Ep. 1100: Ben Grannis - Biking ~6,000 Miles Around the US Revisited

Ben Grannis' 6,800-Mile Cross-Country Bike Tour and Distracted Driving Awareness

In this revisited Adventure Sports Podcast episode, long-distance cyclist Ben Grannis recounts his nearly 6,800-mile cross-country bike tour, the campaign behind Text-Less Live More, and the personal lessons learned while bikepacking across the United States. This episode blends adventure storytelling with advocacy strategies for road safety, distracted driving prevention, and long-distance cycling preparation.

cross-country bike tour fundraising for distracted driving prevention

Ben rode across the country to raise money and awareness for Text-Less Live More, ultimately raising roughly $40,000. He explains how the cause—started after a cross-country cyclist was killed by a distracted driver—became deeply personal after months riding and conversations with families affected by crashes. The episode covers campaign logistics, local interviews, and turning a personal challenge into a nonprofit partnership.

practical bike touring lessons and safety tips for long-distance cyclists

Ben shares tactical lessons from 124 days on the road: helmet mirrors for rear visibility, routine brake maintenance to avoid metal-on-metal failures, and dealing with hazards like “rolling coal.” He emphasizes defensive positioning, carrying spare parts, and using community resources like WarmShowers hosts to solve mechanical or logistical problems during remote stretches.

how adventure deepens empathy and advocacy

Beyond logistics, the conversation explores how self-powered travel—bikepacking, bike touring, and long-distance cycling—creates vivid, lasting impressions. Ben contrasts experiencing places by car versus reaching them by human power: the latter is more visceral, builds resilience, and often leads to meaningful in-person conversations that drive behavior change better than social media alone.

community networks and kindness of strangers

The episode highlights WarmShowers and the generosity cyclists encounter on the road. Ben’s final-day brake failure was resolved thanks to hosts who mobilized quickly, driving him to a bike shop and offering shelter. That vulnerability opens opportunities for human connection, mutual aid, and stronger local advocacy for safer roads.

what listeners will take away

• Strategies for combining advocacy with adventure travel and effective grassroots fundraising.
• Practical safety steps for long-distance cyclists and ways to reduce distracted driving risks.
• Reflections on social media trade-offs and why face-to-face conversations still matter.

This episode is valuable for cyclists, outdoor adventurers, road-safety advocates, and anyone curious about turning a personal adventure into a meaningful public campaign. It provides actionable cycling tips, emotional insights on vulnerability, and concrete ideas for reducing distracted driving.