Kenny Herriot's Great Lemon Ride – Hand Cyclist Across America

Rhonda E. emailed me last night with a blog that I just HAD to check out. Rhonda and I have never actually met face to face (even though we were both at the same century ride…we just didn’t know it!), but I absolutely love interacting with the readers of Mountain Biking by 198. In this case, she forwarded me on something that I just couldn’t go without sharing with your guys. Instead of littering this article with my words, I have decided to copy and paste Rhonda’s as she was able to say it better than I ever could.

Rhonda’s Email About Kenny Herriot

Hi Robb,

The rain here in Rome has kept us off the trail and the 45 mile road bike ride in the rain wasn’t that great so I have been following my friend’s blog.  I though you might find his story interesting so I am posting the link for you.

Kenny’s Blog | Article On Kenny’s Ride | Kenny’s Site

Kenny Herriot is a hand cyclist and wheel chair endurance athlete that is a native of Scotland. In 2000, he crashed is motorcycle and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He, however, decided that his handicap wouldn’t keep him from doing things that he enjoys.  Kenny is a world class wheel chair athlete and now a marathon hand cyclist. He began looking for a new challenge late last year and decided that hand cycling across the States to raise money for childhood cancer was his new goal. He began the bicycle journey April 26 in Calf. and today he is about 4 days away from reaching New York. He has averaged 90 miles per day in his hand cycle and to make the feat even more amazing he was hit last Sunday and had to have his cycle’s rear axle welded together to be able to continue the journey. The power of the bike!!!!

Kenny is “good people”  Focused and determined and expects the best out of himself and others. I first met Kenny 2 years ago and we have become training partners when he is in town. He and I will typically spent about 3 days a week riding 3 to 4 hours at a time in the cold and rain/snow. Most of our training rides this year were miserable but Kenny’s nature has always been focused and positive. He statement to me on those frigid Jan and Feb. days, “Georgia in Jan. is still warmer than Scotland in Jan.”  🙂

Enjoy,
Rhonda E.

Thoughts from 198

This story is nothing but inspiring. The determination, drive and positive attitude about life that Kenny carries with him is something that we all need to take note of. I often write on robbsutton.com about not letting yourself get in the way of your own success. Kenny could have decided that the accident was going to control his life and keep him down…instead, he used his accident as a driving force to make his life better. When I see stories like Kenny’s, it reminds me that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. Do not let other people’s misconceived notions about your abilities keep you from succeeding and reaching your goals. If one man can ride his wheelchair across the United States, then anything is possible if you just put your mind to it.

I raise my helmet to Kenny Herriot…truly amazing.

In case you missed it up top…here are his sites to check out.

Kenny’s Blog | Article On Kenny’s Ride | Kenny’s Site