Andy Leeka joined San Francisco, California’s, Angle Health as president and in 2020. When he is not managing the launch of tech-enabled health plans for tech companies at Angle Health, Andy Leeka is an avid cyclist. He logs more than 8,500 miles per year and is progressing through a section ride of the United States with a friend.
Individuals interested in cycling across the country have several routes to choose from. The “original” ride across the US is known as the TransAmerica Bike Route, a 4,626-mile ride from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia. The scenic journey begins along the Pacific Ocean before ascending the Sierras and passing through both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Other highlights of the trail include a crossing of the Mississippi River and passing through the Appalachians before the route ultimately concludes at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Southern Tier, meanwhile, is a shorter, 3,050-mile ride from San Diego to St. Augustine through America’s Southern territories. Riders pass through Alabama, Mississippi, and the American Southwest, but they must schedule their trip carefully. The Southern Tier is virtually unrideable during the summer months, as temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit along the way.
While most riders imagine riding coast to coast when it comes to cross-country cycling, there are also options for traversing the nation from north to south, such as the East Coast Greenway. While only 30 percent of the ride has been completely paved and maintained for cyclists, the East Coast Greenway will eventually stretch from Key West, Florida, to the Canadian border in Augusta, Maine. Other rides include the Northern Tier, the Pacific Coast Bike Route, and the Great Divide Trail.
