It was a long ride.
Jon Chaykowski’s bike ride from the Canada border to the Mexico border lasted about a month long and was often lonely—but Chaykowski said that with beautiful, scenic views of the coastline and a place to set up camp and take a hot shower every night, the journey really wasn’t so bad.
He is still tallying the final count of the money he raised, but Chaykowski said his ride earned thousands of dollars for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF).
His daughter, 15-year-old Kelsey, is a sophomore and Mira Costa High School. Chaykowski said his bike ride from border to border combined his love of biking with his interest in helping the school district.
“I’ve just always been interested in the local schools, having kids in the schools, and I just thought it was a good thing,” Chaykowski said. “It was also a way the community could get involved as well.”
He said the ride celebrated his 65th birthday this year as well.
He chronicled his ride, which began Aug. 18 and ended Sept. 16, in his online journal, at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/rideforMBEF2. This is Chaykowski’s second bike ride for MBEF. Five years ago he biked from the Florida coast to the California coast for the charity.
He said that this year’s ride posed new challenges for him as a biker. There were more uphill and downhill climbs as opposed to the flat terrain of the Midwest. The views, however, were spectacular.
He recalled the contrast between Northern California’s greenery and rocky coast, the gray shore flecked with white bird droppings, to sunny Southern California’s sandy beaches.
“Obviously I had a camera along and I made many stops just to collect the views that I was seeing,” Chaykowski said. “That helped with the journal that I’m keeping, so it helps me remember things and I can share the scenes with others.”
He said that oftentimes—especially at first—the ride was very lonely. He got into camp late and didn’t get to socialize with fellow travelers as much as he thought he would. But for a few days he was joined on his ride by two of his friends, and at times he was able to stay with friends and relatives living along the coast during his trip. When he reached San Diego, he visited his 26-year-old son, Kyle.
Much of the time, Chaykowski said he focused on his itinerary and his plan for the day as he rode.
“You sort of focus on the plans for the day, and then just take in the scenery,” he said.
He said whenever he met teenagers or younger bikers on the road he would talk to them about what he was doing.
“That was always fun, to let them know that if they want to do it they can do it too,” he said. “I always tell them just put your mind to it and you can do it. I’d say that it’s as much mental as it is physical.”
He said many who he’s told about his journey have been “amazed.”
He also said that people have worried about him when he goes on long, solo rides—but that he has never been fearful or concerned about his safety during his adventures.
“When you’re out there it’s a whole different story,” Chaykowski said. “Even riding on the freeways and other highways, I don’t know if you get immune to it or whatever but you certainly don’t have the fear for it someone at home has. But you always have to be cautious because you’re a small object compared to a car.”
Sheri Lietzow, president of the endowment for MBEF, said that Chaykowski came up with the idea to raise funds through a bike ride and approached the foundation with the idea.
“He pretty does that completely on his own,” she said. “It’s just something he undertakes on himself and we are the lucky beneficiaries.”
The foundation, which has existed since 1983, raises money for the school district—especially in times when it’s being threatened with budget cuts.
On his blog Chaykowski, who took leave from his work as an engineer at Boeing to go on this journey, said that he wanted to ride for the foundation a second time for several reasons. He wanted to help the foundation, to encourage the community to support his ride and the foundation and he wanted to do it simply because he loves biking, an activity he says is healthy and fun.
His blog states, “My cycling adventures and website journals can encourage others, especially young people, to have dreams and exciting and healthy adventures.” ER
