH cyclists came over to participate. Others from all over the world.

You could ride all or part—just enjoy & have your support group. Check in points all along the way were monitored. Anytime during the summer months.

When the summer was over-—and all the riders who did the whole distance were verified:

A man from the San Fernando Valley—of Los Angeles—named Chris ______ had ridden from Oregon coast to William & Mary College in the shortest time. He carried custom designed saddlebags over his rear wheel. He was 65, of Scandanavian ancestors.

The other competitors called him “The Old Man With The Iron Legs”.

I knew him then-—lost track of him....When he died, it was discovered that he had a number of old barns/garages FULL of CLASSIC CARS-—and as best I heard-—no heirs.


17 posted on 09/03/2022 11:58:12 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Mercat
A family member Stanely Brodaric biked from Tierra Del Frego to Prudhoe Bay Alaska about 20 years ago. He took a side trip to Dawson and celebrated his 70 birthday.
18 posted on 09/03/2022 11:59:42 AM PDT by sharpee
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To: Winniesboy

I still have a Peugeot from 1974 with the original front wheel (rear was replaced around 1995 or so). No idea how many miles I put on it, but it has to be thousands, including some 40+ mph descents when I was a lot younger. I haven’t ridden it for years now, and it needs to be completely rebuilt/restored before I can ride it again, including two new wheels.


19 posted on 09/03/2022 12:02:48 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: HartleyMBaldwin
Juneau: You'd have to put your bike on a train.

Honolulu: Nothing less than a ship or a plane would do. Unless he hooked it up with one of those paddleboats.

20 posted on 09/03/2022 12:09:31 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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