All 50 states and more than 15,000 miles — by bicycle.
That was David Miller’s way of celebrating his 50th birthday. He calls his endeavor “Bike 50 at 50,” an epic bicycle ride that lasted one year and two weeks.
And the best part — he finished the long, grueling journey right here on the island of Kaua‘i on Thursday.
It is safe to say Miller is the Forrest Gump of bicycle riding.
“It has been pretty extraordinary,” Miller said of his adventure, which took him across the Lower 48 three times, as well as to Alaska by ferry and Hawai‘i by plane.
While other people have ridden a bicycle in all 50 states in sections, over longer periods of time, Miller said he has not heard of anyone else doing all 50 states “in a row, basically without stopping.”
“I think I may be the only one,” he said.
His original birthday idea was to participate in 50 triathlons in 50 weeks, but logistically the plan was not possible. That’s when Miller says he had an “epiphany,” realizing that the U.S. had a perfect 50 states to go with his 50-themed adventure plan, and that biking all 50 was feasible, giving him approximately one week per state.
And so, on Oct. 31, 2011, one day after his birthday, Miller began his ride in San Diego. His first trip across the country took him from San Diego to Sarasota, Fla. Then he headed north through North Carolina and back across the country to Los Angeles. From there he pushed north along the California coast to Seattle and boarded a ferry to Alaska, where he rode more than 200 miles from Homer to Anchorage. Then it was a “roller coaster” ride, as he calls it, from Seattle all the way to the East Coast and north to Maine.
“I had planned on doing four crossings of the United States,” he said. “(Ultimately) the third and fourth crossings were combined into one.”
He completed the journey with rides on both O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.
When asked about his favorite places along the way, Miller said “Alaska in general” and “the California coast, particularly the Big Sur Highway.”
“Those were probably my two most favorite places until I got to Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i is just amazing.”
On Nov. 13, Miller finished the trek with one final ride from a beach in Waimea to Kalalau Lookout and back, 38 miles round trip.
“It’s extraordinary here, so beautiful,” he said. “I rode all the way to the top and watched the tourists looking at me like I was a crazy person.”
For 46 of the 50 states, Miller had his dog Max, a 6-year-old Weimaraner, at his side. Each day, Max would climb into his dog trailer for the 60 to 80 miles Miller pedaled each day.
The only states Max didn’t ride along were Virginia and West Virginia, which Miller rode shortly after Hurricane Sandy, as well as Alaska and Hawai‘i.
“He was a real trooper,” Miller said. “But dogs are creatures of habit, and I took away most of his habit.
Regardless, Miller said Max enjoyed being on the road and looking at the scenery as much as he did.
One of the primary objectives of “Bike 50 at 50” has been to raise funds for different charities, including The American Heart Association and The Cancer Research Institute, each having its own personal connection to Miller.
Miller’s father, Robert, was diagnosed with a coronary insufficiency at age 33 and has lived with a heart condition for more than 40 years. His mother, Sharon, successfully fought through two bouts of cancer.
“They’re both happy, healthy and active,” Miller said. “I thought I would do (the ride) for something … to highlight the fact that they are still with us.”
Miller’s journey was also about bringing awareness to the importance of good health and convincing people to get outside and exercise.
“In total we’ve raised $5,000 for the different charities,” Miller said, adding that it was not as much as he was hoping for.
Now that the trip is complete, he says he is pushing for more people to donate to these important charities and support his efforts.
With only a handful of minor equipment problems along the way, Miller said the journey was everything he had hoped it would be. It has also renewed his faith in humanity, he said.
“What I’ve been so amazed by on this trip is any potentially disastrous situation has been resolved with the most extraordinary intervention, by people I never would expect to help,” he said. “I could go on and on about different people, complete strangers, stepping up and offering me help and assistance.”
Although he has enjoyed his year-long adventure on the road — crashing on the couches of strangers, in cheap motels or in his tent — Miller said he feels good about it being over.
“It has been truly incredible. I have endless stories and experiences of amazing things, seeing extraordinary places.”
As for what he will do next, Miller said that is “the $100,000 question.”
“I really don’t know. I don’t have that decision made and I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do … We’ll see what happens.”
For nearly 20 years, Miller lived in Mexico City where he helped develop the country’s first full-service, multi-sport health and fitness clubs, according to his website. He sold his business in Mexico City prior to “Bike 50 at 50” and says he has decided not to return, other than to visit.
His only plan at the moment is flying back to the Mainland to spend Thanksgiving with his parents in Sarasota, Fla. He left Kaua‘i Thursday to fly back to O‘ahu.
“I still have to go back to work,” he laughed.
For more information about Miller’s “Bike 50 at 50” adventure or to donate to one of the charities visit www.bike50at50.com.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
