Rotarian Sheila Chapman, left, welcomes Judah Herr, center and Jonathan Herr to the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s meeting at The Parkside in Westfield.

WESTFIELD — Jonathan Herr of Buffalo and Judah Herr of Westfield are two brothers who are 10 years apart in age and had a common vision to bicycle across the U.S. to the West Coast and back. Their journey of 7,713 miles lasted four months and one week, from June 1 to Oct. 6, 2018. During the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s meeting at The Parkview in Westfield, the Herr brothers talked about their trek. Rotarian Sheila Chapman sponsored their program.

Because of their age difference, the brothers noted they did not have a particularly close relationship with each other prior to the trip. They wanted to share a common adventure that would span a period of time. The bike trek resulted in brotherly bonding, self-discovery, and personal growth for each of them. Both of them kept daily journals along the way.

Judah Herr, the younger and more introverted brother, said, “We were not really tight as brothers before our trip. It wasn’t until about two months into our trek that I began to open up. By the end of the trip, we were riding alongside each other, laughing all the way. From this journey, I learned to accept help from others and not try to do everything myself.” Prior to this long trip, the farthest that Judah had ever ridden on his new 12-speed bike was only 15 miles.

Jonathan Herr, the older and more conversant brother, stated, “Through this shared experience, we mastered ourselves in ways we didn’t even know existed. I learned that the world is really full of beautiful and caring people. We met people every day who were so generous, open, and so good.”

Their sojourn route took them from Westfield through Chicago, along the 195-mile Cowboy Trail through Nebraska, then into Wyoming, and Oregon, down to San Francisco, and back to New York state. They biked about 70 miles per day in various weather conditions.

Jonathan’s bike was a steel frame, 10-speed road bike with a granny gear, and also a bob trailer so that his guitar could accompany him everywhere. His guitar playing and singing helped to turn strangers into friends. In Clearwater, Nebraska, which is a small town of about 400 people, folks were curious and gathered to hear what they thought were two traveling performers.

The Herrs had invested about $4,000 in gear and the same amount in food for their trip. They had special attire for biking, though they discovered that their rain jackets and pants were not really waterproof. Also, they had prepared to be self-sufficient. Most nights they slept in a tent they had carried along. They did, however, find an online community of bikers who were willing to host them and other bikers in their homes. With a new app downloaded to their mobile phones, they met gracious hosts and made many new friends.

About these generous hosts, Jonathan said, “They would come out and meet us, bike with us, and open their homes to us. It was great to have warm showers, good food, and hear their biking stories from around the world. Sometimes the hosts would just tell us where to find a key to their place, and let us stay there when they weren’t even home.”

At one point the brothers separated from each other in the sagebrush desert so that Judah could make the 500-mile trek to Oregon on his own. About this experience, Judah said, “Making this trip alone forced me to open up and let others know who I really am. On my first night with a biking host family, I realized that I had to start a conversation with others by myself, without relying on my brother.” Through this, he gained personal insights, self-confidence, and communication skills. About his brother’s personal growth, Jonathan said, “It was amazing to see how he became a real bicyclist and a more confident man.”

Both shared that they never were really afraid during the trip, except for one time. Judah noted, “In New Mexico we decided to sleep at night beneath an underpass, which was next to a truck stop and a casino. At about 2 a.m. we were awakened by a mumbling, homeless guy. I felt very vulnerable. But nothing bad happened.”

The brothers said that they initially had just basic bike tires. Judah reported that he didn’t get a flat tire until they were 1,400 miles into their trip. In Los Angeles they invested in thin racing tires for their bikes. As they started out on their return trip, they ran over steel shreds of blown truck tires, which resulted in many flat tires. On one day they endured eight flat tires. They had run out of tubes and patches, and the nearest bike shop was 100 miles away. “We made it there on just very worn, almost flat tubes with multiple patches,” Jonathan said. Judah added, “And there’s not much to do in the desert.”

When asked about the wear and tear on their bodies, the brothers mentioned blisters and sore muscles. The most taxing part of their trek was going through the 8,432-foot elevation of Teton Pass when heading out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They endured a roadway with a six-mile incline at 11-14% grade, that was filled with switchbacks or hairpin turns. Judah admitted that he had to get off his bike and walk uphill about four miles.

The brothers returned to western New York in October 2018, stronger in more ways than one from their adventure. Jonathan stated, “When you come back to real life after four months of being on the road, you don’t quite fit back into your community. Telling others about this experience is kind of like telling people about a great dream you just had.” Judah added, “If I did this long of a bike trip again, I wouldn’t set a return deadline for completing it. I would be open to meeting new people and having new experiences, and just enjoy every day.”

Keep an eye out on the western New York roadways for a pair of male cyclists, especially if one is carrying a guitar. They just might be Jonathan and Judah Herr, two brothers who now share a very strong bond from their one common experience. The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville congratulates them on their cross-country accomplishment and successful journey of personal discovery.