Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race

by Meaghan Marie Hackinen

Overview

Meaghan Marie Hackinen’s follow-up to her award-nominated debut South Away charts her unforgettable, twenty-five-day journey on the Trans Am Bike Race: a coast-to-coast ride across the entire North American continent from Oregon to Virginia. Without the aid of a support crew, Hackinen must rely entirely on her wits, ingenuity and sheer determination to finish this extremely challenging feat. A sports story with a unique theme, Hackinen writes about the Trans Am Bike Race as a cultural whole, as she encounters consequences and unforeseen repercussions of an underground, unregulated athletic endeavour. Shifting Gears is another expertly-delivered travelogue and a thrilling glimpse into a world of athletes driven to impossible lengths.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774390818
Publisher:	NeWest Publishers, Limited
Publication date:	10/01/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	33 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Meaghan Marie Hackinen is a writer and cyclist from Vancouver, BC. Her two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and, most recently, from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads. Her writing explores relationships, experiences on the road, and encounters with wild places. Her creative non-fiction, poetry, and prose can be found in literary journals and cycling magazines. She has an MFA in Writing from the University of Saskatchewan and currently resides in Kelowna, BC.

Read an Excerpt

Prologue

 

JUNE 7, 2018

FRANKFURT AIRPORT, GERMANY

 

Condor Flight 2455 touches the tarmac at 12:45 p.m., Central European Summer Time. The abrupt deceleration causes the aircraft to shutter violently, mimicking the turbulence of my own anticipatory state. Though vibrations smooth as we taxi across the landing strip, my heart thrums faster. After ten hours in the air—and several months of planning—I’ve finally arrived in Frankfurt, Germany.

A canned message issued in both German and English reminds passengers to remain seated; cellular devices may now be used. I flex my legs, eager to move. To get started in this new chapter of my life. A much anticipated ding indicates we can unfasten our seatbelts and collect overhead bags. On the tarmac, a shuttle waits to transport us to the main terminal. I twist my head back toward the plane as we file onto the bus, keen to spot my baggage—in particular, my bicycle box. For a second, my thoughts whirl in panic as I imagine scenarios preventing my precious cargo from following me across the Atlantic. Luckily, I spy it—a rectangular cardboard box scrawled with the word Fragile in Sharpie marker—my anxiety instantly replaced by glee.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Prologue: Frankfurt, Germany 9

Pre-Race: Astoria, Oregon 13

Day Zero: Astoria to Peoria, Oregon 23

Day One: Peoria to Mitchell, Oregon 39

Day Two: Mitchell to Richland, Oregon 46

Day Three: Richland, Oregon to White Bird, Idaho 53

Day Four: White Bird, Idaho to Lolo, Montana 66

Day Five: Lolo to Dillon, Montana 78

Day Six: Dillon to Ennis, Montana 86

Day Seven: Ennis, Montana to Moran, Wyoming 93

Day Eight: Moran to Jeffrey City, Wyoming 102

Day Nine: Jeffrey City to Saratoga, Wyoming 114

Day Ten: Saratoga, Wyoming to Kremmling, Colorado 119

Day Eleven: Kremmling to Pueblo, Colorado 129

Day Twelve: Pueblo, Colorado to Leoti, Kansas 135

Day Thirteen: Leoti to Nickerson, Kansas 149

Day Fourteen: Nickerson to Cassoday, Kansas 156

Day Fifteen: Cassoday, Kansas to Golden City, Missouri 165

Day Sixteen: Golden City to Houston, Missouri 170

Day Seventeen: Houston, Missouri to Chester, Illinois 173

Day Eighteen: Chester, Illinois to Marion, Kentucky 182

Day Nineteen: Marion to Sonora, Kentucky 192

Day Twenty: Sonora to Harrodsburg, Kentucky 200

Day Twenty-One: Harrodsburg to Lookout, Kentucky 205

Day Twenty-Two: Lookout, Kentucky to Max Meadows, Virginia 211

Day Twenty-Three: Max Meadows to Love, Virginia 224

Day Twenty-Four: Love to Ashland, Virginia 232

Final Hours: Ashland to Yorktown, Virginia 239

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Glossary of Terms

Reading Group Guide

Table of Contents

Prologue: Frankfurt, Germany

Pre-Race: Astoria, Oregon

Day Zero: Astoria to Peoria, Oregon

Day One: Peoria to Mitchell, Oregon

Day Two: Mitchell to Richland, Oregon

Day Three: Richland, Oregon to White Bird, Idaho

Day Four: White Bird, Idaho to Lolo, Montana

Day Five: Lolo to Dillon, Montana

Day Six: Dillon to Ennis, Montana

Day Seven: Ennis, Montana to Moran, Wyoming

Day Eight: Moran to Jeffrey City, Wyoming

Day Nine: Jeffrey City to Saratoga, Wyoming

Day Ten: Saratoga, Wyoming to Kremmling, Colorado

Day Eleven: Kremmling to Pueblo, Colorado

Day Twelve: Pueblo, Colorado to Leoti, Kansas

Day Thirteen: Leoti to Nickerson, Kansas

Day Fourteen: Nickerson to Cassoday, Kansas

Day Fifteen: Cassoday, Kansas to Golden City, Missouri

Day Sixteen: Golden City to Houston, Missouri

Day Seventeen: Houston, Missouri to Chester, Illinois

Day Eighteen: Chester, Illinois to Marion, Kentucky

Day Nineteen: Marion to Sonora, Kentucky

Day Twenty: Sonora to Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Day Twenty-One: Harrodsburg to Lookout, Kentucky

Day Twenty-Two: Lookout, Kentucky to Max Meadows, Virginia

Day Twenty-Three: Max Meadows to Love, Virginia

Day Twenty-Four: Love to Ashland, Virginia

Final Hours: Ashland to Yorktown, Virginia

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Glossary of Terms

Editorial Reviews

If you aren’t already in love with the bicycle and the open road, perhaps this book will pull you into Hackinen’s slipstream.”—Yvonne Blomer, author of Sugar Ride: Cycling From Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur

“Vividly written, telling the authentic story of long-distance cycling — with all its setbacks, obstacles, emotions, craziness, rewards, and weirdness.”—Stefan Barth, author of Ultracycling & Bikepacking – All You Need to Know!, Founder of SBU Coaching

“Witty, insightful, unfiltered, and brutally honest, Meaghan Hackinen opens our eyes to the emotional rollercoaster and perils every ultra-distance cyclist faces. Hackinen takes us along for the ride in this gritty, raw account of her 2017 self-supported race across America. She comes clean about rookie mistakes, self-discovery, hardships, heartache, and the unbreakable bonds forged between fellow riders. This exhilarating read will inspire and resonate with every adventure cycling enthusiast.”—Robert Biron, Salty Beard Bikepacking

“Armchair enthusiasts will appreciate the vibrant writing and glimpses into the daily physical and mental challenges participants endure. Sure to appeal to cyclists and readers who enjoy two-wheeled adventures.” — Brenda Barrera, Booklist

“An inspiring narrative, Shifting Gears details momentous highs, overbearing lows, and the lessons that come with such experiences. Some readers may even feel compelled to hop on a bike and test Hackinen’s theory that cycling can offer self-understanding.” — Miru Yogarajah, Literary Review of Canada

“Shifting Gears by Meaghan Marie Hackinen is more than a story about cycling; it is a narrative rich with human emotions, challenges, and triumphs. This is a must-read if you are looking for a book on becoming an endurance cyclist. It is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and an inspirational read for anyone interested in the interplay between physical endurance and personal growth. Hackinen’s journey encourages readers to contemplate their limitations and inspires to venture beyond them.” — Amy Tucker, The British Columbia Review

From the Publisher