Longtime Friends from Cleves to Complete 13,000+ Mile Journey Around America's Perimeter

Ed Acheson and Michèle DeVoe began their journey over a year ago.

Ed Acheson and Michele DeVoe at the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo via perimeter24.com.

(Cleves, Oh.) - Defying age and expectations, longtime friends Ed Acheson, 69, and Michèle DeVoe, 66, from Cleves, Ohio, are set to complete an extraordinary 13,000+ mile bicycle journey around the perimeter of the contiguous United States on Monday, May 12. 

The adventurous duo will cross the finish line in San Diego, California—the very same spot where they began their epic, year-long expedition 13 1/2 months ago.

Ed and Michèle are believed to be the first people to successfully ride bicycles around the entire perimeter of the lower 48 states, with a route that exclusively hugged the outer edges of the country more closely than any known previous attempt. For much of the journey, they were within sight of Canada or Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, or the Gulf of Mexico — a perspective that defined their ride and set it apart from other long-distance cycling adventures. They documented their awe-inspiring trek in real time through their popular blog, Riding the Perimeter.

Photo provided.

As of March 27, they had logged nearly 11,500 miles, with Michèle noting, “We write a daily blog and take an embarrassingly large quantity of pictures—sometimes more than 100 a day.”

Over the course of their remarkable ride, they battled extreme weather, climbed countless hills and mountains, and were buoyed by the kindness of strangers. “That section from Harlingen to Laguna Vista was brutal—the headwinds were relentless, and it felt like we were pedaling through mud the whole way,” recalled Ed. Yet through every challenge, their enthusiasm remained undimmed. On their blog, they wrote, “Exploring our world and sharing our talents fills our hearts with joy. We are grateful to God for strong bodies and sound minds… sunny days and tailwinds… and the ‘unexpected generosity’ of people we meet.”

“Ed and Michèle’s achievement is a true testament to the power of the human spirit,” said AJ Waltz, media communications representative. “To circumnavigate the United States solely by pedal power at their age is an extraordinary demonstration of endurance, courage, and adventure. We are thrilled to welcome them back to San Diego and celebrate this historic accomplishment.”

Family, friends and the general public will be at the finish line in San Diego on Monday to cheer Ed and Michele as they complete their once-in-a-lifetime journey. 

For more information about Riding the Perimeter, visit their blog at perimeter24.com