A Massachusetts man pedaling his way across the United States stopped in Harlan Monday night. 59-year old Kevin McNett began his journey during Spring Break in April, by dipping his rear wheel in the Atlantic Ocean in Lewis, Delaware. The bike he’s cruising on isn’t your typical, high-end, high dollar two-wheeler. He says it’s a reproduction of a 1885 Victor bicycle. It has the very large front wheel, 54 inches, and a small rear wheel. McNett says it’s more difficult to ride than your typical touring bike. He says its direct drive with the pedals, and has only one gear. Every time he cranks the pedal, he moves forward 160-inches. There is no dropping the gears going up and down hills. 

When McNett started his journey, he had a friend from Maryland pedaling with him and his wife was following in a truck. Since that time, his friend and wife had to stop because of his friend’s health issues. Together they made it to Indiana before McNett pressed on. He made it through Illinois and crossed into Iowa over the Muscatine Bridge. McNett says he’s faced some challenges in Iowa. That includes trying to find the right roads and places to stay. He says the hills are tough, and so is the hot and humid weather. 

McNett pedaled from Jefferson down to Harlan for an overnight stay, Monday. The people he’s spoken with along the way often ask why he’s making the trip. He says ”If you have to ask the question then you will never understand the answer.” McNett says he exactly doesn’t know why he does it, but maybe it’s because less than 25 people who have pedaled across the country have done so in a high wheel bike. He says It’s a fairly exclusive club,” and he hopes to join it. McNett has already pedaled across the country on a normal bike twice in his life. McNett plans on finishing the journey in early September. 

You can find more information about his journey at www.thewheelmen.org.

(courtesy Joel McCall/KNOD – Harlan)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Despite mounting criticism, a spokesman says Gov. Terry Branstad won’t change the application process that former Iowa felons have to navigate to get their voting rights back.  Newspaper editorials, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democratic Party have denounced Branstad’s policy requiring ex-offenders to submit a credit report, pay all fines and restitution, obtain a $15 background check and answer 31 questions before he’ll restore their citizenship rights.  A Des Moines Register editorial Sunday called the policy an embarrassment to Iowa. The criticism comes after The Associated Press reported Branstad has restored the rights of 11 offenders since implementing the policy, which is among the harshest in the nation.  Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says the policy helps crime victims by denying felons their voting rights until they pay restitution.