On his 64th birthday last Friday, with friends and family cheering him on, Rich Coffman of Marblehead dipped his bicycle’s back wheel into the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Beach and then set off on a cross-country cycling trip that will cover about 3,500 miles over five months. His goal is to dip his front wheel in the Pacific near the Santa Monica Pier.
“It’s my countdown to Medicare,” Coffman joked as he made last-minute preparations to his Surly touring bike. “I retired in December, and I need to figure out what’s next. I’m going to ride and think. It’s my transition plan.”
Coffman has been cycling for years. He biked Route 66 for 44 days in 2016. Recently, he’s been training for this cross-country trip.
“I’ve been riding to Rockport, where I get a jelly-filled donut,” he laughed.
Coffman continued, “I’m really looking forward to those moments of quiet, when you’re surrounded by beautiful scenery. You feel the motion of the bike; you’re just floating along.”
Asked what he’s most nervous about over the next five months, Coffman responded, “Bears and dogs. I’ve actually sprayed my bike with bear spray.”
Several of Coffman’s riding buddies from the Marblehead Velo Club came to see him off Friday morning. His wife, Gabrielle, had a birthday cake and champagne for everyone.
“Rich is inspiring to us,” said JB Braun of Marblehead. “We all go through life having dreams. Very seldom does someone turn their dreams into reality.”
Coffman hopes to bike about 40 to 60 miles a day. His friend, Gary Creason of Bedford, is cycling with him until they reach Chicago.
Coffman plans to stay with family and in hotels until he reaches Kansas, and then he’ll start camping at night (hence the bear spray). He’s carrying about 35 pounds of gear with him.
To follow Coffman’s adventure, visit him on Instagram at ridetoretirement2025. Anyone interested in joining the Marblehead Velo Club can contact Richard Robb at richard@cmpadvisors.com.
