School & Community News

A Long Ride

Larry Best, age 81, class of '61, retired from teaching in 2006. I graduated from Kent State with an M.S. in Earth Science & taught middle & high school for many years. I currently live in Avon, Ohio.

Cycling has been a large part since shortly after graduating from JMH. I was an avid bicyclist for 60 years, and raced in the mid 60s to the early 80s. I rode my bicycle from coast to coast in 2012. It was a trip of a lifetime.Started in San Diego & finished in Bethany Beach, Delaware in June, 2012. This trip was a long time dream of mine. I started by dipping my rear wheel in the Pacific at San Diego and finished by dipping my front wheel in the Atlantic in Bethany Beach. The trip included cycling through the Mojave Desert, Death Valley, through Utah and Nevada, then across the Rockies. The highest point in the trip was Monarch Pass at 13,112' above sea level. Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, W.Va., Va., D.C., and Delaware completed the states I rode through.
It was a long, difficult trip, but definitely worth it. The scenery was breathtaking. Seeing the U.S. by bicycle gave me a completely different and unique experience of our country that very few will ever experience.
Some trip facts:
I had several flat tires
no mechanical breakdowns
was chased by 1 dog
hardest part of the trip was Utah
easiest part was Delaware
favorite states were Utah and Colorado (tie)
favorite city was Jefferson City, Mo.
least favorite city was Denver
hardest one day ride was from Athens, Oh to Elkins, W. Va. It was 97 miles in 98 F temp. and hilly.
the 3881 mile trip took 36 days.
I was glad to get home.