Old Man on a Bicycle: A Ride Across America and How to Realize a More Enjoyable Old Age

by Don Petterson

The Adventure of A Solo Cross-America Bicycle Ride—
With Advice on How To Soften The Physical Realities of Aging

When Don Petterson, a former American ambassador, told family and friends he intended to ride a bicycle from New Hampshire to San Francisco, most of them questioned his judgment, if not his sanity. He was in his seventies, hadn’t been on a bike for years, and had never ridden more than a few miles at a time. But, in May 2002, putting doubters—and self-doubt—behind him, Petterson headed west. Laboring against strong headwinds, struggling up steep hills, or coping with extreme weather, he sometimes wondered what in the world he was doing. But he kept going—the lure of riding his bike across the Golden Gate a compelling incentive.

Ahead of him lay many challenges—among them, riding his loaded bike over the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, crossing the Great Plains in brutal summer heat, dealing with the aftermath of a collision with a car, and traversing Nevada’s basin and range country and the Great Salt Lake’s desert. His rewards included passing through spectacular mountain forests, experiencing the aching beauty of the lonely plains, and viewing the grandeur of the West’s sculpted canyons and mesas.
In Old Man on a Bicycle, the author relates how he prepared for the 3,600-mile journey and what he saw and did during the two months he was on the road. In addition he rebuts the misconception that aging invariably means debilitating decline and, drawing on certain events of his ride, offers research-based advice on how to ease the physical aspects of aging. It’s an inspirational account, emphasizing the importance of exercise to physical and mental well-being.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cycling, Sports, Travel, Biography

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2014

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

You would think this book would be right up my alley, being an old man who likes to cycle and has pedaled many hundreds of miles bike touring. The author's writing style is reasonably professional. People, especially older people, will find it interesting if they haven't done the same kind of feat, i.e., long-distance, multi-day cycling. It sets a sort of life goal for them. Do something you didn't think you could do. Not something you didn't think you could do as a senior citizen, but something you never thought you could do. Period. And the author does indeed ride his way across America. Solo. However, he does it with a brain function that repeatedly lets him lose his way, leave valuables behind, pack defective equipment, fail to replace it, forget how to do basic bike maintenance or use essential equipment he had along, talk endlessly about the wind speed (despite knowing from the outset that he was traveling against prevailing winds), and lecture on nutrition while ignoring much of what is known about it. His approach to reporting his trip was also flawed. Writing the book about twelve years after the feat, he would publish daily entries from his trip journal and then comment further. Sometimes he would do what you would want: add facts left out of the journal or clarify the situations listed. Other times, he would simply restate what you had just read in the journal for no advantage. This was also where he would do his "lectures" without citing sources for his wisdom and frequently omitting key facts. Ultimately, these daily reports became more and more repetitive. Drink coffee in the morning. Drink milk shakes at lunch. Drink beer at night. Rinse with Gatorade and repeat. Nevertheless, he complained frequently of cramps from dehydration. I don't recall him ever mentioning proteins as a necessary part of nutrition, just carbs, nor do I recall him ever eating any vegetables. Ah, those authoritative lectures on nutrition. Clearly, it was very important for the author to show how vibrant he was physically "for an old man". He repeated it often enough. Good for him for being physically healthy, but he can -- and should -- ride alone, as long as he likes.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of riding a bike across the country...not that I would ever do it. Don Petterson was in his early 70's and made the ride in 65 days. The book is made up of his journal entries interspersed with different topics related to his entries. The ride was interesting in seeing his day to day challenges. His insights were a little tedious at times but good enough. I think the thing that turned me off most about this story is that he didn't consistently wear a bike helmet...what!! He implied that he only used it when he rode down steep hills...huh? I just think that is a little crazy. He also did this ride by stopping at restaurants and sleeping in motels on the way. I like that idea. Anyway, I would actually rate this book at 3.5 stars.

[roger caylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for any cyclists thinking of makingthe long trip

Being a long distance rider myself I found this a great read enjoying every moment .I found myself riding along side the author , sometimes ahead and other times drafting off him. If you're into reading about crossing a great country by bicycle, making plans , training then making up your mind to do it , then this Is a good reference to the journey.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

A somewhat pedestrian (to coin a phrase) recitation of a trans continental bike ride. The unique part is the age of the writer and the health commentary inserted in appropriate spots in the adventure. By and large, the health comments are spot on and pertinent to this activity.

[Tom Bilcze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began cycling later in life. I found bicycle touring end love it. I have yet to venture on such an adventurous ride across the United States. I dream of a cross country tour. At age 65 I question if I can do it. This book gave the insight that I need to overcome my mental limitations. I found the insight shared along with journal entries to be most valuable. This is a good read for cyclists in or approaching their senior years to understand that many things are possible when you apply yourself.

[Janette Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title states this book is about a 70+ year old man making a trip across the US on a bicycle. His style is readable and not only is only half the book his journey, but interspersed with health stats, pointers, and reasons to get out and MOVE! Great book for those who need motivation at any age!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Petterson, a former American ambassador, told family and friends he intended to ride a bicycle from New Hampshire to San Francisco, most of them questioned his judgment, if not his sanity. He was in his seventies, hadn't been on a bike for years, and had never ridden more than a few miles at a time. That took courage. This was, no doubt, an awesome feat, and some of it was interesting, but the daily log and then summation became boring after a while. It was sort of a bike a while, find a motel, have a beer and some food, go to bed, and repeat the next day. Peterson took his ride across American at age 72 and then wrote the book 12 years later, using his journal of the ride as the focal point of his writing. Published in 2014, from his journal he kept. It was mostly on the terrain and the towns along the ride and more introspective analysis of how Peterson's mind and body hold up during the ride.

Things have changed since he took this endeavor. More safer bike trails have been developed that cross America. One I have taken called the Great America Rail-Trail extends from Washington, D.C to Olympia Washington. https://www.railstotrails.org/ It's an old railroad bike trail that will get you safely to your destination if you are riding any distance. Long before bike GPS systems, Petterson relied on maps, county roads, and word of mouth to get to his destination. I must say I applaud him for his monumental feat. I found his lack of knowledge about even basic repairs dumfounding, and the fact that he didn’t wear a helmet for the majority of the trip until he got hit by a car, inexcusable.

Yet, the reality was that this man rode across America at age 72 and then wrote a very readable book about that experience at age 84. The ride and book are testimonials that life is not over at retirement and that getting old need not be an impediment to living a gracious and meaningful life. How many people out there can attest to that.

[Mary Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am probably a bit unique a reader of this book as my husband and I have ridden our bicycles across the country in 2014. We considered writing a book but thought it would be boring to anyone other than ourselves. This book proves we were correct. Riding across the country can be distilled into three things: riding, eating, and sleeping. It’s pretty boring to most people. The author further regales us with road conditions, wind, rain, food, motels...boring! Of course, riding across the country is a tremendous feat and at 71 years old could be inspirational. This doesn’t really come across in the book except as preachy: people are fat, people smoke, people don’t eat right, people don’t exercise...not like the author, so we read throughout the book. Certainly a cross country rider is in a rarified category of people and I applaud anyone who does it. It just makes for a boring book.

I might add that I think the author displays some dangerous cycling habits. First and foremost, cyclists should ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. The author admitted he wears a helmet sporadically and was not wearing one at the time he was struck by a car. He was lucky he didn’t strike the side of his head. Secondly, the author reports that he often started his ride early in the AM before sunrise...in the dark. He did not have rear lights on his bike and had a taped on flashlight on his handlebars. The most dangerous times to ride in traffic are sunrise and sunset. Motorists are blinded by the rising or setting sun through their dirty windshields. We’ve all experienced that sun blindness. Waiting until the sun is high enough above the horizon to start your ride and finishing well before sunset will help keep you safe.

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good book for someone who is approaching retirement and wants to avoid going to seed in retirement.

The author – Don Pettterson – decided to ride his bike from the east coast to the west coast. This trip would have been far less strenuous if he had lived on the west coast and ridden to the west coast, given the prevailing westerly winds. This story reminded me of my former son in law, Eric Goodwin who walked from the east coast to the west coast when he was in his 50’s and retired. The author of the book was in his 70’s. He had not been on a bike for a number of years, and even then the rides were short. In short, he was not in shape and while he worked on getting ready, he still ws not really ready for the grueling challenge ahead of him.

The ride was a series of individual and yes, combinations of strong head winds, steep hills and both cold and hot weather extremes. But he was literally driven to meet all the challenges.

He rode over;
The Rocky Mountains
Sierra Nevadas
Great Plains (in the summer heat)
Was hit by a car
The Nevada’s basin
The Great Salt Lake’s desert.

But he was rewarded by spectacular mountain views, the open and lonely plains and all the west has to offer in mesas and canyons and brilliant stars at night.

The ride took two months and covered 3,600 miles.

I was impressed with his detailed journal and of the entire experience. Actually intimidated.

He did send a message that old age (whatever that is!) does not have to mean physically decline. Or at least you can draw it out and enjoy a lot more years of active physical activities.

It reminded me why I am so focused at age 85 - on doing my work at the gym and walk a lot during the way with my dog, Daisy.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind-blowing Inspiration

I used to ride 20-30 miles a day when I was younger. Then I went to law school, became a lawyer, and sat all day.

In May 2020, finally bored of mostly staying home, and doing court hearings by Zoom, I broke out the bike (a Trek Bontrager hybrid), and started riding again.

Reminded how much I loved it, and with new tools like Polar heart monitors, and Strava, I have really gotten into it again. (From 7/1 to 7/26, I pedaled 604 miles.) I will very soon be 62.

So what a joy and inspiration it was to find this book. I don’t often talk to myself, but I kept finding myself turning pages, and saying, out loud, “Wow!” or “Whoa!” or “Holy Cow!”

The method of journal entries interspersed with health information on aging, as well as background on some of the places visited, really held my interest. I only regret there wasn’t a little more technical information on the equipment, routes, etc.

Ultimately, this really is an inspiring feel-good book about one older man’s amazing bicycling challenge, crossing the U.S. alone.

I may never be able to afford the time (two months!) off to do that challenge, but this book has inspired me to look for shorter trips—days, or a week—that I could do right here in California.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in distance cycling.

[Nick DiNisio · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason this book just “clicked” with me. And I’m not sure why. It’s a vanilla daily recitation of a typical east to west bicycle crossing of America. What sets it apart from others who have chronicled their road stories, is that this traveler is 73 when he saddles up and heads west. While sharing his daily journal he injects many medical facts dispelling the myth of “being too old” to take on such an endeavor. You will find yourself rooting for him!
Two weeks from reaching his destination (the Golden Gate Bridge) he’s hit by a car. How he handles the actual event, recovery and decision to finish the ride is easy to read, but hard to fully know without sitting in the same “saddle”. And there was my takeaway from this book - I will contemplate what I can do to prepare in the unlikely event that something similar occurs during my own crossing.

[Jeff Rosendahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

For someone who claims to be writing a book about how aging isn't necessarily a roadblock to doing physical things, he doesn't take his own advice well. He even begins a chapter with a quote about how failure to prepare can result in failure, then tells us how he really hasn't prepared for this journey. The account of the journey itself is little more than "left at 5.30 after eating a banana, had pancakes at 9, ended the day at 1 when I found a hotel and had a beer." He tries to flesh it out preaching about cognitive and physical issues that affect us as we get older. Unfortunately, there's precious little about his interactions with other people on the ride or his thoughts while biking, even after he gets hit by a car. There are lots of more interesting touring books out there.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book a while ago and thought it would be an interesting read, it was and quick too. Not terribly exciting and slow moving but what would you expect of a cross country bicycle ride. I didn't realize when I started the reading that he was in his 70's when he did the ride, and he did it the hard way from east to west. I was also surprised at some of his apparent lack of cycling knowledge that becomes apparent as the story progresses. But he did it, survives being hit by a car injured and comes back to finish what he planned.
Like someone else said "never to old to start a new adventure".

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed reaction to this book. While I enjoyed the author's reflections on health, family, etc., I found the blow-by-blow account of each daily ride (every hill, every wind, every restaurant) to get quite tedious. I do admire the tenacity of Mr Petterson and learned that if I ever decide to ride my bike cross country (highly doubtful), it sure won't be from east to west given the headwinds he encountered. I am also not sure why he chose to ride on such busy highways, but then he may not have had many options. Quick read.

[Larry Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't do it for me. Essentially, a rehash of journal entries supplemented with filler. I didn't understand the necessity to go into so much medical ailment detail, especially when source material wasn't cited. That he took action to cycle across America, the author gets props. And to have been struck by a vehicle to only return to the scene of the accident months later to finish this incredible feat, I offer my hat off to this older gentleman.

[Marc Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good inspiration

Good read to inspire us old farts for one last fling before the the big nap. A bit long winded on the old people health issues but over all a good read. Coming up on my 64th birthday and am planning on a 4 month trip to Ireland to bike the Wild Atlantic Way in about a year and half when I retire. (Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!😂 ) The author has as the Duke would say- Grit!

[William Norrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began bikepacking and long-distance running some had their doubts about my motives and abilities so much so that I began to doubt myself. Reading this book has reinvigorated me and convinced me I was not just going through a mid-life crisis. This book has really motivated me to keep moving. I also loved all the facts about how our bodies change as we age. I highly recommend this book to anyone who questions their abilities as they age.

[Jeffrey B Frey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Lecture From the Old Guy

I did not enjoy this book as much as other writer's accounts of their transcontinental bicycle rides. There were places that I felt I was being lectured to by an old man about a better way of living. The other places being about the ride kept me reading to completion.

[J M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronicles of a 72 year old bicyclist

Don Peterson set out on a cross country solo bicycle ride from New Hampshire to The Golden Gate Bridge in 2002. He journals along the way interjecting facts about health, aging and history. This is a great adventure read and a motivator for “mature” readers to exercise. 5 stars.

[Thomas B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oddly compelling

This is an annotated daily journal, with the journal encompassing 2/3 of the writing. But this format does a good job of conveying what a cross-country trip is actually like. The annotations add enough info to make the book useful if you are vaguely contemplating such an adventure.

[Charles T. Kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tale

No glorification - just a good solid account of the trials and tribulations encountered when completing a long distance self support cycle journey. I liked the side bar discussions on everything from history of various towns and landmarks to the heath and physical challenges experienced when attempting a trip such as this on you seventies. An enjoyable read.

[Ron Benoit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

Recently becoming a cyclist myself, this book has given me some incentives to set my own cycling goals. Also a "New Hampshirite," I'm looking forward to exploring New England on my bike.

[Mike McGinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational!

Great travelogue from a long distance biker. As much about rejecting advancing age as biking. The book chronicles a cross-country ride accomplished by the author when he was in his 70’s. Inspires this 58yo to push the envelope on his bike!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great encouragement

As one of the older set, this book is great encouragement to just get out there and ride. It's filled with his personal diary of this cross country trip but also words of wisdom to those of us that are older.

[paul Miller]

Inspiring and so informativr

Like so many who dream to cross the country on a bicycle, for me it remained a dream. To read the adventure from the perspective of a 72 year young man was purely delightful.

[Patricia Lazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great travel by bike read

I enjoyed the simple conversation , description of the landscape and associate health details
Plus the humble description of an old man on a challenging transcontintal crossing as a cyclist.

[thomas b kilbane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adventure story easy read.Anyone who rides a bike will.enjoy this book.

It also shows the importance of taking care of yourself .Life can be lived to the fullest at any age

[Angie Brisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fierce adventurer

This is a great read-along on this man's trials and victories over 3000+ miles of bike journey. Enjoyed it immensely.

[michael englehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth your time


An interesting journey across the United States with a man on a mission. The author does a great job recounting his journey.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational read about an older gentleman going on the ride of his life and the things he learned along the way.