After one week on the road, all the hassles of everyday life quickly fade away. Ringing phones, rush-hour traffic and the demanding job are replaced by the need for incredible physical and mental stamina. It"s by far the largest ever of its kind. The Big Ride: The Story of the Largest Cross-Country Bike Ride in American History is based on the journal of rider-author Michael Galligan and is supplemented with stories of dozens of other riders in an easy-reading format. The book also includes photos, elevation maps, route maps and a contributors" index.