I rode across the USA in 2000 because it was something I’ve wanted to do for many years. It was fun, healthy, educational, entertaining, healthy and therapeutic. A couple of weeks into RAAM, I decided to try to do all the continents. People have ridden around the world, but no one that I know of, has ridden across all the continents.

The Ride Across Australia (RAAUST, on this site) in 2002 was next. It was more wonderful than America. Different flora and fauna, nice people, a huge desert.

What’s left? Europe, Asia, Africa, South America. Not much choice here. Asia and South America will be difficult and dangerous. Africa (Cairo to Capetown) simply might not be possible. Continent #3 had to be Europe. Instead of one big country with one language, like America and Australia, I get to go through 11 countries speaking at least 11 different languages. The cradle and world epicenter of bicycling. More history than America and Australia combined, times 10. I’m looking forward to it. Europe2003 starts in March.

Ride Across Australia
Adelaide to Perth • 5,127 mi • 2002
See the RAAUST page for details.

Ride Across America
Oceanside, CA to Savannah, GA • 2,700 mi • 2001
A semi-southern route RAAM. See the web site www.perkowitz.com for details.

Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherokee, NC to Roanoke, VA • 260 mi • 2002
Weather disrupted this ride at the end of April with Lisa Renstrom, John Culbertson, Matt Hapgood and Bryan Lawson. Some really big hills, especially on the Cherokee to Asheville section.

For more photos, click here.

Charlotte, NC to Winston-Salem, NC • 90 mi • 2002
Charlotte, NC to Pawley’s Island, SC • 210 mi • 2000
Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, GA • 280 mi • 1995
These are Charlotte-based one and two day rides. The rolling hills of the south. Lots of rural roads, light traffic, except when you approach the coast or Atlanta.

Pacific Coast Bike Route
San Francisco to Santa Monica, CA • 500 mi • 1992, 1997 & 1999
The best bike touring ride in America. A four day ride with stops in Monterey, Morro Bay and Goleta (n of Santa Barbara). Big Sur is the biggest challenge. www.adventurecycling.org has maps.

Ontario to Palm Springs, CA • 120 mi • 1993
Rockingham to Myrtle Beach, NC • 150 mi • 1995–1998
These are the MS150 rides. You raise money for a good cause on farily easy rides with lots of people and support.

Santa Barbara to Santa Monica, CA • 120 mi • 1991, 1993 & 1997
Santa Monica to LaJolla, CA • 120 mi • 1996 & 1998
Santa Monica to Palm Springs, CA • 140 mi • 1997 & 1998
These are all one-day Los Angeles based rides where I used a rental car to get to the start point or return from the destination. A great way to see southern California.

Santa Monica, CA to Pheonix, AZ • 500 mi • 1996
This 4-day ride included a 40-mile hop on a freight train by Yuma and a 20-mile lift from a nice preacher in a Ryder rent-a-van. Rather than cut straight over, Bryan Lawson and I headed west to Palm Springs, south to Yuma, east to Gila Bend, then north and east again into Phoenix.

Wilmington, SC to Kitty Hawk, NC • 300 mi • 1995
With Lisa Renstrom, Charlie Walker and Kevin Armstrong. Into the headwinds. The Outer Banks and ferry rides alone are worth the trip.

Wisconsin Bikeway
LaCrosse to Racine, WI • 300 mi • 1970’s–1990’s
I’ve ridden this perhaps ten times from the early 1970's to the early 1990’s. Showing Wisconsin’s leadership, this was one of the first cross state routes and it links many beautiful rail-trails. This beautiful ride hooked me on bike touring.

Champaign, IL to Lexington, KY • 300 mi • 1976
Joined an attorney and a minister for part of their RAAM.

If you look at the books in the bibliography, you’ll find that the “How to” books on bike touring spend a bunch of words on training, but the books by the people who actually tour hardly mention it. Who has time? I just stay in generally good shape mostly by running and ride only very occasionally (maybe once a month) until I go touring. Mental training and multi-day pacing yourself are key.

A simple formula: An ounce or two of liquid per mile, 8,000 calories per day. A few vitamins and some powder endurance drink mix. Eat steadily. Be prepared in the event that the gas station or restaurant 140 miles down the road that you were hoping to refresh at is closed.