Pedaling for Peace

Much of the way through a multi-year transcontinental bike odyssey, Reading, Penn., native and temporary San Martian Ryan Lee Gehris has weathered many tough blows, and with the help of friends he’s made in San Marcos, is hoping to secure funds to complete his journey.

Gehris’ first ride began from San Diego, Calif. in 2018. He was inspired by the sacrifices of his military family and felt called to make it to Ground Zero in NYC by Sept. 11 of that year. He was touched in particular by a Gold Star charity called “Children of Fallen Patriots,” so with a small American flag always flying from his bike or tucked under his arm, and wearing a day-glo vest emblazoned “Pedaling for Pattie” (his cancer-stricken late mom), it took him five months, but he made it there just in time for the 911 ceremonies. He brought with him a sizable contribution for the charity, in large part due to the media attention his ride attracted.

A google search for Ryan Lee Gehris will show why. The clean-cut, well-spoken, athlete of a guy who just wants “to make a difference” has a whole host of articles and TV interviews attached to his name, in media ranging from small-town papers to CBS News to Fox & Friends. His journey stirred hearts as it’s beyond what most can imagine undertaking.

After a year’s rest and a lot of saved paychecks, Gehris next set out to ride from the Golden Gate to San Diego. This time, every collected penny went to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. “I’m a minimalist,”Gehris said. “I don’t need much, and I can’t just sit on a couch when there is so much need.” Besides, Gehris freely admits, that first ride hooked him. Gehris said he loves meeting people, helping people, teaching people, loves this country, and he loves the physical challenge of these marathon rides.

So it wasn’t long before he was planning his third and final ride, one devoted to something learned on the first two: that “there is more that unites us than divides us.”

Anxious to spread that message, Gehris saved everything he could from his waitstaff job and planned to ride again in 2020. Then COVID interfered, as well as having his Beach Cruiser bike stolen.

Not the normal long-distance bike, Beach Cruisers have high handlebars, a broad seat and only eight gears, compared to the 20 or more used by cross-country racers. This 2-wheeler is something one could expect to see meandering through a city park, not crossing the desert or a high mountain pass.

Finally, once the time was right again, Gehris departed San Diego traveling a southern route roughly paralleling Interstate 10. The itinerary included Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Florida (where he hopes to spend the winter in Key West) and then back up the eastern seaboard to end up in New York City. Gehris has made slow progress this time because his goal is to help everyone he can, in every way he can; but because his funds are limited, in order to eat, he has to work. He made stopovers all across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. After departing Central Texas, Gehris will head for New Orleans with the hopes of having enough financial support to spend his time volunteering with hurricane recovery efforts.

Gehris landed in San Marcos three months ago with a bike badly broken on a rough West Texas road. A friendly rancher headed for New Braunfels picked him up and delivered him to the door of the nearest bike shop, which happened to be in San Marcos. While here, Gehris has worked hard for various employers including Crystal River Inn, but equally hard doing civic projects for free, including river cleanups and assisting Heritage Association members with their recent sale and with the Mermaid parade float.

Gehris enjoys sharing stories of his adventures with those who are willing to listen. He tells tales of beautiful vistas, kind strangers, butterflies and ladybugs, oddball politics, creepy overnights, foodie adventures, skinny road shoulders, memorable campsites and animals needing rescue. When asked why he would want to do this to himself, Gehris answered, “Well, I can’t just hang around and watch life. I want to live and breathe it. And I want to help.”

Everything on Gehris’s ride has been self-funded, but after three major setbacks, he faces the possibility that he won’t have money enough to finish. When asked why he didn’t start a GoFundMe page, he said he wasn’t comfortable asking for money. However, he noted that if people did give him money, he sets aside what he can — at least 25% of every dollar, toward two charity. “Those families have given so much,” Gehris said. “It’s the least I can do.”

To contribute to the completion of Gehris’ mission, search for Ryan Lee Gehris on Venmo or GoFundMe.com.

To view video clips of Gehris’ journey, visit this link on Facebook: facebook.com/ABC13News/videos/man-bikes-across-the-us-for-fallen-patriots/2172520192993149/ or on the Fallen Patriots website at fallenpatriots.org/news-coverage/2018/8/28/man-bikes-across-the-us-for-fallenpatriots

“...I can’t just hang around and watch life. I want to live and breathe it. And I want to help”

– Ryan Lee Gehris