Green Valley cyclist tours East Coast

John F. Kennedy once said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasures of a bike ride.”

While it takes some cyclists decades to discover the meaning behind Kennedy’s statement, young Green Valley cyclist Joshua Wyrsch fully understands it.

Two weeks ago, Wyrsch, 13, returned home after completing a 2,007-mile journey through the East Coast with deCycles Bicycling Group.

“Once Joshua finished the ride, he called us up and said, ‘I feel like I can do anything now,’” said his mother, Debbie Wyrsch-Williams. “We were so proud of him.”

Debbie, a dedicated cyclist since 1976, introduced her son to the sport at an early age, with longer rides becoming a part of their routine a couple years ago.

Wyrsch, who will begin eighth grade at Continental School this week, said he also enjoys soccer and swimming, but that cycling remains his passion.

The duo typically rides 20-30 miles per trip, with the longer rides extending into the 70-mile range.

They’ve ridden with the Green Valley Bike Club on a handful of their three-day, 200-mile journeys thorughout Southern Arizona, but Wyrsch was ready to take things up a notch.

She came across deCycles on one of her cycling newsletters and was impressed with the group’s philosophy and attitude.

“It’s much more than just a bike ride,” Wyrsch-Williams said. “They really do a great job building a sense of community.”

Trucks carried the riders’ supplies from stop to stop, leaving the cyclists virtually unencumbered to tackle the daily rides—which often lasted for over 100 miles.

“We still had to carry a 50-pound pack,” Wyrsch said.

Each cyclist was given a job. Some prepared meals at the stops, others cleaned up. Joshua’s task was to wash the cups.

“It really was more like a family than just a group of riders,” Wyrsch said.

The 82-rider group met in Bloomington, Ind. before flying out to Fort Myers, Fla.

The ride officially began on June 24, where the riders tackled the gulf coast.

“We rode around 600 miles that first week,” Wyrsch said. “It was really challenging. I had never been on a ride this long.”

As the ride moved up the coast, pit-stops at historical colonial spots and an overnight stay on the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier gave the cyclists a chance to recharge their batteries and take in some American culture.

“My favorite stops were in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia,” Wyrsch said.

Other stops included a Fourth of July visit to Kitty Hawk, N.C. and tours of Williamsburg and Jamestown.

The ride wrapped up July 15 in Burlington, Vt. with 2,007 miles logged on his mountain bike.

Other than a handful of bouts with extreme humidity and a couple of bug bites, he said it was one of the best experiences of his life.

“I hope I get to do it again next year,” Wyrsch said. “I felt really light and relieved when I finished it, but I want to finish a ride like that again.”

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