Reprint from the Progress Times - October 3, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Easy rider

By David Rodriguez

When 27-year-old Brandon Cameron decided to visit his brother in Brooklyn, New York, he figured he’d take the scenic route. After spending over a month on his bicycle headed north, he definitely got all the scenery he could handle.

“I’ve had this idea to go visit my brother on a bicycle for about three years,” said Cameron. “It was just something I thought would be fun; being out on a bike, seeing the country. I had met a few people that had done it before and I thought that their stories were so cool.”

It took Brandon about three years to acquire all the right equipment and get the time off. But even when that was settled, he wasn’t sure he was ready.

“I’ve ridden bikes my whole life,” said Cameron. “I started riding BMX when I was 10; mostly riding around town and hopping curbs and building little dirt jumps. Before this trip I had never done any serious long distance riding. My farthest previous bike ride was a 35-mile bike ride around town.”

Regardless, Brandon set out for New York from McAllen on his bicycle on June 30. He rode with four packs of supplies of biking gear as well as food, a tent and clothing. He had a cell phone in case he needed any help and a directive from his parents to call them everyday so they knew he was safe. Thirty-nine days later, he arrived in Brooklyn none the worse for wear.

“I rode from McAllen through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Canada, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut,” said Cameron. “The weather was really hot at first then got nice in Ohio and then rained on me for the last week.”

The trip wasn’t entirely without its unexpected problems though. Cameron had eight flat tires in total, one in Connecticut, one in Canada, and six in Texas. He admits his conviction wavered.

“I thought about stopping every day. It hurts to ride your bicycle for 70 miles everyday,” said Cameron. “At some point you get mentally and physically exhausted. Luckily by the time I got to that point I was already more than half-way there so it was easier to ride the rest of the way than to ride back.”

One of the more surprising challenges Brandon faced didn’t come on the bike at all.

“The most surprising mental challenge I faced on the trip was boredom,” said Cameron. “When I would stop at campsites and I was sitting in my tent I got pretty bored. I had a book that I took along, but I wish that somebody had gone with me so I would have had somebody to talk with.”

Unlike many of the Lance Armstrong inspired cyclists armed with the seemingly mandatory bright tight shirts and shorts, Brandon has a bit of a different take on cycling.

“I like getting somewhere. I don’t enjoy riding long distances just for distance’s sake,” said Cameron. “Arriving at a destination is fun. There’s a feeling of accomplishment. I wouldn’t go ride a hundred miles in a circle. That kind of seems silly to me. You get to see things in a totally different way when you travel by bicycle. Plus I think riding in cars is boring and I’d rather just ride somewhere on my bike.”

Because of all this Brandon doesn’t really consider himself a cyclist. He prefers the bicycle enthusiast moniker.

“People in the Valley generally think of biking as a sport, you know, like the people riding around in pink and yellow spandex,” said Cameron. “Maybe there’s an interest in that sort of thing but I’m not really a cyclist, more of a bicycle enthusiast. You really don’t see too many people out enjoying a nice bicycle ride. That’s something I would like to see more of.”