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Cyclist returns to Tipp City, sets biking record

Phil Nagle, a 23-year-old Tipp City resident, has attempted to be the first cyclist to ride through all the lower 48 states, an epic 8,200-mile journey.

Contributed photo Phil Nagle, a 23-year-old Tipp City resident, has attempted to be the first cyclist to ride through all the lower 48 states, an epic 8,200-mile journey.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Map of cyclist Phil Nagle's 56-day ride around the continental US

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Cyclist gets welcome home party

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By Ken McCall, Staff Writer Updated 11:52 AM Tuesday, September 15, 2009

TIPP CITY — It might have sounded like a long-shot to some, but Phil Nagle, the 23-year-old Tipp City cyclist, finished his almost 8,200-mile trip around the country and into the record books Monday, Sept. 14., about 6 p.m.

More than 100 people screamed, shouted, clapped and shed a few tears as Nagle rode the final few hundred yards down Main Street in his home town with a police and fire department escort and accompanied by two cycling friends. To the continuing cheers, Nagle hopped off his bike and lifted it over his head in triumph.

Nagle, who graduated in June from the architectural engineering program at the University of Cincinnati, said he wanted a challenge this summer — and he definitely found one.

In his 57 days on the road, he’s spent 645 hours on the bike, averaged just under 13 mph, and burned through six tires and more than a half million calories.

Standing in the CVS parking lot on West Main Street where his trip began June 20, Nagle said he was feeling great, but admitted it wasn’t going to last long.

“I have so much adrenaline going through my body,” he said, as reporters, photographers, video camera men and admirers surrounded him. “This past week I’ve only slept about four hours a night. The closer I get to home, the more driven I am to go faster and just fight through the elements. And I made it.”

Nagle will go into the Guinness Book of World Records for biking through the lower 48 states. He was hoping to do the trip in 48 days, but detours around gravel roads, headwinds coming east and fatigue added nine days of riding. Still, the Guinness people have assured him no one else has done it, so he’s set a record.

His father Ralph said he was bursting with pride for his son — especially after watching him struggle over mountains, through cold rain and against the wind for so many days.

“Being on the road watching him, I was just struggling to get the motor home over some of those mountains, and I wait for him and here he would come pedaling up that mountain,” Ralph said. “I would get a tear in my eye to see my son putting in that much force.

“It’s a great thing. I’m so proud of him.”

His mother Regina — also with teary eyes — said she was “very excited and happy” to have her son back.

Phil said he was more than happy to be back.

As soon as the parking lot celebration was over, he knew exactly what he wanted.

“The first thing I’m going to do is go home, get some food and go to sleep,” he said.

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