On October 30, 1919, Tony Pizzo arrived in New York City chained to his bicycle. He had pedaled 3,000 miles in five-and-a-half months, attached to his bike by a three-and-a-half-foot chain and handcuffs welded shut around his wrists. These restraints had been sealed in Los Angeles the previous spring by Fatty Arbuckle, who had wagered that no man could ride a single-speed bicycle across the country, and offered to pay $3,500 (around $50,000 in 2017) to anyone who could—as long as they arrived in New York City before November 1.
At Hotel McAlpin in Manhattan (known as the Herald Towers apartments today) among onlookers, press and local politicians, New York Mayor John Hylan cut Pizzo free of his shackles. Pizzo told the *New York Times*, as he eyed his bike with disgust, that he wouldn’t make a trip like that again for a million dollars. Six months later, Tony Pizzo left New York City, chained to his bicycle, bound for Los Angeles. http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tony-pizzo-bicycle-ride I admit, I'm a little sceptical (the chains look pretty thin) but still ... -- a Andy Bach, afb...@gmail.com 608 658-1890 cell 608 261-5738 wk
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