Pietro Franzese did it: he crossed the USA by bicycle in less than two months, from San Francisco (Golden Gate) to Miami (Key West).
Departing from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on January 19, 2023, he arrived in Key West, the southernmost point of the continental United States, on March 15, pedaling 6,000 km and climbing 25,000 meters in altitude, independently.
From the freezing temperatures of California (up to -8° experienced in a tent in a valley parallel to the coast) to the humid heat of the Florida hinterland passing through sandstorms in the Sonoran desert in New Mexico and the swamps of Louisiana, Pietro Franzese together with his travel companion Emiliano Fava they were able to experience the vastness and variety of the United States on their own skin.
During the long bike ride, equipped with everything he needed, Pietro Franzese was able to put many of our products to the test, especially suitable for those who make gravel combined with bikepacking their philosophy of life. In addition to the various protective products such as Latex 1 and Air Latex, Franzse was also able to test a preview of the new Sprayke product: Lube 2. A novelty that absolutely had to be tested during a memorable trip. Lube 2 was in fact created for all those who “grind” kilometer after kilometre, both for passion and for work. A lubricant for wet conditions and for long distances, the ideal companion for travel.
“We have helped Pietro Franzese with great satisfaction, we have always been sensitive to environmental issues such as recycling. We have numerous “refills” of our products in our line, a way to contain plastic consumption, this is what Sprayke commercial director Michele Cereda said. Pietro Franzese, managed to collect 1700 euros during his trip to donate to the Plastic Free association.
“It was a succession of encounters that made us feel welcomed by the inhabitants of all the states we crossed: from California to Texas to Florida, no one ever lacked a greeting, a smile, a “good luck” or a ” be safe” after meeting us on the road”, told Pietro Franzese and Emiliano Fava. “We often traveled on bike lanes or cycle paths, always with great respect towards us from other road users. The use of single-use plastic is widespread, but we would have expected much more dirt on the streets and beaches and instead, also thanks to the policy of having some sections of the road adopted by the inhabitants, the situation is apparently less evident. Everywhere, especially in California, there is the possibility of refilling one’s water bottles. The most painful note of the trip is the enormous amount of “disposable” plastic from shopping bags to packaging, to cups and straws in fast food restaurants”.
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are the states they have crossed: over 100 km pedaled every day, up to 285 km for the final stage from Miami to Key West, with a favorable wind that he claimed to reach the southernmost point of the island. They faced demanding climbs, such as to reach El Paso, which exceeds 1000 m in altitude, but also difficulties along the way, such as in the first days in California, where the presence of floods and landslides forced the two cycle travelers to change the planned route. and technical difficulties, which forced Emiliano Fava to stop for a few days towards the middle of the journey, to then resume the journey and reach Franzese for the last stages.
Franzese and Fava are then satisfied, as they told in their videos, with the equipment used, from the bike, to the bags and clothing, the latter from Italian brands, comments Franzese.
Fundraising for Plastic Free Onlus
The journey of Pietro Franzese and Emiliano Fava was accompanied by a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform in support of Plastic Free, an Italian association that since 2019 has been involved through its network of volunteers in the creation of clean up appointments, rescue of sea turtles, raising awareness in schools and transforming Municipalities into Plastic Free.
The money raised will be entirely donated to Plastic Free and in particular to one of the projects chosen by “2 Italians Across the US” as the recipient of the funds raised: the protection of the Mida Creek nature reserve in Kenya thanks to the collaboration with the Sasa Rafiki association . Over 1700 euros have been collected to date, but the collection will still continue until the end of the month.
“It is an important sum” comments Riccardo Mancin, national coordinator of Plastic Free who personally followed the project of Pietro and Emiliano. “With that amount we will be able to remove 1700 kg of plastic and waste from the environment, strengthening the plastic collection system in the Mida Creek area in Kenya, also financing the construction of natural fiber wastebaskets as well as the construction of a well for fresh water and the planting of mangroves, an essential plant for the protection of biodiversity. I congratulate our two ambassadors for having completed this beautiful adventure by bringing the name of Plastic Free overseas, we await them with open arms in Italy to continue the environmental awareness mission they have espoused by joining the Plastic Free family”.
