When a Reddit thread surfaced about a man who went on a solo cross-country e-bike tour, two questions demanded answers: Who was this adventurer, and what kind of bike did they use? After all, while reliable e-bikes have proliferated on urban commutes and mountain bike trails, only the best can successfully endure a grueling 5,500-mile journey from coast to coast.
The cyclist was 55-year-old Ed Ditto from Tennessee, and he was riding an Aventon Level 2.
Cruising across the country on an e-bike wasn’t Ditto’s first encounter with long-distance routes. He grew up backpacking with his father and even completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2023, and for years has been passionate about immersive travel. And he’s done a lot of it. Ditto retired early—at age 36—freeing up time to pursue his love of whitewater kayaking, ultrarunning, and exploring new places without the pressure of time.
Ditto’s Aventon-powered journey began at the Yorktown Victory Monument in Virginia and concluded at the Astoria Column in Oregon. Along the way, he connected the dots between urban centers like Chattanooga and St. Louis and scenic highlights like Yellowstone National Park and Breckenridge. The route offered sweeping views of the Mississippi River, climbs over Rocky Mountain passes, and a front-row seat to the diverse landscapes of the American heartland.
Choosing a bike for the journey was just as important as choosing the route. Ditto says the decision was influenced by positive feedback from the community. “It was good review after good review—both in the trade press and from individual owners across various forums,” he recalls. “I found a local dealer, took the Aventon Level 2 for a test ride, and it just felt right. I’d tried other bikes, but this one stood out as the best option. Plus, it seemed versatile enough to handle more than just urban commuting.”
He upgraded the e-bike with essentials to help meet the challenges of a continent-spanning ride. The kit enhancements included:
- Swapping the stock 12-32T 8-speed cassette for an 11-46T 9-speed for better climbing gears. This also meant upgrading the shifter and rear derailleur and lengthening the chain.
- Purchasing two extra batteries and a spare charger.
- Installing a custom Old Man Mountain front through-axle with an integrated attachment point for a front rack.
- Switching to Schwalbe Marathon E Plus 2.00 tires for added durability.
The package successfully got Ditto across the country, collecting memories, views, and interactions he’ll carry with him for a lifetime. He recalls the final moments of his trip:
“On the last day of my trip, after five months riding westward, I crested the ridge above Cape Lookout, Oregon, pulled off at an overlook, and saw the Pacific breaking against the beach. I realized I’d made it. I stood there straddling my bike, balancing its weight, and trying to feel anything like triumph. But I only remember feeling exhausted.
“There were other people there, all watching the ocean, except for one guy. He came over and asked how far I’d ridden, and when I told him I’d crossed the country, he did what you’d expect: He gasped, said ‘Wow,’ congratulated me, asked a bunch of questions, etc.
“This had happened to me dozens and dozens of times as I made my way across the U.S.—all these people who were flabbergasted that you could walk out of your house, get on your bike, and just start riding. A hundred, 500, 5,000 miles—amazing, they’d say.
“And then another guy approached and reacted like the first, and then a family walked up. I suddenly found myself surrounded by people praising me, telling me what an extraordinary guy I was for doing such a thing.
“It freaked me out a little. I’d been alone way too long by then, maybe gotten a touch agoraphobic. So I disentangled myself in the nicest way possible, rode down the ridge to the beach, leaned my bike against a fir tree, and walked out into the ocean with all my clothes on. That was it. Virginia to Oregon. Coast to coast. Done.
“A few days later, after recuperating at a beachside AirBnB near Astoria, I rented a van, loaded my bike, and headed back east. Eventually, I stopped for gas and caffeine. Unhooking the nozzle from the pump, it hit me: Back to the world of the mundane, man.
“Maybe I should’ve ridden home.”
Aventon Bikes is here to inspire adventures, both big and small, in all terrains of life. No matter what we look like now, a year from now, or a decade from now, this is what keeps us moving forward. Redefine adventure and learn more at aventon.com.
