I used to ride 20-30 miles a day when I was younger. Then I went to law school, became a lawyer, and sat all day.

Ultimately, this really is an inspiring feel-good book about one older man’s amazing bicycling challenge, crossing the U.S. alone.This book is singularly unique in that it draws the reader inside an older person's mind. I found it an enriching, often comforting and pleasant place to be. Reminded how much I loved it, and with new tools like Polar heart monitors, and Strava, I have really gotten into it again. (From 7/1 to 7/26, I pedaled 604 miles.) I will very soon be 62. For the past few days I have been pursued by a middle-aged hen. Today the hen slinks into my room while Nora collects my laundry. I discover the hen on my bed. She has laid an egg.' The author – Don Pettterson – decided to ride his bike from the east coast to the west coast. This trip would have been far less strenuous if he had lived on the west coast and ridden to the west coast, given the prevailing westerly winds. This story reminded me of my former son in law, Eric Goodwin who walked from the east coast to the west coast when he was in his 50’s and retired. The author of the book was in his 70’s. He had not been on a bike for a number of years, and even then the rides were short. In short, he was not in shape and while he worked on getting ready, he still ws not really ready for the grueling challenge ahead of him. At 73 years old, Simon Gandolfi sets off from Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico to embark on a five and a half month journey culminating at 'the end of the world', Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. For Simon this is a journey of discovery. Leaving behind the safety and sanctuary of friends and family, he is truly alone but along the way he meets and talks with rich and poor, old and young, officials and professionals, agricultural and industrial workers. This expertly written travelogue reveals not only the stories of those he meets, and his own, but also that of Latin America, its attitudes to itself, to the USA and the UK in the aftermath of the Iraq war and the realities of the poverty and endemic corruption throughout much of this continent.

The ride was a series of individual and yes, combinations of strong head winds, steep hills and both cold and hot weather extremes. But he was literally driven to meet all the challenges. When Don Petterson, a former American ambassador, told family and friends he intended to ride a bicycle from New Hampshire to San Francisco, most of them questioned his judgment, if not his sanity. He was in his seventies, hadn’t been on a bike for years, and had never ridden more than a few miles at a time. But, in May 2002, putting doubters—and self-doubt—behind him, Petterson headed west. Laboring against strong headwinds, struggling up steep hills, or coping with extreme weather, he sometimes wondered what in the world he was doing. But he kept going—the lure of riding his bike across the Golden Gate a compelling incentive. With his remarkable insight and searing self awareness, Mr Gandofli reminded me, time and time again, of my grampie Kirkby. Once the patriarch of our family, always my hero, a man who died having forgotten more than I am likely ever to be able to learn.Mr Gandolfi has had ten other books published and the reason for his success was obvious to me before I had finished giggling my way through the prologue of Old Man on a Bike. He did send a message that old age (whatever that is!) does not have to mean physically decline. Or at least you can draw it out and enjoy a lot more years of active physical activities. His wife may have plenty of reasons why not, but used to the intrepid septuagenarian's determination to complete any plan he comes up with, she shrugs her shoulders and waves him goodbye.