www.bikeusa2007.com latest news and photos

As requested, I've recently added details of my 2003 journey across Australia to this site. Details can be found at the bottom of the About Geoff & The Journey page.

44 Flat tires - 5 Front - 28 Rear - 11 Trailer / Most in a day - 4 - July 22 Lordsburg, NM to Las Cruces, NM.

1 new rear tire after 2230 miles - 2nd after 3297 miles - 3rd after 5695 miles - 4th after 6706 miles - 5th after 8748 miles / 1 new front tire after 5728 miles - 2nd after 7653 miles / 1 new trailer tire after 7563.83 miles.

2 new rims after an estimated 9000 miles (includes a journey across Australia). New rear rim lasted only 802 miles / Used 4 pairs of gloves / Third new chain after 5728 miles.

Total weight of loaded bike and trailer - 120 lbs / 54.54 kgs - Weight of cyclist - 180 lbs / 81.8 kgs

Accidents / Falls from bike: Los Angeles July 3 - Run off the road by motorcycle cop / Charleston SC September 3 - Struck by vegetation on narrow shoulder.

Biggest distance in a day: May 25 - Minot ND to Williston, ND - 130.03 miles/208.05 kms

New York to Seattle: 3330.79 mls - 5329.26 kms - 45 days - 4 rest/maintenance days.

Seattle to San Diego: 1559.46 mls - 2495.14 kms - 27 days - 7 rest/maintenance days.

San Diego to Melbourne: 2763.41 mls - 4421.45 kms - 44 days - 6 rest/maintenance.

Melbourne to New York: 1364.95 mls - 2183.92 kms - 39 days - 18 rest/maintenance.

(Rest/Maintenance days include weather delays, injury time outs, waiting for parts, various appointments including media and waiting for a Sunday to ride down Broadway and into New York City)

I apologise for not adding more images. Believe me, I continually took photos at every opportunity, unless I was going up a pretty big hill! Unfortunately, some people have been using my images without permission. You can however, see many of my images in the just published The Lupus Notebook featuring many photos from my cycling journeys, with 100% of the proceeds directed to lupus research.

Please do not republish media articles, or part thereof, as they're the hard work of the relevant Writers and Journalists. An exception is the LFA press release. If you require quotes or an interview please contact me directly and I'll happily accommodate all genuine requests.

Geoff Thomas is the inaugural recipient of The Lupus MCTD Foundation of America's Courage Award - The Wolfie - September 28, 2008.

Back From The Lap - This article appeared in Lupus Links and The Lupus Foundation of America's magazine, Lupus Now.

The summer of 2007 was the defining point of my life. Even more so than being diagnosed four years prior with a disease I’d never heard of.

* This article has been reprinted with permission of the Lupus Foundation of America.

Newswire Press Release - Courtesy of Duane Peters of The Lupus Foundation of America - Details from this press release can be used for publication, though it may be wise to contact me for updated material.

Bicyclist Will Conclude 9,000 Mile Lap Around the U.S. on Sunday in New York City

This is not Geoff's first major cross-country bike ride. In 2003, Geoff rode 3,100 miles across Australia from coast to coast. His passion for travel has also taken him to Russia, Japan, Canada, the South Pacific, Great Britain and Europe, with extensive visits to the U.S. He has always wanted to bike across America and now is nearing the realization of that goal.

Web site: http://www.lupus.org/
http://www.bikeusa2007.com/

This interview was kindly conducted by Jeri Jewett-Tenant and appears on the About.com website, a subsidiary of The New York Times.

Mike Odom caught up with me for an interview in Melbourne Florida. His interesting insight into attempting to gain some exposure out of my visit appears here. It was one of the most informative articles written about my journey. Mike is a great example of one of the many people trying to make a difference. His Wife Cindi suffers from Lupus.

Abi Nicholas kindly interviewed me during my stopover in Charleston. Photographer Melissa Haneline displayed her flexibility climbing chairs and trying to get a decent shot. To check out the article click here.

Man from afar rides for cause
Tue, Sep 4, 2007

By LINDSEY BLAIR

Most people avoid the summer heat like the plaque. But Geoff Thomas says that he's seen worse, namely in Arizona.
The Australian native has been cycling his way across the United States in an effort to raise awareness of Lupus.
"I always wanted to come to the U.S. and cycle. Through my thought process, I decided that I should cycle for a cause. I was diagnosed with a milder form of Lupus in 2003 so I decided that I would support Lupus organizations in the U.S., Australia and abroad," Thomas said.
"I'm now raising funds for The Lupus Foundation of America and The Alliance for Lupus Research." Full Story

Diana Washington Valdez kindly interviewed me during my recent extended stop-over in El Paso. A link to the El Paso Times achieve search appears here.

Geoff Thomas actually made the 'Team of the Week' and will promise not to refer to himself in the third person too much! The Fitz Files are a great weekly sports read every Saturday in The Herald.

Robert Penfold and the Los Angeles crew of Channel Nine Australia kindly interviewed me during my recent stopover. The interview was aired nationally in Australia during primetime television news broadcasts and also on Qantas airline flights.

Through a change in plans, an international traveler ‘took a day off’ and spent it in Ritzville on June 8 in an effort to catch up on paperwork.

Find day-to-day updates about Thomas’s progress, read his journal about the journey around the U.S., take a peek at some of his photographs or learn more about lupus through the links provided on his Web site.

A former Sydney butcher is cycling solo around America, in what he says is the first trip of its kind to raise awareness for the disease, lupus.

Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with the auto-immune disease in 2003.

The 37-year-old says he grew increasingly frustrated that so few people back home knew what lupus was.

"So I decided to take my journey overseas, where lupus is widely understood and there are national bodies trying to find a cure or a cause," he said.

Mr Thomas is riding a bike with a trailer attached, and stopping at small hotels and roadside motels every few days to sleep.

He started his journey from New York City on April 28, and is into his 46th day, reaching Seattle after a gruelling 5,329 kilometres.

"I had three flat tyres today, it was a really, really tough day," he said.

"I've only had four days off so far. But I'm going to take three days off now to recuperate for the next leg."

"It has been really tough with the weather. For example, it's supposed to be summer in a couple of days but I almost got snow in Montana and there's still snow on the mountains of Washington," he said.

Mr Thomas' next destination is California.

Mr Thomas says he hopes his ride across America will result in the establishment of a national body for lupus.

"Compared to America, Australian organisations are so behind," he said.

"It's so under-funded and so under-staffed back home, and no-one knows anything about it."

"In America there's two major research organisations, and everyone I've spoken to on the road knows what lupus is."

Mr Thomas' ride has already gained support from the Lupus Foundation of America and The Alliance for Lupus Research.

Mr Thomas was diagnosed in 2003 after a series of mysterious skin flare-ups on his face and neck.

"After seeing numerous GPs, I finally went to see a dermatologist," he said.

"It was only then that I discovered lupus and also how others are a great deal worse off than myself."

"The dermatologist gave me the scientific name for lupus, and I went home and punched it in to a search engine on the internet, and only then did I realise how serious it was."

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune starts to attack the body itself.

Lupus causes the immune system to produce an excess of antibodies which attach themselves to bodily structures, and, over time, the number of antibodies grows, causing inflammation and pain.

Lupus can affect any organ, including the brain, lungs, kidneys and skin.

It is unclear how many Australians suffer from lupus, but it is estimated it could be one in one thousand.

More than 90 per cent of people diagnosed with lupus are women.

A cause or cure has not yet been found.

Australian Geoff Thomas prepares to hit the road Thursday after spending a rainy rest day in Billings. After cycling more than 3,000 miles around Australia four years ago to raise awareness about the disease lupus, the Sydney native decided to make a similar trip around the United States. He started in New York City a month ago and plans to ride through Missoula on his way to Seattle. From there, he may head south to Los Angeles. Thomas said he doesn't like to set his plans too far in advance, preferring instead to let advice from locals guide his route. Along with promoting the Alliance for Lupus Research, Thomas is raising awareness for other charities through his Web site, BikeUSA2007.com.

Australian bikes across U.S. for charity

By KATINA TENGESDAL, Staff Writer ktengesdal@minotdailynews.com

Katina Tengesdal/MDN

Geoff Thomas, an Australian who is biking around the United States to raise awareness and money for charity, stops by The Minot Daily News to share his account of his journey.

Geoff Thomas, who hails from Sydney, Australia, has been biking across the United States for a cause.

His journey began as an opportunity to spread awareness and raise money for lupus charities, as he has a mild form lupus himself, but he has since decided to raise awareness for other charitable organizations as well.

“I thought, if I’m coming over here to bike across the U.S., I might as well raise money for charities,” Thomas said.

Before he began his journey in New York on April 29, Thomas set up a Web site – (www.bikeusa2007.com) – to chronicle his journey and to offer information about any reputable charities that wanted to hop on board with the project.

Thomas biked across Australia four years ago, and he noticed there wasn’t as much awareness about lupus there as in the United States.

“I never really mentioned it at home. It’s hard when you try to explain it. One thing I want people to understand is that it affects some people a lot more than others,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that his lupus seems to be more affected by stress than anything else, though sun exposure is also a concern.

Thomas had always wanted to experience biking across the United States, so he decided to do it four years after his Australian tour.

“In the end, I thought, if I don’t do it now, I will never do it. It’s been like the Olympic life. Leaving it for four years before the next one (bike tour),” Thomas joked.

Though he recently got into tour biking, he never considered himself a ’big’ biker.

“I’m not one to go out and buy all the jerseys. It’s basically just t-shirts and surf shorts, and that kind of thing. It’s an easier form of exercise from my point of view – it’s easier on your joints,” Thomas said.

Thomas noted that in Australia, the focus is more on road racing than on tour biking, and he has noticed that the roads in this country are more cycle-friendly.

His stops in North Dakota have included Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Rugby, and Minot. He tries to cycle an average of 80 miles a day, and so far has run into only a few issues with the weather.

“In Chicago I ran into wind and some in Wisconsin, but it’s been good. Because of the northeaster that went through New York, I had to wait getting started,” Thomas said.

The wind in North Dakota had been a bit challenging as well, Thomas said.

“You know it’s going to happen, and it’s just frustratingly slow. You never know what’s around the corner,” he said.

That seems to be the way that Thomas likes it.

Thomas has traveled extensively through the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, the South Pacific and Europe at the advice of his parents, who told him to travel while he was young.

“My parents went backpacking in Vietnam in their ’70s. They told me to travel when I was 21, and I haven’t stopped,” Thomas said.

He has tried out various endeavors, including radio broadcasting, writing, and freelance photography for international tennis tournaments. He hopes to compile a book about his travel adventures sometime in the future.

During his bike tour of the United States he’s run into a few interesting situations. He’s asked for directions wherever he goes, and was asked to mow a person’s grass in Pennsylvania.

He held out for a bit on camping, though.

“It’s been wet and cold. Camping was definitely the plan, but I thought I’d wait until it warms up,” Thomas said.

Along the way, Thomas also tries to keep his Web site updated. He records his mileage on the site, and he has also been keeping a journal about his travels.

Thomas hopes that his trek across the United States will inspire more awareness and fundraising for charities.

Geoff Thomas is a charity rider with
a difference.
The former Woollahra butcher is
currently 2000 miles into a bicycle
lap around America and he is doing
it for any organisation that needs or
wants a voice.
Mr Thomas spoke to the Courier
from his hotel room in Rugby, North
Dakota, where he explained he was
"giving people the opportunity to
raise a bit of awareness if they don't
get it elsewhere".
At the beginning of his 7000-mile
expedition he said he'd originally
planned to do a "lap for lupus" but
thought he needed more meaning.
"The basic thing was bringing
awareness to [the disease] back home
and if I was going to ride 7000 miles
I may as well do it for someone else
as well," he said.
"The major idea when I left New
York was to set up a website and if
anyone wanted to throw their hat in,
they could."
In that way Mr Thomas, 37, has
become somewhat of a charity rider-
for-hire, except he stressed that in no
way was his trip about money.
Mr Thomas was modest about
his accomplishments and said his
passion for cycling simply stemmed
from his love of the open road.
And when asked what had been
the most memorable experience to
date, he said: "That might be around
the corner.
"It's a bit of a mystery tour -- most
compelling, I suppose, would be hav-
ing people appreciating what you're
doing."
Charities or organisations want-
ing Mr Thomas's help should visit his
website at www.bikeusa2007.com.

Danielle Webster kindly interviewed me and her report was aired Wednesday, May 23 at 0630 & 0830 on KUND 89.3 FM, Prairie Public Radio.

Sports Thursday, May 24, 2007

Cyclist stops in Devils Lake on lap for charity around the US
By Nathan Leete - Sports Writer
Published: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 2:50 PM CDT

Geoff Thomas is riding a lap around the perimeter of the US to raise awareness for charities.
Australian cyclist Geoff Thomas braved the rain and wind yesterday to ride into Devils Lake on his bicycle trip around the perimeter of the US. Thomas is riding a full lap of the continental US to help raise awareness for “Lupus and other reputable charities” through his website bikeusa2007.com.

“I decided if I’m going to ride thousands of miles and generate some publicity, then somebody should be able to benefit from it,” Thomas said.

To do this, Thomas will put links to charitable organizations on its front page. He also has t-shirts and signs on his bike and pack with the web address so people will go to the site and see the organization links.

Thomas doesn’t descriminate against any charity and as long as their reputable all they have to do is contact him and he will add a link. Originally Thomas wanted to raise lupus awareness after he was diagnosed with the condition in 2003 because it is a fairly unknown condition in Australia, but then found out it is relatively well known here in the US.

“I’ve got a mild form of [lupus] and back home nobody knows what it is, but here it’s relatively well known. You just don’t say anything back home, because then you go into it and have to explain I’ve got one form of it, but there’s all these others,” Thomas said. “I’m in the minority as a guy and even I didn’t know what it was until I was told. Now ‘The Lap’ is basically for any organization big, small or anything.”

Thomas was traveling on his way to the US when the Virginia Tech. incident happened, so he added that link to his website. He also has links to smaller organizations such as a couple from Indiana that are raising money to buy an RV and travel the country giving wigs and hair stylist sessions to cancer patients.

Thomas is no stranger to long distance cycling or being away from home. Four years ago he cycled over 5,000km across Australia and has always wanted to come to the US.

“I’ve always wanted to come [to the US] and do it,” Thomas said. “I’m a member of the Adventure Cycling organization out of Montana. I’ve never really gotten the chance so I went across Australia. I figured if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it.”

Thomas doesn’t have any sponsors for this ride and is doing it with his own money.

Before coming over here Thomas worked, saving up money for approximately 10 months.

“I just kind of put my head down and said, ‘Okay, this is what I have to do to make this happen.”

Thomas also recently graduated from radio broadcast school in Sydney and said it was different being a “mature aged student” and had fun outdoing the younger, traditional students.

Thomas has also always had a passion for travel and photography, eventually combining them to be a freelance photographer for the professional tennis tour. Thomas has shot several Grand Slam tennis events such as the Australian Open. He also has a feature film script “in the works” and is compiling his experiences into a book he hopes to get published.

Thomas left Devils Lake this morning on Highway 2 to continue his trip across the U.S. So far he has logged 1,859.72 miles on his trip. Thomas estimates it will take him two months across the top of the country, one month down the West Coast, two months across the bottom of the country and another month up the East Coast.

If you would like to track Thomas’ progress or have a charitable cause you would like to raise awareness for, you can contact him through his website.

(For a copy of this Sports story see the Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Journal) 05/23/07

Friday May 25, 2007
home : news
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/25/2007 9:09:00 AM
Aussie stops in Little Falls on his bike ride across the U.S.

Joyce Moran
News Editor

Whether you're walking, swimming, flying, canoeing, driving or biking, Little Falls is a nice place at which to stop.

Realizing this, such was the decision of Geoff Thomas Friday, May 18. Having always wanted to bike across the United States, the 37-year-old Australian was in the process of fulfilling his dream. He had left New York City April 29. From Little Falls he was planning to go to North Dakota, Washington, California and then through the southern states to Florida.

"I went across Australia four years ago," he said. "The dollar wasn't good then and so I put off the trip to the states. But, I thought now was a good time."

Planning his trip, Geoff figured he should have some meaning-a cause-for it. Because he has Lupus, he decided to use it as a fund-raiser for the Lupus Organization of New South Wales-Sydney Australia. Not many people in Australia have heard of Lupus, he explained.

In addition, he is willing to use his ride to raise money and/or awareness for other charities. All one need do is go to his web site-www.bikeusa2007.com. Information is given there for getting included in his list of charities. Currently on the list are the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund, the Alliance for Lupus Research and Cancer Research/Melanoma.

Geoff is a free-lance photographer and is currently writing a book on his travels. He has seen most of Europe, Russia, Canada, Japan, Jamaica and New Zealand.

Asked about the biggest obstacles he has met while biking across the U.S., Geoff said, "Getting out of New York City, and then the hills of Pennsylvania. But, everybody I've met has been friendly."

Should anybody care to get in touch with Geoff, he carries a laptop with him and tries to update it every day

Biking for charity: The cross-country bicyclist you might see today on U.S. Highway 2 west of Grand Forks is on a tour around the perimeter of the United States, and he's inviting people he meets along the way to donate to charities on his Web site.

Geoff Thomas, Sydney, Australia, spent Monday in Grand Forks. He said it seemed a waste to make such a long trip without having some charitable purpose. So he put links to a few good charities on his Web site, www.bikeusa2007.com. You can nominate other charities there, too.

Article published May 10, 2007
Cross-country biker seeks charitable cause
Westward-bound cyclist wants to help those in need

By JOSEPH DITS
Tribune Staff Writer

The Sydney native says he’s in the midst of changing careers to writing, radio and photography.

He’s finding his place in life.

As he rode into New Jersey, a cop escorted Thomas to the roadside because he was stuck between lanes of traffic for more than 10 minutes.

A man in Pennsylvania asked him to mow grass.

“I had a mum ask me where such-and-such soccer field is.”

Well, the Aussies do play a bit of soccer.

Staff writer Joseph Dits:
jdits@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6158

The Lupus Magazine - A fresh, free online magazine for those with lupus and those who care.

lupusMCTD.com - A national Lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder website by Kathy.

The Lupus Foundation of Ontario - A wonderful website from our Canadian friends in Ontario. Need any Lupus info? You'll find it here.

Care for Lupus Indonesia - It's great to have the Syamsi Dhuha Foundation on-board for those requiring help or support in Indonesia.

Lupus Alert Mauritius - A new site from Mauritius with a theme of passion, vision, motivation, compassion and determination... Says it all really.

Adventure Cycling - A not for profit organization inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle - and over long distances.

Jude for the sewing - Harry for getting that bloody bike in a box! - My NYC friends... 21 years & counting! - The people of America for making me feel so welcome - The truckers of America for being so considerate on the road & The freight train drivers for giving me a hoot & a wave when times were tough - Sam (the cutie!) @ Sam's Cove, Westlake Louisiana, for the directions - The Bike Shop Billings, Email - The Round Trip Bike Shop, Casa Grande Arizona, Website - The Bicycle Co. of El Paso, surely a candidate for a customer service award - Ray & Johnny Johnson @ Johnson's Bicycles, Lafayette, LA. In business and the same building since 1953. I wouldn't expect a website soon. Their time is spent on genuine old-fashioned service. Ph/Fax: (337) 235 2330 - Ken McGuire of The Californian DOT - Mike & Cindi of Melbourne, FL. - Mike has a great motorcycle Blog which covers Lupus issues - Susan, Chelsea, Megan & Ian - The Australian Embassy, Washington D.C. - The lovely Chelsea Kasai and all at the Alliance for Lupus Research.- Duane Peters and all at the Lupus Foundation of America - UMASS Amherst NYC Metro Alumni Club - The Australian NYC... Thanks to Matt and his staff for the friendly welcome and congrat's on a great venue @ 20 West 38th Street (Between Fifth & Sixth), NYC - Marilyn for the true friendship, Michelle post Mingles '92 & Matt for being part of a great McGrover team - To all those who have done it tougher than I have over those 5 months on the road through no fault of your own... You were so inspirational - And Karen Aubrey, formerly of Lupus N.S.W. - I said I'd do it & this is for you.

Sue & my Lupie Groupies - NE of Harrisburg, PA. Kelly - Sacramento Pauline - Sacramento Shannon - South of Seattle Wendy - The Aussie in El Paso Elena - Moscow, Russia Marilyn - NYC Slick - Melbourne, Australia (Tigerland!) Tones - Melbourne, Australia Damita - The Waxgirrl! Morgs (The Yabbi Hunter) - Sydney/London Anna (Sarah) - Don't you remember? A.B. - The designated driver. Joe - @ 8 Harwood. Elaine & Col - Australia. Mary - Chicagoland. The Baygon Girls aka The Friday Arvo Piss Pots. Helen @ 10 Harwood Anne and Val - Peter the Barber. Tiffany of Orlando & regards to her Mom & Dad. Jan Holmes - Sydney. Matt - Ireland ex Sydney (Cuff Joes!) - James - Moto GP Sydney - Karen - Deb - Betsy - Ben Abney - Teresa - Heather Spears - Therese DeVault - Angela aka Angellady - Doreen Pagan - aka Reenie - Steph Effertz - Montana - Michelle LeBlanc - Michigan - Trevor Hicks - Naomi Dasouza - Marcelina (what a beautiful name) Rodriguez - San Antonio - Enoc Rodriguez - Herlinda Eureste - Texas - Jayne Lenderink - Judy Nelson - Mary Goss - Karen - Canada - And those great guys 'n gals from The UMASS Amherst NYC Metro Alumni Club who were so generous and everyone else who attended the function in aid of The Alliance for Lupus Research @ The Australian NYC.

Please Note: The entire contents of this site are STRICTLY covered by copyright including ALL images

Geoff Thomas accepts no legal liability or responsibility whatsoever resulting from this website, organizations involved or his journey in the United States or thereafter.