Brock Kitchen

Brock Kitchen will ride coast to coast raising money for Central Valley Honor Flight starting Memorial Day.

Most people think about driving across America once or twice in their lives. Very few people think about biking it.

For Brock Kitchen, though, “ridiculous but not completely impossible” sounds like the perfect challenge.

This Memorial Day, Kitchen will begin a cross-country bike ride from the state of Washington to Washington, D.C. to raise money for the Central Valley Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to transporting veterans to the nation’s capital to visit the memorials built in their honor. If everything goes according to plan, he hopes to finish the ride by the Fourth of July.

The journey will test him both physically and mentally over thousands of miles, with changing landscapes and unpredictable conditions; but for Kitchen, the ride is about much more than endurance.

It is personal.

Kitchen’s connection to veterans runs deep in his family history. His grandfather, on his mom’s side, was at Pearl Harbor during the infamous attack in 1941.

Another grandfather served aboard a USS ship that was sunk in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Growing up with those stories gave Kitchen an appreciation for the sacrifices made long before he was born. Now, he wants to give something back.

“I had grandparents in the military, and also some of my family,” Kitchen said. “So I have a lot of respect for our veterans and people actively in the military too.”

Brock’s goal is to raise $8,000 for Honor Flight, which covers 4 veterans. His own cost to for this mission is expected to be around $3,000. He will be cycling a total of 3,780 miles, with a total elevation gain of 144,000 feet, averaging 100 miles a day. 

“I wanted to do something that was extremely difficult but still within the realm of possibility,” Kitchen said.

Cycling became the answer.

Kitchen is no stranger to endurance sports. He started cycling in middle school and later got involved in triathlons. In addition to cycling, he also wrestles at Fresno City College, balancing intense training across multiple sports. 

Over the years, he has built up the kind of stamina most people cannot imagine, including completing rides of 100 miles in a single day. Even with that experience, however, biking across America is on another level entirely.

Preparing for the trip has required more than simply training his body. Physically, Kitchen has spent about a year preparing for the challenge. Mentally, though, the preparation has been constant.

“That part never really stops,” Kitchen said.

While many people would assume the physical demands are the hardest part, Kitchen believes the mental battle will be far more difficult. Spending day after day on the road, dealing with exhaustion, discomfort and isolation can wear down even experienced athletes.

“The mental part is definitely harder,” Kitchen said.

There are also factors completely out of his control. Weather is one of his biggest concerns heading into the ride. A major storm, dangerous temperatures, or unexpected complications could force delays and throw off his schedule, especially with such an ambitious timeline.

“I’m nervous about the weather and not being able to ride for a day because of complications,” Kitchen said.

For him, the trip is not just about reaching the finish line or proving himself. Every mile of the journey is meant to support veterans through Central Valley Honor Flight and honor the generations of service connected to his own family. What began as an ambitious challenge ultimately became an opportunity to give back to the men and women whose sacrifices inspired him in the first place.

“I have to earn it all, and that’ll be the biggest thing,” Kitchen said. “And honestly, once I do this, there’s nothing I really can’t do at that point. And I’ll definitely be the coolest guy in the room for a while, so that’s also a plus.”

By the time Kitchen reaches Washington D.C., he will have crossed mountains, plains, deserts, and countless small towns. More importantly, he will have carried with him the stories of veterans, the memories of his grandfathers’ service, and a mission much better than himself.

For Kitchen, the ride across America is ultimately a ride in honor of those who served before him.

Scan the QR code to help Brock reach his goal. You can follow along on his instagram @mileswithbrock or Facebook @BrockKitchen

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