Keith Pariani’s Epic Cycling Journey
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
EXCITING NEWS: St. Augustine bicycle aficionado Keith Pariani is embarking on an epic cycling journey! Keith will travel alongside five fellow cyclists, all members of a group called the Wheelmen. The group will depart from Greenfield Village in Michigan on June 21 and arrive at Independence Hall in Pennsylvania on July 4, covering more than 800 miles over 14 days.Â
Each cyclist will ride an authentic 1880s high-wheel bicycle. Keith will be riding a 56-inch Victor High Wheel bicycle from 1889, which he has owned for more than 40 years.
This monumental journey, the Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026, honors the 50th anniversary of the Golden Jubilee Tour, a similar ride completed by 35 Wheelmen members in 1976. The journey also commemorates America’s 250th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the introduction of the bicycle in the United States. Upon arriving in Philadelphia, the Wheelmen will present a note of goodwill from the Mayor of Dearborn to the Mayor of Philadelphia—just as the original Wheelmen did in 1976.
Keith Pariani’s fascinating collection of bicycles and cycling memorabilia is on view in our second floor gallery. Riding High! Vintage Bicycles from the Keith Pariani Collection is an ongoing, rotating exhibition that celebrates the bicycle as an object of beauty and engineering ingenuity.
Follow along with us as we track Keith’s journey – stay tuned for updates!
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Update 1 – June 23, 2026
We are thrilled to share that we have received an update from Keith Pariani on his bike journey! The group departed from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation on Sunday, June 21, and landed at their first stop in Toledo, Ohio.
On Monday, June 22 the group departed from Toledo at 7:00 a.m., and arrived in Bellevue, Ohio at 4:00 p.m. at around 4:00 p.m. The distance traveled was approximately 62 miles. It was a tough day of travel weather wise – the morning began with some wind and rain. The rain eventually let up, but the wind continued.Â
Today, June 23 – Keith and his fellow Wheelmen are traveling from Bellevue to Wadsworth, which is close to 65 miles. By the end of the day today, the Wheelmen will have biked around 180 miles since beginning their epic trip!
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Update 2 – June 26, 2026
Since our last update, the Wheelmen have crossed over the boarder from Ohio to Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania has brought wind and relentless hills, but clear skies and no rain.
Keith shared that Thursday, June 25 was his toughest day yet, even though they traveled the fewest miles in a day yet so far (56 miles). Traffic was tough throughout Pittsburgh. Some of the hills in Pennsylvania have been so steep he’s had to walk up and down them. Some hills were so steep going down that he had to take his feet off the pedals and just let the wheel spin. “Once you make that choice you either live or die. You can’t catch the pedal the wheel is spinning so fast. Hold on and pray,” Keith says.
Today, June 26, the group will end their day in Connellsville, Pennsylvania – totaling over 370 miles of travel so far!
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Update 3 – June 29, 2026
On Saturday morning, June 27, the Wheelmen departed Connellsville, PA and took the Great Allegheny Passageway to Meyersdale, PA. The group biked a total of 62 miles and everyone finished the day in great spirits.
On Sunday, June 28 the group completed their ride on the Great Allegheny Passageway and passed into Maryland. The Wheelmen traveled 64 miles, crossing the Eastern Continental Divide and the Mason Dixon Line in one day. The Wheelmen completed their day in Paw Paw, West Virginia on the C&O Canal Trail, and stayed overnight in tiny houses (pictured below).
“This is country living.” -Keith Pariani
Today, June 29, the Wheelmen are traveling from Paw Paw, West Virginia to Hagerstown, MD. At the end of today the group will have traveled about 540 miles since beginning their journey on June 21.
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Update 4 – July 1, 2026
Keith and his fellow Wheelmen were interviewed by Fox 2 Detroit about their journey.
You can watch the interview HERE!
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Update 5 – July 2, 2026
On Monday, June 29 the Wheelmen arrived in Hagerstown, MD after an extremely rough day on the road. The group was on the road for a full 12 hours, and traveled a total of 64 miles. Keith reported that the group went through two tunnels that were extremely dark, and riding conditions on the C & O Towpath Trail were particularly bad. The group did a lot of walking. Keith broke the rim on his highwheel, and other riders had rear wheel problems all day.
On Tuesday, June 30 the Wheelmen left Hagerstown at 6:15 a.m. At mile 38 the group passes through Gettysburg, and rode right through the battlefield. Keith again reported that passing into Pennsylvania from Maryland brought a lot of challenging hills, and he felt very out of control biking down some of them on his highwheel. The group ended their day in York, PA after biking 78 miles over 11 hours. The heat and hills have been the biggest challenge.
On Wednesday, July 1 the Wheelmen traveled from York, PA to Gap, PA. This was a ‘short day’ of 54 miles. The group crossed over the Susquehanna River, and followed it south for many miles. Keith shared that Amish country is beautiful but hilly, much like the rest of Pennsylvania.
The group only has about 65 miles left to go on the Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026! Today, July 2, the Wheelmen will travel 45 miles to King of Prussia. Tomorrow July 3, the group will bike their final 20 miles into downtown Philadelphia!
Golden Jubilee Highwheel Tour 2026
Final Update!
The Wheelmen arrived in Philadelphia on Friday, July 3. Keith shared that the last three days of the journey through Pennsylvania were the toughest part of the trip. A group of fellow Wheelmen met the group outside of Philadelphia, and led them right to Independence Hall.
The Wheelmen traveled a total of 775 miles over 13 days, averaging 60 miles per day!
