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From Alaska to Florida, 46-year-old Steve Laskey says ‘I ride for them'
By Joe Benedict/MVM News Network
FORT MADISON - Effort inspires effort.
That are the words Steve Laskey, 46, of Foxboro, Mass., lives by. He left Fairbanks, Ala., 92 days ago on a bicycle en route to Florida. He's expecting the journey to last four months and carry him across 5,000 miles of North America.
“I'll hit the panhandle to complete the Florida part, then ride until I get 5,000 miles, probably ending on a beach somewhere,” he said.
His journey brought him to Fort Madison on Tuesday.
Laskey, who spent years as a wrestler in school and then went on to be a wrestling coach, said the adventure began as a physical challenge to himself. He rode a bicycle across the country about 13 years ago, riding from California to Maine. He wondered to himself, if at 46, he still had what it takes for a long distance ride.
To strengthen his resolve to finish the ride, he decided to make it a fund-raiser for the Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” campaign. The charity helps fund cancer research. Armstrong beat cancer and went on to win the Tour de France several times.
“I've had loved ones who have fought cancer. Some have beat it and some haven't,” Laskey said. “I thought this tied in with bicycling.”
Laskey has set up a Web site at www.effortinspireseffort.com. On his Web site people can donate directly to the “Livestrong” campaign. He said mostly family and friends have donated, but he has heard stories from people along his ride about struggles with cancer.
“I ride for them,” he said.
It isn't hard to imagine a 5,000 mile bike ride is going to have some challenges. Laskey said starting out riding 1,400 in the Alaska mountains really served as training for the rest of the journey. He said the plains in Canada weren't the most ideal conditions with the wind in his face many days during that time. Wind has not been his friend.
“There were times where I'd throw grass up in the air and say, well I can't go that way because the wind is too tough,” he said.
After three months, the average 50 miles a day is starting to get easier. He rides six days a week and has taken an additional day off here and there, but for the most part is on schedule.
Laskey said something clicked early on where he can throw a switch in his mind to concentrate on his goal. Camping out at nights he doesn't think about bears when he was in that part of the country. Along the highway he doesn't think about 18 wheelers brushing by him and he tries to ignore the bad weather.
He said he has been scared at times. One of the scariest experiences happened just a few days ago at Starr's Cave near Burlington. He had camped there and wondered into the cave. He kept walking and didn't know if he would find a way back out.
“That was the scaredest I've been in a long time,” he said.
Another source of inspiration that keeps Laskey going are the people he's met. He said Canadians have the reputation of being very nice and he said they are. He puts Iowan's above Canadians for niceness and support, however.
“I'm not just saying that,” he said. “Iowans treat you like family. That kind of spirit gives you encouragement and a mental break.”
Laskey said he hasn't had one problem with a person along the way.
In fact, his experiences with people have been so positive, he hopes to make a book out of his journal entries into a book. The working title for that book is “There are Still Good People.”
But it is his motto “effort inspires effort,” that he wants people to understand. He said inspiration can come from anywhere.
“It doesn't have to be the one on the podium, it could be the person who finished last.” He said.
Laskey said it should be the effort of the person that is inspirational.
“If people see this little skinny guy out there maybe that will influence their life in a positive way,” he said.
That are the words Steve Laskey, 46, of Foxboro, Mass., lives by. He left Fairbanks, Ala., 92 days ago on a bicycle en route to Florida. He's expecting the journey to last four months and carry him across 5,000 miles of North America.
“I'll hit the panhandle to complete the Florida part, then ride until I get 5,000 miles, probably ending on a beach somewhere,” he said.
His journey brought him to Fort Madison on Tuesday.
Laskey, who spent years as a wrestler in school and then went on to be a wrestling coach, said the adventure began as a physical challenge to himself. He rode a bicycle across the country about 13 years ago, riding from California to Maine. He wondered to himself, if at 46, he still had what it takes for a long distance ride.
To strengthen his resolve to finish the ride, he decided to make it a fund-raiser for the Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” campaign. The charity helps fund cancer research. Armstrong beat cancer and went on to win the Tour de France several times.
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Laskey has set up a Web site at www.effortinspireseffort.com. On his Web site people can donate directly to the “Livestrong” campaign. He said mostly family and friends have donated, but he has heard stories from people along his ride about struggles with cancer.
“I ride for them,” he said.
It isn't hard to imagine a 5,000 mile bike ride is going to have some challenges. Laskey said starting out riding 1,400 in the Alaska mountains really served as training for the rest of the journey. He said the plains in Canada weren't the most ideal conditions with the wind in his face many days during that time. Wind has not been his friend.
“There were times where I'd throw grass up in the air and say, well I can't go that way because the wind is too tough,” he said.
After three months, the average 50 miles a day is starting to get easier. He rides six days a week and has taken an additional day off here and there, but for the most part is on schedule.
Laskey said something clicked early on where he can throw a switch in his mind to concentrate on his goal. Camping out at nights he doesn't think about bears when he was in that part of the country. Along the highway he doesn't think about 18 wheelers brushing by him and he tries to ignore the bad weather.
He said he has been scared at times. One of the scariest experiences happened just a few days ago at Starr's Cave near Burlington. He had camped there and wondered into the cave. He kept walking and didn't know if he would find a way back out.
“That was the scaredest I've been in a long time,” he said.
Another source of inspiration that keeps Laskey going are the people he's met. He said Canadians have the reputation of being very nice and he said they are. He puts Iowan's above Canadians for niceness and support, however.
“I'm not just saying that,” he said. “Iowans treat you like family. That kind of spirit gives you encouragement and a mental break.”
Laskey said he hasn't had one problem with a person along the way.
In fact, his experiences with people have been so positive, he hopes to make a book out of his journal entries into a book. The working title for that book is “There are Still Good People.”
But it is his motto “effort inspires effort,” that he wants people to understand. He said inspiration can come from anywhere.
“It doesn't have to be the one on the podium, it could be the person who finished last.” He said.
Laskey said it should be the effort of the person that is inspirational.
“If people see this little skinny guy out there maybe that will influence their life in a positive way,” he said.
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