If your office building were on fire, would you lock the door and keep working? If you were unhappy with your career, would you pedal a rental commuter bike cross-country to see what else was out there? What if a bloodthirsty axe murderer punched you in the face? Is that the city where you’d start a new business? Jeffrey Tanenhaus makes a lot of questionable decisions in pursuit of a fresh start, but they add up to one wild ride in this true story of the all-American adventure that has everyone talking— People , Newsweek , New York Post , The Guardian , Lonely Planet, NPR, and even The Late Show with Stephen Colbert . Without any tools or experience, Tanenhaus sets out unprepared yet determined to find his American dream as he battles hostile elements, treacherous roads, and his own self-doubt, mile after mile. Ultimately, it’s not the trek itself but the inspiring people he meets along the way who turn this funny, heartwarming exploration of small town life into one man’s journey home. My friends were on their second kid, home, or spouse. I was on my second failed job in event planning. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing at life. Citi Biking turned the pain of inadequacy into progress that felt good. So good that I wanted to keep biking—across America and on this very same equipment. I've always been curious about the world; I even majored in geography. But despite a global metropolis like New York City, where I lived with plenty of privilege, I felt sheltered from reality and tied to a desk in the dark. I want to know the real America—its past and present—one backroads mile at a time. I want to feel the sun on my skin. I want to immerse myself in national parks and historic sites. I want to meet different people and make new friends. Most of all, I want to find a more comfortable city to call home. One where I feel in control of my future and can work on projects I genuinely care about. I'm ready to explore life in a slower lane. My cross-country Citi Bike dream has no precedent, but I'd rather pedal ahead than sink in self-pity, even if my destiny is more uncertain than ever. Jeffrey Tanenhaus  is the first person to cross a continent by bike share. The native New Yorker broke away from the rat race to ride a Citi Bike 3,020 miles from Manhattan to Los Angeles. Jeffrey now lives with his two bikes in Tulsa, where he gives city tours. Connect with him at countribike.com.