The Recumbent and the Upright: A Bicycle Adventure by Two Retired and Unfit Cycle Enthusiasts, That Grew into a Ride Across the Continent

by Sheryl Van Fleet

This story has two of the most unlikely characters you could ever think of in the same breath with the words bicycle adventure. The Van Fleets had really no experience at all as cyclists, when they hatched a quixotic scheme to cross the continent of America by bicycle. To make matters worse they were retirement bound and had collectively picked up the troublesome add-ons of injured backs and knees, high blood pressure and gout, and were overweight and under-exercised to boot! But sequences got the better of they discovered recumbent bikes (allowing Sheryl to ride), stumbled upon riding Bike New York (which hooked them on cycling), and then somehow managed to ride across the state of Oregon (which conned them into thinking they might survive trying to cross the entire country).

They never once were convinced they would complete the journey, which adds to the Everyman s Adventure quality of this tale The Recumbent and the Upright.

216 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2008

Reviews

[Robert Haight · Rating 4 out of 5]

An very enjoyable recouting of a 'A Bicycle Adventure by Two Retired and Unfit Cycle Enthusiasts, That Grew into a Ride Across The Continent".

Sheryl and her husband undertake a cycling adventures from New York City to the border of Oregon. A light fast read, with whit and a very human touch. Sheryl stikes a nice balance of road stories that make the journey real with bogging it down day to day details.