Saint Louis University head cross country & track and field coach Jon Bell is taking part in the 2021 Trans Am Bike Rice (TABR), and annual self-supported cycling race across the continental United States.
 
The race follows the 4,200-mile TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, which spans 10 states from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia. Bell began the journey on Sunday, June 6, in Astoria.
 
Being a self-supported race, participants in the TABR are not allowed to receive any help from outside sources on their journey – there are no teams or crews following the racers. Also, there are no stages, so the clock never stops. The riders must purchase all their food, lodging arrangements (roadside camping or hotels), and repairs from commercial sources along their journey.
 
The winner of the 2019 race finished in 16 days, 9 hours and 56 minutes. But it is an impressive feat just to finish the race. The last time the TABR was held in 2019, 46 out of the 74 made it all the way to Yorktown.
 
Visit TransAmBikeRace.com to track the riders via live GPS trackers. You can follow Bell specifically by clicking here or on Twitter at @jbell30.