Scottdale man celebrates 200,000 miles of bicycle riding

Lorne Peachey of Scottdale has ridden across the United States and on almost every rail-to-trail path imaginable on his way to 200,000 miles on a bicycle.

Peachey, 86, celebrated his achievement with about 150 family, friends and bicycling acquaintances Saturday afternoon at the West Overton Village events barn near Scottdale.

Describing himself as a “solitary cyclist,” he reached the 100,000 mark 19 years ago. He rode across the country on a trip with several other cyclists in 1982, when he was 43.

He related several stories about his adventures on cycling trails, including an incident in August 2019, in which he was struck by a falling tree in an isolated area of the Great Allegheny Passage, near Connellsville. Though taken to the hospital, he came through the incident without major injury and expressed appreciation for his new lease on life.

Dozens of people came from across the country at Peachey’s invitation.

“If you hear I die, you don’t have to come back,” Peachey said. “You’ve been here.”

He has since ridden more than 1,000 miles since passing the 200,000-mile mark in October.