Anyone else wonder how he is doing. His site seems awfully quiet with nothing since the send off. Anyone hear anything?

He's either not using the sat phone, or Barnum was wrong and there ISN'T one born every minute.

According to his web site, he left on Tuesday. There's even a local newscast about his trip. The newscast portrayed this as more of a personal quest rather than a movement.

I don't see any entries since Tuesday. I hope he's doing well.

He's removed the "Shop" tab from his web site--I guess he decided that selling stuff to raise money wasn't going to work out.

I'm sorry that I haven't kept up since he moved his departure earlier, is it now 4000 miles in 50 days? Average 80 miles a day, very doable if everything goes right but not much margin for error nor many days off.

Yeah that is what he has planned. I agree that it is doable, probably even by a broken down old 57 year old guy like me. For a 20 something in good shape he should even make it with a few rough patches. Is this particular 20 something up to it? Time will tell, but I wish him success.

I too wish him well. It will be difficult to accomplish. I'm bummed that he won't be back here with updates and seeking more advice/encouragement. I have to say that I'm disappointed with the treatment he received here.

I too wish him well.

I'm disapointed with how he chose to act.

I'm on the forum a lot, and I'm in the dark about who this flyin' ryan guy is. Little help?

See this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/487428-touring-la-dc-obama-s-inaugaration-january-i-need-some-advice.html

So why is he still bumming for donations after he supposedly left?

I love the one blog post about him being attacked on a forum. Yeah "someone" just happened to find that thread on BF while "surfing around".

I guess they missed that "whiteness" crack made by Ryan. Or better yet he must of forgotten what he posted here and didn't include it in the bog.

Well, best of luck to him, hopefully he won't pull a Rosie Ruiz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz

I love the flaming the rah-rah Ryan supports gave to one fellow who dared to question the motives of the kid. Just what I expected to find.

Yeah, he kind of set himself up for a difficult challenge when asking for financial support. Folks would have zero issue if he chose to hop a bus, catch a ride etc (use a satalite phone...) if it was his choice to do so with his own savings.

Putting a hand out for donations binds him to his goal (IMO). It also opened him up to a heck of a lot of scrutiny, and rightfully so.

I really like the rapper wanna be side kick in the background while Ryan is speaking. I'm sure you have seen it before, the star is speaking or rapping and the no name side repeats what he says.

Leave it at home and talk about cycling.

I was referencing material on an alleged 'cycling blog.' Goodness, and some folks here call ME the hall monitor!

I didn't like his approach. I am not crazy about people begging for money to do tours. I thought that asking for donations to cover a $4500 camera and a sat phone were especially bad. He did at least tone that down by removing that list from the site. I am inclined to cut him some slack maybe just because he seems like a young idealistic guy. If he turns out to not have the gumption to complete the trip, oh well he won't be the first to abort a trip and most never even attempt something that ambitious. I will give him some credit for trying. If he winds up being a complete phony, then I will be disappointed, but oh well.

That said you guys were harder on him that I would have felt comfortable being. It is your call though.

As far as still asking for donations after he left... Why would he no longer need help? He may have left broke after buying his gear. Maybe he bought the stuff on credit. He needs to eat, he may need colder weather gear as he goes, he may need a hotel stop or at least some campsite fees. If you accept that he needed donations to start with then there is no reason the need magically stops when he leaves.

I really do wonder about the fact that he is in his 5th day without a peep since his departure on day one. This suggests several possible scenarios. Maybe the whole thing is a big flim flam. Maybe he is broke and the guy maintaining the web site hasn't been paid. Maybe he is dead by the side of the road. Maybe he bailed already and is hiding out. Maybe he is so tired that he doesn't have time or energy to call home. Maybe he is milking it for drama. Maybe he is pulling a Rosie Ruiz and doesn't want to be too closely tracked,

Whatever it turns out to be we will probably find out eventually. I hope he is doing OK and actually is able to finish the trip.

From a reply to a comment on his page:
It sounds like he has gone maybe 150 miles in three and a half days. Can someone who knows the area verify? If that is correct he is going to need to pick up the pace if he is going to make it. I hope this means he is starting easy and building the pace otherwise it doesn't look too good.

I read his latest blog entry and it sounds like he's realizing the magnitude of what he's attempting. Unfortunately he doesn't have the luxury of starting slowly. I calculate he's now up to about 90 miles/day
to make it. I hope he does, but given no car support and carrying gear I wouldn't bet on it.

So what kind of Vegas line are we looking at to this point?

Yikes! He seems to be very fit. He should be able to do a little better than that even for starting slow. He really can't afford many more 50 mile days.

He is picking up the pace but only slightly. Day 4 puts him at 220 miles. That is about 55 a day. But he is having some real problems and it is only day 4.

Money yes but he still has his gear donation list up. I would think someone would be smart enough to check his blog and realize he did not need anymore gear, before sending him the gear but you never know. A nice touch would have been to take down the list and replace it with a list of the gear people did donate with a note of thanks.

Did we ever hear anything about the guy with a Target basket on a seat post back rack leaving Philly to Mexico?

Well at least he is doing it. I would love to be a fly on the wall err sky.

Ryan's gone 220 miles in 4 days WITH car support. He's got knee problems already. He says he'll have car support until Phoenix. He will then be unsupported for the next 3 weeks when he'll be in isolated areas and will encounter some very cold temperatures (and possibly snow) in the mountains of Arizona & New Mexico. But he still doesn't have panniers or camping gear and is seeking gear, either as a gift or to borrow. He's in for another rude awakening when/if he gets panniers and camping gear and has to start carrying all of his gear himself. This has been an object lesson in poor planning and unrealistic expectations.

Wow! I assumed he had all of his gear assembled!


I'm putting him at 83 miles a day, with no breaks to complete on time.