What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
After retiring, I apparently decided I wasn’t very good at sitting still. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, walked about 820 miles on the Camino de Santiago, and then decided riding a bicycle across America sounded like a perfectly reasonable next bad idea. There was one small problem: I wasn’t a cyclist. I hadn’t ridden a bicycle in years and had virtually no experience with long-distance cycling. But in June 2021, I pointed my $800 bike, Gerty, east from Anacortes, Washington, and started pedaling. Eighty-one days and 4,535 miles later, we reached Key West. I wrote It’s Just Riding because the best parts of the journey weren’t really about cycling. They were about the people I met, the mistakes I made, the kindness I encountered, and discovering how far stubbornness and a sense of humor can take you.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
For me: “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. Stubbornness is probably my most useful athletic ability. For Gerty, my bicycle: “Born to Be Wild.” Although after several flat tires and a few mechanical problems, she might argue for “Another One Bites the Dust.”
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Historical Nonfiction is probably my favorite genre to read. I enjoy getting lost in a true story and learning something along the way. My own books are adventure memoirs, so the subject matter is different, but there’s a connection—I’m drawn to true stories about real people and real experiences.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I’m currently bouncing between two: David McCullough’s "Mornings on Horseback" and Lynne Olson’s "Empress of the Nile." Apparently, I’m not very good at reading just one book at a time either.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
My arrival in Bristol, South Dakota, the tiny town where I grew up. After nearly 1,800 miles, I turned onto Main Street and found 75 people lining the sidewalks to welcome me home. In a town of 250, that felt like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. I had spent weeks battling mountains, heat, and headwinds. Now I was finally home.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I’m not sure I have any quirky writing habits, unless staring at the same sentence for twenty minutes and then changing one word counts. I do read almost everything aloud. If it doesn’t sound like something I would actually say, I keep working on it.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Set a goal that scares you a little, commit to it, and keep moving forward. I’ve learned that you don’t have to know exactly how you’re going to get there when you start. You just have to make the commitment—and then keep taking the next step or pedaling the next mile.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
You don't have to be an expert to attempt something difficult. I certainly wasn't a cyclist when I started. I made mistakes, learned as I went, accepted help from strangers, and laughed at myself—a lot. I hope readers come away thinking that maybe they're capable of a little more than they give themselves credit for.
Jeff Peterson is the author of the new book It's Just Riding: Just Pete from Sea to Key (Just Pete Adventures)
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