One Amazing Tire Dip!

August 28, 2015

On Wednesday, August 19, Zeke Gerwein dipped his front tire in the Pacific. He had pedaled over 4,300 miles and raised over $4,000 for the Sierra Club. Thousands of cyclists have accomplished this crossing, but few at such an early age.

At fourteen, Zeke has already completed three major bicycle journeys—pedaling from San Diego to Seattle via the Pacific Coast route when he was twelve—from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada via the Sierra Cascades route when he was thirteen—and now, a cross country adventure from Delaware to San Francisco.

Because Zeke is underage, he had an adult cycling with him throughout his journey. Margaret, Lindsey, his grandfather, and his dad all cycled portions of the cross country journey with him. I cycled the last segment from Zion National Park to the Pacific. 

Family, friends, and supporters gathered at Rodeo Beach to celebrate Zeke's tire dip. I presented Zeke with a card from the Adventure Cycling Association, congratulating him on his accomplishments, and gifting him a membership good until he is twenty-one.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to get to know and spend time with this extraordinary young man.

The day after our final ride, I lounged by the pool with family in Sacramento, CA ... while Zeke left to climb Mt. Whitney with his grandfather.

Want to know more about Zeke? Here are two articles I wrote about him for Adventure Cyclist magazine.
Part 1: A Strange Request (pdf)
Part 2: Extraordinary (pdf)
 

Photos by Kat Marriner

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS is posted every other Friday.

Willie Weir is a contributor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His books, Travels with Willie and Spokesongs, will inspire you to hit the road and might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can also find him at WillieWeir.com, Facebook, and Instagram.