INNOVATION GOES EXTREME
Why Do the Ride?
What’s in a number? When it comes to chronological age, the answer has certainly been changing. Not only are our life spans increasing, but we’re working and playing longer and harder than ever. As America ages, it’s not just the business of looking young that has fostered a wealth of new products and services—our ability to stay active longer has also created new tools and toys that allow us to continue our quest for adventure and to pursue our lifelong passions well into (chronological) old age.
Dr. Bernie ‘Buddy’ Rosenbaum (71) and Robert Chase (72) are two lifelong friends who have been chasing adventure—usually on motorcycles—for many decades. From the desert of Dubai to the Himalayas, Buddy and Bob are the poster boys for today’s fit, active, high-energy ‘mature’ adults. They may be retired from their professions—respectively, a clinical psychology practice and manufacturing operation—but they’re not ready for the rocking chair. To the contrary, they are not willing to stifle the spirit of adventure one bit.
That’s why they’re ready to roll again this summer, this time retracing one of America’s historic cross-country roads, the Lincoln Highway. Stretching almost 3400 miles from San Francisco to New York’s Times Square, the two adventurers will tackle landmarks like the Donner Pass, on the latest in alternative transportation—the three-wheel Piaggio MP3 500 scooter.
The Legacy of the Lincoln Highway
Also known as “America’s Main Street,” the country’s oldest and longest transcontinental highway was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. Just as Lincoln had a vision of a united country, this historic road was created to give all Americans the freedom to roam from coast to coast on one 3400-mile stretch of highway.
Conceived by Carl Fisher - the man behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Miami Beach - the Lincoln Highway concept received early support from industrialists and automotive enthusiasts. The Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) was created in 1913 to promote the road and a public hungry for cross-country adventure quickly embraced it. With almost 3400 miles of pavement stretching from New York City to San Francisco, the Lincoln Highway spanned 14 states, 128 counties and 500 cities, towns and villages. Today, the LHA continues to promote and preserve this American legend, for the benefit and delight of riders of all ages—and from all corners of the globe.
