U.S. Route 20 is a 3,400-mile highway which crosses 11 states, that stretches from Newport, Ore. , all the way to Boston.
Built in the early 1900s, the historic road passes through numerous communities both gigantic and tiny and is considered by many the “main street of America.”
Starting next month, two Skaneateles natives will discover for themselves exactly why the highway was given that nickname.
On Tuesday, Pete and Pearson Constantino will begin an epic six-week bicycle ride across the entire length of Route 20, starting in Oregon and ending Oct. 1 in Boston.
And that's not even the remarkable part of the story.
In 2006, Pearson, 29, was riding his bike in Westchester County, where he relocated from Skaneateles in 1999, when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. The accident caused severe head trauma and numerous broken bones. Pearson endured a lengthy hospital stay and 22 months of intense rehabilitation.
But Pearson's iron will and fierce determination are strong. Stronger, even, than the carbon-alloy frame of his brand-new Raleigh Cadent FC bicycle, one of two bikes donated to the brothers earlier this month by Raleigh Bicycles USA.
“Raleigh is going to sponsor us for the ride,” Pearson said in a telephone interview from his Westchester County home.
The main purpose of the ride, he explained, is to increase bicycle safety among motorists.
“Hopefully, when people ride their bikes, then drive their cars, they'll realize what riding is like, so they'll drive more safely. It's really important to me that this doesn't happen to anyone else,” he had said earlier this year.
As they make their journey cross-country, a film crew will accompany the Constantinos to shoot footage for “The Long Bike Back,” a documentary depicting Pearson's recovery and the brothers' ride that is produced and directed by his wife, Julia Wrona.
Wrona heads up a New York City-based production company called Ailujon Films.
“There will be what's called a 'chase van' following us to film some shots,” he explained, noting that he will be wearing a camera as well.
“That'll give (viewers) our point of view, and just what we see during the ride,” he added.
Though Pearson was hesitant to name the exact financial cost of the ride and subsequent film, he said that donations have been steady, and they are still accepting financial contributions.
“We could always be doing better with that, but at this point we're doing pretty good,” he said.
The brothers' daily itinerary, listed on the film's Web site, has them traveling between 60 and 100 miles per day.
“I average about 22 miles per hour on my bike,” he said. “So if you've got some pretty flat land, each day is not as grueling as you might think.”
The pair will travel through Oregon and Idaho before entering Yellowstone Park in Wyoming on Aug. 24. After that, they will traverse the Midwestern states before reaching Buffalo on Sept. 22.
“And we'll be in Skaneateles Sept. 24, where we'll stay for a day,” he said. While here, the brothers have tentative plans to speak to some school students, possibly including those in drivers' education classes.
Pearson's fifth grade teacher Janet Fagal is organizing the talks.
“I've always had a connection with his family, and I remember Pearson talking about bicycle riding when he was my student,” Fagal said.
“I think their message is great,” she said. “Hopefully they can bring about more awareness of bike safety, not just here, but for everybody.”
How to help
To make a donation, visit www.filmforum.org/sponsorship.html and choose “The Long Bike Back” from the drop-down menu. “The Long Bike Back” has nonprofit status through New York City-based organization The Film Forum, so all donations to the film are tax-deductible.
Checks can be made payable to The Moving Image with “The Long Bike Back” in the memo section, and mailed to:
Dominick Balletta, general
manager
RE: Fiscal Sponsorship
Film Forum
209 W. Houston St.
New York, NY 10014
Starting next month, two Skaneateles natives will discover for themselves exactly why the highway was given that nickname.
On Tuesday, Pete and Pearson Constantino will begin an epic six-week bicycle ride across the entire length of Route 20, starting in Oregon and ending Oct. 1 in Boston.
And that's not even the remarkable part of the story.
In 2006, Pearson, 29, was riding his bike in Westchester County, where he relocated from Skaneateles in 1999, when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. The accident caused severe head trauma and numerous broken bones. Pearson endured a lengthy hospital stay and 22 months of intense rehabilitation.
But Pearson's iron will and fierce determination are strong. Stronger, even, than the carbon-alloy frame of his brand-new Raleigh Cadent FC bicycle, one of two bikes donated to the brothers earlier this month by Raleigh Bicycles USA.
“Raleigh is going to sponsor us for the ride,” Pearson said in a telephone interview from his Westchester County home.
The main purpose of the ride, he explained, is to increase bicycle safety among motorists.
“Hopefully, when people ride their bikes, then drive their cars, they'll realize what riding is like, so they'll drive more safely. It's really important to me that this doesn't happen to anyone else,” he had said earlier this year.
As they make their journey cross-country, a film crew will accompany the Constantinos to shoot footage for “The Long Bike Back,” a documentary depicting Pearson's recovery and the brothers' ride that is produced and directed by his wife, Julia Wrona.
Wrona heads up a New York City-based production company called Ailujon Films.
“There will be what's called a 'chase van' following us to film some shots,” he explained, noting that he will be wearing a camera as well.
“That'll give (viewers) our point of view, and just what we see during the ride,” he added.
Though Pearson was hesitant to name the exact financial cost of the ride and subsequent film, he said that donations have been steady, and they are still accepting financial contributions.
“We could always be doing better with that, but at this point we're doing pretty good,” he said.
The brothers' daily itinerary, listed on the film's Web site, has them traveling between 60 and 100 miles per day.
“I average about 22 miles per hour on my bike,” he said. “So if you've got some pretty flat land, each day is not as grueling as you might think.”
The pair will travel through Oregon and Idaho before entering Yellowstone Park in Wyoming on Aug. 24. After that, they will traverse the Midwestern states before reaching Buffalo on Sept. 22.
“And we'll be in Skaneateles Sept. 24, where we'll stay for a day,” he said. While here, the brothers have tentative plans to speak to some school students, possibly including those in drivers' education classes.
Pearson's fifth grade teacher Janet Fagal is organizing the talks.
“I've always had a connection with his family, and I remember Pearson talking about bicycle riding when he was my student,” Fagal said.
“I think their message is great,” she said. “Hopefully they can bring about more awareness of bike safety, not just here, but for everybody.”
How to help
To make a donation, visit www.filmforum.org/sponsorship.html and choose “The Long Bike Back” from the drop-down menu. “The Long Bike Back” has nonprofit status through New York City-based organization The Film Forum, so all donations to the film are tax-deductible.
Checks can be made payable to The Moving Image with “The Long Bike Back” in the memo section, and mailed to:
Dominick Balletta, general
manager
RE: Fiscal Sponsorship
Film Forum
209 W. Houston St.
New York, NY 10014
