Marathon cyclist brought to book

Cyclist Dominic Gill tucked in his tent during his US adventure

Tandem cyclist Dominic Gill is launching his new book in Oldham later this month about travelling the length of America.

Dominic, from Coppice, rode 18,500 miles from Prudhoe in Alaska to Ushuaia, at the tip of Argentina, on a tandem to raise money for a children’s charity. The former environmental consultant left his home in Lune Street in June, 2006, rode through 15 countries and gave a lift to 500 strangers on the back of his bike.

The journey took him two years and two months.

His tandem — nicknamed Achilles — was loaded with Dominic’s camping gear and clothes.

He found time en route to pursue his other hobby of climbing — he moved to Oldham five years ago so he could explore climbs around Saddleworth.

He also filmed the journey, and the result, called “Take a Seat”, was screened by ITV last summer and has since won several awards and featured at outdoor film festivals.

One of the passengers Dominic carried on his tandem, Ernie Greenwald, a retired electronics engineer he met in California, has now inspired his next adventure.

The chance meeting resulted in a local newspaper reporting on Dominic and Ernie. It meant Ernie, now 75 and suffering from lymphocytic leukaemia, was reunited with two children he hadn’t spoken to for 20 years, and found he had three grandchildren. He has kept in touch with Dominic via e-mails ever since.

Now Dominic is planning another epic trip — fulfilling Ernie’s dream of cycling across the United States, starting in July.

He will be at Mountain Feet, the specialist footwear and outdoor clothing retailer, at Rhodes Bank, Oldham, on May 19 (6 30-8 30pm) to sign copies of his new book “Take A Seat.”