Suit to Saddle
"Readers on mid-life journeys of their own will cheer Walsh on as he reminds them that a journey doesn’t have to be a means to an end—it’s the trip itself that matters." —BookLife
"Your job has been eliminated." In other words, you're unemployed, out of work, and desperate to find a new purpose. When US Army veteran Larry Walsh heard those words, his world was turned upside down. With a desire to move beyond unemployment, create an exciting new future for himself, and push past his limits, he decides to fulfill his lifelong dream to bike across the country.
He purchases a Surly Disc Trucker touring bike and begins his 3,120-mile ride of the Southern Tier from California to Florida. Cycling over treacherous mountains, through open plains, unforgiving deserts, and over 200 unique small towns, Walsh not only discovers a new world and new people, but he uncovers a side of himself that he thought was long forgotten-one filled with true grit and determination.
In Suit to Saddle, Walsh chronicles his story of triumph over adversity. Each person he meets along the road plays an integral part of his quest for inner peace and growth. Through the eyes of a one-armed cyclist, a retired police officer, a gun-toting waitress, and a thousand miles of open road, Walsh learns that the true meaning of a life well-lived is the journey.
Join Walsh on his trip across America and see what it feels like to experience life one mile at a time.
More Reviews:
"A deeply personal memoir..." —Kirkus
"...it was remarkable how Walsh not only overcame the physical journey but overcame the sadness of his mind. In a society where so many are struggling with mental health, I think his message and story of moving forward are so important. Any reader would love Walsh's story...Five Stars!" —Manhattan Book Review
"This book should inspire anyone who's going through a tough time or a massive change, and anyone who wants to be challenged to embark on an ambitious venture. I highly recommend it. Five Stars." —Reader's Favorite
"Suit to Saddle chronicles one man's epic spiritual journey—on two wheels—across the vastness of America. Ride with Larry as he experiences the challenging terrain, the tucked-away places, and the unique people that would collectively change him. Discovery, inspiration, and personal growth are on the horizon with every turn of the cranks! —William P. Apollo, M.D., Cyclist, Cardiologist, and contributor to The Outer Line and VeloNews
Author Bio:
Larry Walsh, US Army veteran, family man, and author of Suit to Saddle, left the corporate world after thirty years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He needed a change. Wanted a change. So he set out on a 3,120-mile bike ride from California to Florida. A wise man one said, "If you dig it, do it. If you dig it a lot, do it again"—Jim Croce. So that's what he did. He entered the 4,200-mile TransAmerica Bike Race, finishing the grueling ride from Oregon to Virginia in thirty-eight days.
He found it difficult to share his experiences in quick conversations with family and friends, so he wrote about his adventures pedaling through 528 towns, covering 7,300-miles and crossing 17 states. His uplifting stories from his travels encompasses two books, Suit to Saddle (available now) and Forty to Finish (coming soon).
He finds inspiration writing at the family cabin in Torch Lake, Michigan. When he's not in Michigan, he resides in Morris County, New Jersey with his wife and son. A proud father of two daughters, a son, a basketball enthusiast, he enjoys spending time with family.