Vice Chair of the Board of Regents, Jack L. Fortner | The University of New Mexico
For some, riding a bicycle across the United States sounds nearly impossible, but for University of New Mexico Senior Connor Donovan, it was a challenge he and his friends were willing to take.
Donovan, an Albuquerque native studying theater design at UNM and working at the Lobo Bike Shop on campus, biked cross-country with his team, 'The Future Cowboys,' this summer.
The group is made up of four friends: Donovan, Lars Larsen, Ezra Duree, and Francis Packard. Three of them are UNM students. "Cowboys ride horses and we felt like we were riding futuristic horses," Donovan explained.
They started in Seattle, Washington on May 20 and biked north until they reached Coney Island, New York in mid-July. Donovan says they traversed 12 states within 56 days, covering more than 3,500 miles.
"It was the experience of a lifetime," Donovan said. "I have never really been to many of those northern states but going across the country on a bicycle is one of the best ways to experience a place. You notice so many more things around you, and I think that is something I want to experience again."
While the four began their trip on the West Coast, only three made it to the East Coast. Donovan said Duree dropped out about 600 miles in after sustaining an injury.
Donovan, a longtime avid biker, says the trip had been an idea for years and finally became a reality.
"We had talked about doing it, and it was always this thing; oh we'll do it in a couple of years when we get some free time and then one day Lars came to me and said 'I'm going to do it,' so if you want to come along you should come along," Donovan said. "We did this because Lars and I had family members who wanted to do it and they didn’t get the opportunity to go, so we didn’t want to have those regrets."
Donovan said it took a year to plan the trip. First, they had to ensure their bikes were in top shape. Then they had to figure out meals and how they would pack food for the ride. Additionally, planning sleeping arrangements was necessary. Donovan mentioned they packed tents on their bikes and camped most nights.
"We had everything packed on our bikes that we needed whether it was a towel or change of clothes; all your food and water. By the end of the trip my bike weighed like 100 pounds," he said.
Between trails, highways, bridges—in rain or sunshine—the group averaged around 70 miles per day.
"When we did finish there was this real sense of friendship and togetherness; like we have done this without biting each other's heads off," he said.
Donovan expressed interest in undertaking another bike ride but with changes next time. He suggested that more hotel stays and having a car follow along would make future trips easier.
The Future Cowboys documented their journey along the way on Instagram under livebikeusa.
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