Joe Tarantino

I have bicycled through all 50 U.S. states, crisscrossing a vast network of roads and trails. I love to tell others about my trips - how I plan them, how I document them through my books, and all the good and bad experiences that define an epic bicycle adventure. I love to answer questions about my rides, like my favorite state, my favorite trip, and my most dangerous encounters. Still, the most impactful memories while on the road are the people I've met, including those I've been able to help, and especially those who helped me at times when I most needed them.

My first bicycling segment started in 1986 from my home in Ohio, finishing near Fort Niagara, NY. Eventually, I added rides to the East Coast, Chicago, and South Dakota, before my longest ride, from Seaside, Oregon, to Winner, South Dakota. After connecting five trips to complete a decades-old cross-continental dream, I began riding north to south, as part of a 50 by 70 goal - to ride in all 50 states before I turned 70. The trips through the Lower 48 included segments that reached from Maine to Florida, Ohio to New Orleans, and from Fargo, ND, to Pittsburg, KS. Finally, I rode along Route 66 between Santa Monica, CA, and Joplin, MO, to complete the southwestern US in 2022, with extended spurs into Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah.

My wife, Barbara, joined me for most of my segments. We laughed, cried, and enjoyed incredible views during our adventures as I rode on iconic North American roads and trails, In addition to completing Route 66, I have ridden the Natchez Trace, the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys, the Mississippi River Trail, the Greater Allegheny Passage, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Trail before completing my 50 by 70 goal in Alaska while on a group ride with cyclists I didn’t previously know.

I ran the Boston Marathon before we spent two weeks exploring New England while I rode. We found quirky, out-of-the-way, small-town historical centers and spent time sightseeing in destination cities like St. Augustine, Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Key West. The global pandemic precipitated social unrest nationally, ending or altering several trips. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with so many of our traditional activities no longer available, Barbara was prompted to start riding her dormant e-bike. She looked forward to touring and joined me for several short overnight rides, including on the Katy Trail from St. Louis to near Kansas City, Missouri.

I have been accused of being a coffee snob but deny it, confessing only to the pursuit of a perfect cup of the beverage through one of my 12 home coffee makers. My current favorite is the Cuban cafecito produced with a Moka pot. I have ran 25 marathons and other endurance events. I retired from a successful career in the aerospace industry as an analytical chemist, engineer, and operations manager, responding to God’s call to a different direction in an otherwise comfortable life. While pursuing my cycling goals, I seek to inspire others to chase their dreams through my writing.

I look forward to connecting with the right podcast host to share my experiences.