Amazing Senior Bicycle Rider
New Mexico Cyclist on 75 th Birthday Tour Heads Cross Country
During the first two weeks of an organized bicycle tour across the U.S., Herb Schon keeps pace with younger cyclists and his own hopes
Herb Schon, the senior bicycle rider from Santa Fe who opted to begin a group cross-country ride from San Francisco to New Hampshire to show the world that "senior" is a state of mind -- and often means "wiser, better, stronger" -- is doing just fine.
Reporting on his first week, Herb announced he was "bearing up well. Even leading an occasional pace line," and "upholding the New Mexico training with dignity and good spirits."
Herb is the oldest rider going the full distance on this organized tour conducted by America by Bicycle. Suite101.com Senior Travel chronicled his plans and his training in earlier articles.
"Unless someone older joins for a later segment, I will represent America's Old Farts," Herb declared. His highlights so far: first, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and cruising downhill through Sausalito. Then, a 30-mile bike trail out of Sacramento that was "a beauty."
Day five was one to remember, continued Herb. "A long climb out of Truckee up to the Donner summit ended in a descent during a raging snowstorm with trucks whizzing by that sprayed you like a waterfall. Faced two more snowfalls, one a biting small hail variety, before the summit of Donner Pass was reached. A freezing (38 degrees) descent was not for the faint of heart."
Other riders might be fazed by such extremes, but not Schon. The next day, in Nevada, included a 16-mile descent -- "a wild one with trucks and cars waiting to pass. Grandpa's long underwear wouldn't have been enough to keep warm on that screamer."
After that came flat roads with lots of miles on I-80.
Week two was a little tougher, It included were two centuries -- days of 108-mile and 118-mile rides, as well as "lousy knee pain," and searing heat, with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees.
As the group headed through Nevada and Utah, Herb made "four ill-spent" forays into Nevada casinos, "ending in a net loss of $18.25. Ka-ching, ka-ching...not!"
With "endless miles" on an interstate toward Salt Lake City, Herb experienced his "first bonk," cyclists' term for running out of steam. But after 65 miles, "a giant coffee at a McD's saved the day. Caffeine is the man!"
There was a rest day in Salt Lake. Afterward, "the scenery changed from desert to clean and green." He enjoyed the campus of Brigham Young University. "I thought of becoming a Mormon and registering for the fall."
In Provo, Utah, Herb gulped down two giant thick shakes and then four huge Dr. Peppers, feeling as though he might have suffered "a little heat stroke." His conclusion: "hundred-degree heat is for the hot tub, not the roadway."
Senior Travel will bring Suite101 readers more of Herb Schon's epic odyssey soon.
