How You Can Help Freedom Ride — And Why It Matters
Every great American journey begins with a simple idea: go see the country for yourself.
Freedom Ride 250 is my way of doing exactly that.
In the months ahead, I’ll be riding thousands of miles across the United States—on backroads, rail trails, and forgotten routes that connect small towns, big landscapes, and the everyday Americans who make this country what it is. The ride is timed with the 250th anniversary of the United States, but the purpose goes beyond celebrating a historical milestone.
This project is about listening to America.
Along the way I’ll be documenting the journey through the Freedom Ride newsletter—sharing the landscapes, the people I meet, the conversations about our country’s future, and the unexpected moments that only happen when you travel slowly through a place.
But projects like this don’t grow because of algorithms.
They grow because of people.
And that’s where you come in.
Why This Project Exists
Freedom Ride began with a simple belief:
America is best understood from the ground level.
Not from headlines.
Not from cable news debates.
Not from social media arguments.
But from the roads, the rail trails, the small towns, the diners, the farms, the parks, and the people who live in places most of the country rarely talks about.
Traveling by bike forces a slower pace. It creates conversations you never would have had otherwise. It removes the barrier between observer and participant.
Over the course of the ride I’ll be documenting stories about:
The people who live along America’s rail trails and backroads
How communities are changing across the country
Conversations about the future of America’s economy and infrastructure
The landscapes that define this country
The everyday patriotism that rarely makes national headlines
The goal isn’t to lecture anyone.
The goal is to listen, observe, and tell stories.
Why Spreading the Word Matters
One of the biggest challenges today isn’t creating good content.
It’s helping people discover it.
The internet used to be built around sharing. A good article would spread organically through search engines and social media. Today, most platforms prioritize keeping people inside their own ecosystems rather than helping them find independent creators.
That means projects like Freedom Ride depend on something much older than algorithms:
Word of mouth.
Every time someone shares an article, forwards the newsletter, or tells a friend about the project, it expands the reach of the ride.
And the larger the audience becomes, the more stories from the road can reach people who might never otherwise hear them.
If you enjoy the content, the single most powerful thing you can do is simple:
Share it.
Forward it to a friend.
Post it on social media.
Mention it to someone who loves travel, cycling, or American history.
Those small actions compound quickly.
Subscribing Helps Sustain the Project
All Freedom Ride articles will remain free to read.
That’s intentional.
The goal is for these stories to be accessible to anyone who wants to follow the journey.
However, subscriptions help make the project sustainable.
When readers choose to subscribe, they aren’t just paying for content. They’re helping make the project itself possible—supporting the time, travel, equipment, and work required to document a cross-country journey in a meaningful way.
Think of it less like buying a product and more like supporting a story you want to see told.
Reader-supported projects allow creators to focus on telling honest stories rather than chasing advertising clicks or corporate sponsorship requirements.
And it ensures that the project remains accountable to the readers who care about it, not to outside interests.
Freedom Ride Gear
Another way to support the project is through Freedom Ride merchandise.
Shirts, gear, and other items tied to the project serve two purposes.
First, they help fund the journey itself.
Second—and just as important—they help spread the story.
A Freedom Ride shirt or piece of gear becomes a conversation starter. It introduces new people to the project and keeps the spirit of the ride visible long after the bike rolls through a town.
Sometimes the best form of advertising isn’t an ad at all.
It’s simply someone asking:
“What’s Freedom Ride?”
The Power of a Community
Projects like this are never truly solo adventures.
They become communities.
Some readers will follow the ride daily.
Some will share stories from their hometowns along the route.
Some may even meet up along the trail.
Over time, those connections become one of the most meaningful parts of the journey.
Freedom Ride isn’t just about crossing miles.
It’s about connecting people who believe this country is worth exploring, understanding, and celebrating.
The Simple Ways You Can Help
If you want to support Freedom Ride, there are a few powerful ways to do it:
1. Subscribe to the newsletter
It helps sustain the project and ensures you don’t miss stories from the road.
2. Share the content
Forward articles, post them on social media, or tell a friend about the project.
3. Wear the story
Freedom Ride shirts and gear help spread the message far beyond the ride itself.
4. Be part of the journey
Engage with the posts, share insights about your region, and help expand the conversation about America.
A Ride Across America
In 1776, a small group of people took a leap of faith and launched an experiment called the United States of America.
Two hundred and fifty years later, that experiment continues.
Freedom Ride 250 is a journey across the landscapes and communities that keep that experiment alive.
It’s a ride across the rail trails, highways, rivers, mountains, farms, and cities that make up this country.
And it’s a reminder that the story of America isn’t finished.
It’s still being written—mile by mile.
If you believe that story is worth telling, then I invite you to come along for the ride.
And if you want to help make it possible…
Share it. Support it. Ride with it.