Bicyclists riding through 49 states make stop in Ozark

OZARK — They’re modern-day explorers, using bicycles to visit every region of the continental United States over a 14-month period.

They ride for the sheer joy of it, and hope that others will follow their lead.

The four members of bike49 departed northern California last May. They recently passed the 10,000-mile mark on a journey to visit every state in the nation except Hawaii.
Why do they bike? They say it’s to promote a way of getting around that benefits both people and the world.

“Our goal is to create a mobile community promoting healthy lifestyles for a healthy planet, as well as showcasing the practicality and fun of bicycle travel,” according to their website, www.bike49.org.

The riders — Sara Dykman, Tommy Viducich, Aaron Viducich and Matt Schiff — aren’t professional cyclists. They took two years planning their cross-country trek, and have discovered a side of America most people don’t know exists.

They have found kindness on the road, and recall only two or three instances where they ran into situations that left a bad impression. They were pulled over by a state trooper in Connecticut when they mistakenly got onto a road that didn’t allow non-motorized vehicles.

They get a feel for the people in the regions they pass through when they ask for directions. And they now know that many people are generous and willing to help.

The four spend most of their nights camping, usually on public lands, but other times they’ve been invited to stay on private land, or in people’s homes.

They’ve slept in a hay loft in upstate New York that had been converted into a basketball court. They’ve stayed with relatives in Washington, Minnesota, Michigan and here in Alabama.

Their schedule of trying to go at least 50 miles on the five or six days they ride each week has adjusted to conditions, which have included snow and rain. Sara said on the road, you have to “let go of any fear of where you’re going to be tomorrow.”

The group appreciates the diversity of wildlife and environments during the Southern leg of their trip. They’ve visited swampy areas, and seen manatees, alligators and sea turtles in Florida.

They speak to students in classrooms when they’re invited. The group will be addressing classes at D.A. Smith Middle School in Ozark this morning before they head southwest, eventually going past Mobile as they aim toward New Orleans, then move north on their way back toward where they started.

Aaron’s education is in wildlife biology. His brother, Tommy, holds a degree in building sciences. Sara is an amphibian biologist. Matt is pursuing a degree in soil science.

They carry gear and supplies with them. Their loaded bikes can weigh between 90 and 130 pounds, and that’s before you add the rider.

The intention behind their tour is to promote responsibility. Aaron said people “do have a choice to make, realizing the options that are out there.”

Sara said riding a bike isn’t the only solution to cutting man’s impact on the environment, but it is one of the solutions. By riding bikes, carpooling and consolidating trips, she said people become conscious of their choices.

“Cars have been touted as our key to freedom,” their website says. “Yet travel by car has costs and hassles we’ve come to accept. Cars speed up our surroundings, speed up our lives and leave us rushing around, transforming us into madmen behind the wheel.”

The tour touts the benefits of bicycling, from the health of the rider to cutting the pollution that can cause disease and threaten habitats.

The key, they say, to completing a tour of the nation is to not let speed dictate your pace. “Just go slow, stick with it,” Aaron said.