Biking roughly 3,000 miles from the northern tip of Maine to the southern tip of Florida can be a powerful feat for anybody to perform. However what in the event you tried the path with only a few hundred miles of biking expertise beneath your belt? And what in the event you had lower than a month to finish the route?
Regina Yan, a newbie bikepacker based mostly in Washington, D.C., got down to just do that.
Yan’s endurance biking expertise main as much as her departure was minimal. She’d solely been biking for one 12 months earlier than deciding to tackle the problem. Her curiosity in biking blossomed throughout COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns when she started renting bikes from her native bikeshare program as a method to get open air and keep away from crowded trains. She fell in love immediately.
“I shortly found [because of biking] that I like feeling empowered,” says Yan. “I preferred with the ability to take myself locations that my two ft wouldn’t let me go and not using a automotive. Ultimately, I simply felt like I wanted to push myself to do one thing that I wasn’t certain I may do.”
So she settled on a objective: Full a “thru-biking” journey alongside the East Coast Greenway.
The 3,000-mile route, which hyperlinks collectively paved trails, dust and gravel paths, and sections of roadway, is the nation’s longest greenway. The ECG, as locals all alongside the Greenway name it, was established in 1991 and is at present practically 40% full. The continued greenway path challenge travels alongside a mixture of nation roads, metropolis streets, multi-use trails and paved bike paths, connecting 15 states and 450 communities from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida.
Most individuals entry brief segments of the path in and round their communities. Round 50 million bike rides, runs and walks happen yearly on the 1,000-plus miles of accomplished greenway path segments. Solely about 100 individuals have accomplished your complete route by bike, in addition to three walkers and a runner. Some end the route over many months or years—or in a single fell swoop, like Yan.
A difficult journey for even seasoned long-distance bikers, this trek shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart. One-third of the ECG route is car-free, whereas the opposite two-thirds share the roadway. Understanding bike alongside busy streets and gaining the boldness to take up house on the highway is a should.
“My expertise on the Greenway was a mixture of, ‘Wow, that is so lovely and I can’t imagine I get to expertise this glorious glimpse of various cultures and totally different communities of the U.S.,’” says Yan. “However then there have been additionally sections between cities like Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, the place you’re using 150-ish miles alongside fairly quick freeway on U.S. 17. Whereas it’s not a fundamental interstate freeway, vehicles are going 60 to 70 miles an hour when you’re using on a teeny-tiny shoulder. Some of us even skip that portion if they’re doing the entire experience as a result of it’s fairly harmful.”
One Month, Two Wheels, 3,000 Miles
Yan began biking severely in 2020. She realized to alter a flat tire and was bike-commuting 20 miles round-trip to work. In that 12 months previous to her ECG try, the longest experience Yan had accomplished was a solo weekend 200-mile experience to Shenandoah Nationwide Park on the Washington & Outdated Dominion Path, amongst others—an accomplishment by itself, to make certain, however nothing close to the bodily and psychological problem of a several-thousand-mile journey.
Now her objective was to bike your complete Greenway—and she or he solely had 30 days to finish the route earlier than needing to return to work. She was terrified, however optimistic. Biking on native trails and close by greenways had already led her to attach with herself on a deeper degree. It additionally led to her craving a extra intimate reference to nature and the neighborhood round her.
For Yan, the Greenway felt like a comparatively protected selection for a solo long-distance problem. The route would take her by main metro areas like Boston, New York Metropolis and Philadelphia, the place she had buddies with whom she deliberate to remain, together with Raleigh-Durham and Miami, and smaller communities alongside the way in which. She knew she wouldn’t be too removed from assist, meals, shelter or provides if wanted. The ECG winds by lots of of native communities full of motorcycle retailers, grocery shops and neighborhood sources—one other advantage of using alongside a greenway. As epic a journey forward because it was, Yan felt peace realizing she wouldn’t be too disconnected from civilization or fairly as weak alongside her route as, say, a solo backpacking journey or backcountry bikepack.
“I describe myself as considerably of an introvert, however I actually wished to tackle this problem to push myself to fulfill new individuals,” says Yan. “I additionally went to high school in New Hampshire and I’ve a number of buddies who reside alongside the East Coast, so I knew it could be a method to reconnect with buddies.”
On September 19, 2021, Yan rigged up her tenting gear, garments, meals, instruments and spare tubes on her bike, and rolled out on her ECG biking journey. Her objective was to experience a median of 110 miles per day, however on day one, she took on 140 miles to succeed in Acadia, Maine—her longest experience of the journey.
“I informed myself that I knew I may bike 20 miles, and since 140 miles is like 20 miles however simply seven instances, I believed I’d be completely okay,” says Yan. “No, it was a extremely unhealthy thought.”
Along with dealing with extreme chafing after logging her first day (she shortly found why individuals use chamois cream), many different challenges got here barreling her approach too: She hit a sob-inducing storm on the 100-mile stretch from Boston to Windfall, her first time biking within the rain—however she informed herself to maintain going. One other setback in that very same part was when her brakes minimize out amid car site visitors; after a irritating hour of making an attempt to repair the brakes, she couldn’t do it, leaving her stranded 20 miles from the closest bike store. She even acquired beaned by a beer can as soon as whereas pedaling.
However superb moments occurred too: She noticed a whole area’s value of beautiful panorama and surroundings; reconnected with outdated buddies and met new ones; supported and realized from native bike retailers mend her bike; and gleaned quite a lot of views from neighborhood to neighborhood.
“Considered one of my favourite experiences was staying with a Heat Showers host named Tony in Hartford, Connecticut,” says Yan. (The nonprofit Heat Showers is a global hospitality neighborhood that connects bike vacationers with free lodging from verified hosts.) “On the time, he was answerable for town’s solely bike store referred to as BiCi Co., a cooperative bike the place individuals are available and truly discover ways to use instruments and repair their bikes by neighborhood programming.”
BiCi Co. Group Bike Store, a accomplice nonprofit to the Middle for Latino Progress in Hartford, Connecticut, focuses on enhancing youth and grownup security, sustainable transportation, youth bike teaching programs, mechanics lessons, job coaching and extra. Yan was in a position to study Tony and BiCi Co.’s involvement with the native biking neighborhood and the group’s efforts to make biking extra seen within the metropolis, particularly for various communities who lack entry to protected and accessible strolling and biking trails.
Ultimately, Yan started to seek out her groove on and off the saddle. She began nourishing her physique with the correct meals, taking time to relaxation and studying fine-tune repairs as she went. She additionally met useful individuals in every neighborhood she visited alongside the way in which, which made the expertise even that rather more impactful.
“Greenways are nice for thru-riders but additionally for neighborhood members,” says Yan. “Having these paths to get from one place to a different, or to simply have the ability to stroll round on the finish of the day, is so nice for the neighborhood.”
As she neared the ultimate stretch in south Florida, a thought ran by her head—one she was too scared to have at the start of the journey: “I believe I can really make it to the tip.”
She rolled as much as the end line 29 days after her departure, setting the then fastest-known document for finishing the East Coast Greenway route by bike. Now a board member of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Yan says the journey helped her notice that we could also be stronger than we predict we’re.
“No approach did I believe I may bounce right into a bikepacking journey and end it, and forward of schedule too—however once we push ourselves, we develop.”
A Group Connector
Greenways are important for linking parks, inexperienced house and communities giant and small. They join the individuals who recreate there with the character round them.
Dennis Markatos-Soriano, govt director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, says greenway tasks purpose to remodel the way in which individuals transfer round and work together with their communities. He argues the largest impediment for people to reside energetic, wholesome and sustainable lives is an absence of protected infrastructure. That form of funding makes actions like biking, working, strolling, skating and wheelchair mountaineering extra accessible. Even those that sit at park benches alongside the greenway can hook up with the communities and the character round them.
“Communities in every single place on this nation want protected entry to benefit from the open air,” he continues. “In order that’s what we’re doing: We’re constructing entry to inexperienced house and nature proper out individuals’s doorsteps within the largest cities within the nation.”
Since its founding in 1991, the ECG has grow to be essentially the most visited park within the nation. This 12 months, the East Coast Greenway Alliance launched Greenways for All, an initiative that helps native authorities and neighborhood efforts in accessing regional and federal funding for continued greenway and path buildout. ECG employees work alongside mayors, metropolis council members and county commissioners alongside the East Coast to assist native leaders navigate the applying course of to realize funding streams that can assist full path segments all through their communities.
“We see the subsequent three years as the perfect potential we’ve ever needed to full the East Coast Greenway,” says Markatos-Soriano, referring to the $550 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. This legislation earmarks federal investments into roads and bridges, railways, water infrastructure, web entry and extra. The East Coast Greenway Alliance argues that this legislation can have a long-lasting affect on biking and greenway infrastructure by funding issued for Transportation Options and federal RAISE grants.
“We’re working carefully with leaders from the native to the federal degree to make the most of this historic infrastructure second we’re in,” says Markatos-Soriano. “We’d want lower than 1% of that funding to finish your complete East Coast Greenway.”
In Simsbury, Connecticut, a city with slightly below 25,000 residents northwest of Hartford, mayor Wendy Mackstutis says her workforce has their sights set on finishing pivotal connection factors between their neighborhood and the neighboring cities of New Haven, Tarrifville, Bloomfield and Hartford.
“Any enhancements to the path system and connecting different cities to Simsbury is nice for financial improvement, nice for tourism and a terrific alternative for close by communities and guests to see what we’re all about,” Mackstutis says.
The connecting path segments will hyperlink the prevailing 54-mile Farmington Canal Heritage Path, which runs by Simsbury to Bloomfield and past, lastly linking up with Hartford’s 16-mile Constitution Oak Greenway path. Mackstutis’s administration is collaborating carefully with the East Coast Greenway Alliance on the completion of the challenge.
“I believe the individuals within the communities are what makes the Greenway particular,” says Yan. “It’s nice to have a motorbike path, however it’s the individuals and the neighborhood you meet alongside the way in which who affect you that makes an enormous distinction.”
The East Coast Greenway + REI Co-op
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a grantee accomplice of the nonprofit REI Cooperative Motion Fund, a community-supported public charity immediately supporting the organizations and initiatives making change within the nation’s outside tradition. The ECGA seeks to create a greenway community that connects individuals to their locations, making it simpler and extra gratifying to commute, expertise nature, train and journey by bike or foot, lowering the carbon emissions attributable to vehicles. Since 2021, the Cooperative Motion Fund has awarded East Coast Greenway Alliance $160,000 to assist full this greenway challenge.
The REI Member neighborhood is invited to assist the East Coast Greenway Alliance and the remainder of the REI Cooperative Motion Fund grantee neighborhood by making a donation immediately. Donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations from the general public go on to organizations that promote justice, fairness and belonging within the open air.
Gear Up Like Regina
Chamois Butt’r Her’ Anti-Chafe Cream – 8 oz. – Girls’s
I’m embarrassed to say I believed the padded shorts I wore for each day bike commutes would operate simply as properly on a 3,000-mile journey. 4 days and a few rain showers in, I started experiencing pores and skin irritation nearly in every single place on my backside half. That’s once I found Chamois Butt’r Her’ at a motorbike store in Boston, which not solely prevented chafing however smelled scrumptious—actually a trip-saver and the distinction between a cushty experience and dreaded saddle sores.
Amphipod Xinglet
It’s so necessary to put on reflective gear, particularly if you’re a solo rider who doesn’t take up a lot house, touring on roads that will not see a lot bike site visitors or using at the hours of darkness. I made myself as seen as potential by sporting the Xinglet, which is a light-weight, stretchy and adjustable vest with spectacular reflective protection. I’d additionally advocate making use of reflective tape to your bike and helmet, and you may get inventive with the shapes!
Ortlieb Sport-Curler Free Panniers – Pair
Ortlieb panniers are the gold customary for waterproof storage. As a light-weight packer, I opted for the smaller Sport Rollers on my again rack, which match every little thing however my tent (which I saved in a dry bag). They’re straightforward to clip on and off, and a breeze to scrub. After I’m not bike touring, I take advantage of these panniers for groceries, commuting and every little thing in between.
Pedro’s Tire Levers
There’s a number of hype within the biking world about Pedro’s tire levers. People swear by them, and after seven flat tires on this journey alone, I’ve to as properly. They’re gentle and durable and can help you easily snap your tire again in your bike if you’re careworn and crying on the shoulder of a freeway … although I hope nobody else ever finds themself on this predicament.
Bontrager Mini Charger Body Pump
I had numerous crying classes throughout my journey, however the largest occurred once I acquired a flat tire in rural Maryland and my low cost bike pump broke. After I lastly made it to a motorbike store 20 miles away, the mechanic really useful the Bontrager Mini Charger as a dependable and user-friendly pump. Although it’s bigger than your typical transportable pump, its folding foot and excessive quantity present the advantages of a full-size flooring pump. Inflation is very easy it makes having flat tires virtually nice.
Terry Butterfly Ti Gel + Saddle – Girls’s
If I needed to pinpoint my finest bike journey funding, it could be my snug bike seat. My bike’s inventory seat carried out properly sufficient for commuting, however I knew I’d want a girls’s particular seat if I didn’t wish to, properly, saddle myself with a number of soft-tissue issues. The Terry Butterfly Ti Gel + Saddle suits my anatomy completely, and I like to recommend making an attempt just a few choices to see which one is the perfect in your sit bones.
Therm-a-Relaxation Questar 20 Sleeping Bag
I bear in mind spending hours on sleeping bag analysis previous to this bike journey. I wished a bag with sufficient fluff to maintain me from freezing whereas being compact sufficient to suit inside my panniers. I selected the Questar 20 for its superior warmth-to-size ratio and located it carried out extraordinarily properly when temperatures dropped to 40°F.
Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
Everybody ought to change to sleeping baggage with pump sack. It takes seconds to inflate your pad and also you’ll by no means be lightheaded once more! Those that discover themselves turning like a rotisserie rooster could discover the pad a bit loud, however in the event you’re like me and sleep like a mummy, this ultralight Sea to Summit pad is a superb 3-season choice.
Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
I prefer to experience compactly however sleep spaciously. I owned this Huge Agnes two-person tent previous to bike touring and determined to carry it moderately than buying a one-person tent. I’m so glad I did. Having further house allowed me to stash my gear inside, really feel snug and condensation-free on wet days, and revel in my morning cat-cow stretches totally shielded from mosquitoes. Should you’re touring with somebody, I like to recommend the Huge Agnes three-person tent since you lose all of the aforementioned advantages and acquire a number of grumbles when sharing a two-person tent (I, sadly, converse from expertise). This tent is available in a bikepacking model with shorter tent poles, however I discovered the regular-size tent poles match completely on the highest tube of my bike.
—Regina Yan, REI Co-op Member since 2015
