The Cast

After high school, Scott Drinkard joined the US Air Force Academy in Colorado and flew combat missions in operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He flew many types of aircraft in the US Air Force until retiring in 2013. He now trains and flies for United Airlines while continuing to ride his bike and train for a big ride each summer. When looking back on the ride in ‘82, Scott feels that it was “one of those expansive life experiences that gave me the confidence to imagine and pursue other goals and bolder futures.”

Michael Uhrich toured as a professional musician, owning his own studio as a music producer for many years before becoming a music instructor for a high school where he teaches today. Uhrich has continued to ride, crossing the country three more times east to west and south to north and rides to work daily. He sails the waters around the Caribbean in sailboats her restores himself, always looking for a challenge. The story of 1982’s ride is important to Mike because it’s “a vehicle to inspire somebody else to do something that they might not otherwise do.”

The summer of 1982 is something that Peter Rumsey has always carried with him. Through a long career at Habitat for Humanity he has traveled the United States and the world building homes and communities. He still loves to ride, mostly mountain bikes and has shared a love of the outdoors with his children. He knows riding for Multiple Sclerosis inspired him to “bring people together and to serve our country by meeting the needs in communities through service programs.”

The summer of 1982 was transformational for the film’s director, inspiring him toward a path of creativity and filmmaking. For more than 30 years and a dozen documentary films Paul’s storytelling has been both regional and global, and always filled with the enthusiasm, commitment and service of 1982’s bicycling adventure. “Our ride in the summer of 1982 was both deeply personal and communal, and my life has echoed the need for individual challenges, but also a reliance on having a ‘team’ relationship in filmmaking and life. Over time, that has really shown itself to be essential for me.”

Valerie Nervo Groesbeck kept a sense of adventure and service throughout her life. She became an advocate of Montessori education, starting her own Montessori school that has become an integral part in many people’s lives. One of her kids also rode coast to coast on a bike with Valerie’s encouragement in his head that “your mom did this, you can too!”. Valerie said that after the summer of 1982 and accomplishing the ride, it “enabled me to know that I could do anything I put my mind to”.

Bobby Wells tried to stay away from it, but has often found himself in leadership positions in Boy Scouts, his manufacturing jobs, church and in other ways throughout his life. He has a passion for traveling, whether it be for work or vacation, and credits the summer of 1982 ride for that desire to learn and explore. For him the ride “defined who I have become…everything about our trip plays a part in who I am and what I do today.”

John Ballas adventurous spirit and big personality helped him create a career out of helping people live healthy lives through his chiropractic clinic and service. Health has always been important to him and he has made it his mission to share his knowledge with patients. When thinking of the ride, Ballas reflects that “the ride shaped me and confirmed who I am in life. Work hard, stay focused, don’t quit… and don’t ever stop giving thanks.”

Even though he had no camera on the bike trip, John Patterson pursued a passion for photography and worked as a studio photographer for years. He now manages a coffee distribution company in Asheville, NC while also finding time to ride his many bicycles on the roads and mountain bike trails. He believes that “there is inherent risk in taking a two wheel journey” and that the ride has encouraged him to take more risks in life and achieve his goals.