(L-R) Jeff Miller, Gary Gill, Dennis Berkey, Kim Manganaro, John Fuoco, Shari Miller.

This idea germinated last year when there were scores of cross state records set. Hmm. I'd like to try that too. My first inclination was Vermont, beautiful, green, and inhabited by my eldest daughter. It is a fun state to visit, and best of all the N-S direction only 180 miles. But I blame John D'Elia for suggesting I do my home state first. He was right. Pennsylvania it would have to be.

The only existing record was W-E. The average speed was 17.5 mph over a probably hilly 340 miles. I chose this direction mainly so I could have a target to shoot for: 19:26. My friend Dennis and I scouted it on two separate days this winter. It was indeed very hilly. His DeLorme program gave it 29,116 feet of climbing. But it was also very pretty, coursing mostly over scenic Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania.

I hooked up with our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity to raise funds and awareness of the awesome work they do. There was publicity. This is small town rural Pennsylvania. Everybody knew what I was doing on June 2. People were full of cheers and encouragement. But with that there was pressure.

John Fuoco riding through the fog on his Pennsylvania bicycle record.

Nursing a gimpy knee through the winter and using the PBP qualifying brevets for training I rolled off from the Ohio boarder at 1 a.m. in pretty good shape. I used by Litespeed Tuscany with Campy record compact carbon group. I had an inexperienced but mature and totally dedicated crew of five at my back. With temps in the low 60s at the start I rode strongly knowing that some heat was in store later in the day and that I could not count on the usual west wind. We covered the first 200 miles in about 11 hours. During that time I rode thru dense fog, over five miles of torn up waffled road surface, past a marathon in progress and spotted a huge black bear crossing before me. The hills to that point, though numerous, were of a gentle grade, usually not over 5-6%.

By mile 230 it was early afternoon, the temp had hit 90, but I was still clicking off over 18 mph and feeling pretty good knowing I was ahead of record pace. But that's when a series of steep 1-3 mile hills erupted, one after the other. No breaks after the descents. Not a gifted climber, I still found the strength to dig deep and get up them at 6-8 mph, but I could no longer punch it over the tops and work the descents. I felt broken physically and emotionally. I wanted to get off the bike and cry. But my buddies were in the car behind me and I had hundreds of well-wishers at home anxious to hear how I did, hoping for the best. So the best is what I had to give them.

Fuoco riding strongly in his UMCA jersey.

Dodging late day thunderstorms and increasing traffic, I soldiered on toward the New Your border. With 50 miles to go it was still possible. I'd have to average over 17.5 mph, but maybe, just maybe. Riding through Carbondale with just 25 miles to go I took heart in the presence of a few people lining the road who knew what I was doing and cheered. But the climb out of that town was the steepest yet. I bogged down to just 3-4 mph going up it. With 1.5 hours to go it was evident I would fail to beat the existing mark. I was too numb with pain and fatigue at that point to feel disappointment. In fact I knew at some level that this was one of the best rides I had ever done and would wake up the next day and the days after that at ease with the notion that our planning, effort and execution were as good as they could be. Additionally I could sense the growing investment of my crew in the task and was proud to have shared this crazy scheme with them.

With the banks of the Delaware appearing through the woods to my right, I flew down the final decent and onto the steel grate bridge to Narrowsburg, NY. It was dusk. My crew was there with cameras and congrats at the ready. It took me 19:43 to get there, just 17 minutes past my goal. I had spent just nine minutes off the bike and most of that was stopping for red lights. I had set the mark for the 50-59 age group.

Fuoco climbing another Pennsylvania hill.

I've since been asked if, since I did not beat the 19:26 mark, I would do it again. No. No. No. Nothing went wrong. I couldn't have tried harder. I left my best in Pennsylvania. No. But there is still that Green Mountain state...

Official Record:Pennsylvania W-E, 50-59 age group, 393.9 miles, 19:43, 17.21 mph
Start: US 6N/20 at PA/OH state line west of West Springfield
Finish: PA/NY state line on SH 652 bridge over Delaware River between Atco, PA and Narrowsberg, NY
Official: Gary Gill