"Original, exceptional, fascinating, inspiring..." Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
As a teenager, Joe Tarantino set out on a naïve but ambitious quest: to ride 100 miles on a bicycle. It did not go well. He counted every click of the odometer, battled flat tires, ran out of food, and hit the proverbial wall. He ultimately had to call his dad for a ride home.
But a year later, his brother and cousin convinced him to try again—this time, a 120-mile ride. Armed with a better bike and a bit more experience, Joe fell in love with the open road.
Over the years, long-distance cycling became a way to navigate life’s hills and valleys. As he juggled raising a family, caring for aging parents, and pursuing a career as an aerospace engineer, Joe found clarity, peace, and purpose from the saddle of his bike.
In these seventeen epic rides, told with humor and heart, Pale Pink Roads reveals how miles on unfamiliar pavement led to insights on resilience, faith, and self-discovery. More than just a ride across America, this is the story of a man who pedaled through fear and found something far greater on the other side.
So hop on for the ride—laugh, reflect, and feel the wind in your face. You just might discover your own path along these pale pink roads.
Everyone in their life has his own particular way of expressing life’s purpose – the lawyer his eloquence, the painter his palette, and the man of letters his pen from which the quick words of his story flow. I have my bicycle.
Gino Bartali
