Cross-country road trips are a bucket list staple for many Americans. Few, however, would dare consider a cross-country bike ride – unless you’re Henry Greenfield. A 24-year-old Jersey City native and active cyclist, Henry is nearing the one year anniversary of his 50 day, 3400 mile long fundraising bike trip from Jersey City to California. Henry, who has significant hearing loss and wears cochlear implants, fundraised for a charity called No Limits, which works with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. He discovered No Limits around the age of 9, where he would participate in their theater productions designed to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing children with an outlet for expression. No Limits helped Henry develop socially and build on his love for performing, and he wanted to make sure that other deaf and hard-of-hearing children could have similar opportunities as he had. Henry was eager to share his experiences with me, and I wanted to do the same for you.

How did you fund and raise awareness for your trip?

I mainly used GoFundMe and I passed around flyers about my story prior to the trip. I also handed out flyers to people along the way.

Why did you pick No Limits as your organization?

No Limits played a crucial role in helping me perform with confidence on stage and introduced to me other kids who had hearing loss just like me. The benefits it provides for kids with hearing loss, who often can feel socially isolated and lacking in confidence on numerous levels, are invaluable, and teaches children core values of determination, perseverance and hard work. The organization’s motto is “I can do it!” which I adopted as my motto, and needlessly so. The same core values I learned at No Limits helped push me to accomplish my goal of biking cross-country in 50 days despite many instances along the way where I could have easily rested the additional day or taken my time.

Where did you eat and sleep?

I mainly used Warm Showers, which is basically the cycling version of couch surfing. I met a ton of really hospitable people who welcomed me with open arms. For food, I actually won a pasta pass from Olive Garden, which conveniently coincided with the dates of my trip. I even slightly adjusted my route to maximize my proximity to Olive Garden restaurants.   

What was one of your biggest highlights on your bike ride?

It’s always difficult to pinpoint specific highlights for me. But one of them was definitely my stop in Zuni, New Mexico on the night of Day 42 going into the morning of Day 43. I stayed at the Inn at Halona, a dutch owned inn in a Native American village, which was decorated with respect to the local culture. The following morning, I ate Zuni pumpkin bread and blue corn pancakes for breakfast and I still think about it to this day. The best pumpkin bread I have had in my life, and worth going back for. I also bought a ton of Zuni crafts for friends and family. It was just a really relaxing, hospitable environment in a geographically stunning part of New Mexico.

What was your biggest obstacle?

There are two types of obstacles that you’ll encounter on these bike trips: mental obstacles and physical obstacles. One of the biggest mental obstacles I faced was probably the loneliness and dealing with the downtime.  My biggest physical obstacle had to be my 7th of 9 days in Kansas, where I suffered from an extensive period of boredom through the monotonous scenery. The weather made this the most physically challenging part of my trip because the temperatures were in the low 90s and the winds were insane. I’m talking 30-40 mile per hour winds that were trying to throw me off my bike. At 2,200 miles in, I came really close to my breaking point, but then a friend reassured me of my progress. I had biked 2,200 (nearly ⅔ of my journey) miles just fine and quitting this far simply wasn’t an option.

Would you do it again?

Yes! Absolutely! But next time, I’d do it with company and bike a different route. I’d even be interested in trying a different country.

How long have you lived in Jersey City?

I’ve lived in The Heights for my entire life, so 24 years.

How has The Heights changed over the past few years?

It’s still quiet, but it’s gotten more lively in recent years. Business is better for restaurants and there are a lot of niche shops now. As for Jersey City overall, downtown is definitely booming and it’s become a really popular place to live now. I still prefer the Heights as a getaway from all the noise, but I think many of the changes have been for the better and the city is heading in the right direction.

What is your favorite Jersey City hangout spot?

The Jersey City Reservoir is my favorite JC hangout spot. Thank goodness they decided to preserve it.

What about a boozy or food hangout spot?

Hmm, Andrea’s Deli has the best Italian sandwiches around. They have the freshest variety of cheeses and meats, and it’s all right here in The Heights.

What is one of the biggest lessons that you learned from Jersey City?

I went to AEP at Academy 1, and it ingrained in me the discipline and work ethic I carry to this day. It really taught me that quitting is never an option and that you have to stick it sometimes even when you’re facing unbearable conditions.

Is there anything else that you would like people to know about you?

I’m obsessed with tennis and I offer lessons to people of all ages. It took much convincing from family and friends to tell me that I didn’t need to take my tennis racket with my on the bike trip. Chances are I always have a tennis racket on hand.

Any advice to prospective cyclists?

Get involved with the cycling community. It’s a very open community and people are very willing to help. If you are planning a long distance bike ride, take your time to enjoy all of the many sites and little things along the way. It’s all about the journey, not necessarily the destination. You are capable of more than you know! 100 miles sounds like a lot but it’s actually not too bad, especially if you have the right fuel and company along the way :)

For more information on Henry’s remarkable journey, visit his tumblr blog at http://henryonabike.tumblr.com/!