It's Just Riding: Just Pete from Sea to Key - Hardcover

by Jeff Peterson (Author)

He hadn't ridden a bike in years. So naturally, he decided to ride one 4,500 miles across the country.

What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, quite a bit.

Armed with minimal experience, questionable preparation, and a stubborn refusal to quit, Just Pete set off from Washington State with one goal: make it to Key West, Florida. What followed was a cross-country bicycle ride filled with daunting mountain climbs, brutal heat, relentless headwinds, and more flat tires than he cares to count.

This isn't a travel memoir about perfect planning or smooth execution. It's a humorous, heartfelt adventure about figuring things out the hard way, one mile at a time.

Pete's journey is a raw and honest look at:

• • Bad decisions and small victories.
  • Learning on the fly when nothing goes according to plan.
  • Pushing forward when exhaustion says it's time to stop.
  • The extraordinary kindness of ordinary people.
  • Discovering that grit matters more than experience.

He thought he was riding across America. Looking back, he was really meeting America.

It's Just Riding is a tribute to the friends, family, and complete strangers whose unexpected generosity turned a grueling solo bike tour into something much bigger.

Told with dry humor, honesty, and a healthy dose of self-doubt, this is a story about endurance, resilience, and the messy business of chasing a big goal without having everything figured out. It's a reminder that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.

Because in the end, it was never just about the bike.

It was about a long road, a stubborn refusal to quit, and the quiet decision to keep going.

Until you don't have to anymore.