Dr. Gregory Maasen of Washington, D.C., is e-biking 3,400 miles cross-country on a Riese & Muller e-bike for the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
For those who don’t have the appetite to travel abroad, e-biking across Nevada might be the ticket, according to Washington, D.C., resident Dr. Gregory Maasen, who has enjoyed a full spectrum of the nation’s sights for more than three months. Maasen, impacted by peripheral neuropathy, has been on a 3,400-mile cross-country expedition on his electric bike on the Lincoln Highway, starting April 2. He is expected to end Aug. 2 in San Francisco. As part of his 60-stop journey, on Thursday, Maasen was at Carson City’s Rodeway Inn to share his mission and goal of raising funds for the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, a nonprofit in Chicago seeking to assist approximately 30 million Americans affected with the condition. Maasen, a Dutch native, originally became ill after walking through a nest of ticks in South Africa during preparation as a wildlife guide. “I started to burn all over my body for 10 days or so and then the problem went away and I didn’t think much about it and then for a period of at least a year, 18 months or so, I became so ill I could not function anymore,” he said. Eventually, he would be diagnosed by a neurologist with peripheral neuropathy. He underwent a skin biopsy to confirm his condition, experienced anxiety attacks and depression and eventually had to take medication. He had worked with the World Bank while finishing his doctorate in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States in 2019 as an executive director of USAID programs, but due to his illness, he would return to the United States that year after receiving a green card to receive medical help for his condition. It would be recommended for Maasen to exercise to feel better and to overcome his anxiety or depression, despite his resistance to the idea. He consulted with Dr. Ahmet Hoke at Johns Hopkins University, who suggested swimming or biking. He took up analog bicycling and tried to go to the gym but eventually became introduced to e-biking, which appealed to his interest in technology. “I met new people, so it was very beneficial for my mental state of mind, and I started to slowly but surely exercise and start to feel better,” he said. “So that’s one of the main messages of the project, going across America. Despite your mental and physical challenges, if you reach out to the right professionals, medical, with support from family and friends and you work on a plan and a strategy, you might be able to feel better. You might be able to improve the quality of your life.” He’s off his medication now, thanks to his e-biking and the help of others who have been encouraging him. As he prepared for his transcontinental ride, planning the route and all the equipment for it as well as documenting it would also become part of his enjoyment. Maasen has been riding on a yellow Riese & Muller e-bike produced in Germany, which is equipped with a 625-watt battery, leather saddle for comfort, puncture resistant tires, an anti-vibration stem, water bladder, a chain drive to reduce maintenance, brake light for safety, mirrors and anti-slip pedals. He carries a snack bag, a front basket and spare batteries, and as he makes his stops at night, he recharges his batteries for the next day’s ride. He has been averaging 55 miles a day at about 11 mph, although his Thursday ride through Nevada from Fallon through Dayton to Carson City was above average at 66.3 miles. He has been pulling a trailer, so he’s carrying about 416 pounds, which he expects to lighten by the time he reaches his journey’s end. The stretches he made on the U.S. 50 in Nevada have been particularly rewarding, he said. “The quality of the 50 – the ‘Loneliest Highway’ – it is lonely,” Maasen said. “It’s beautiful. I think it’s the ultimate opportunity to cycle. It cannot be better than this. The inclines are gradual, 5 to 6%. The engineers really designed the roads really well, there are no blind curves. I felt very safe. Wide shoulders, the landscape – it’s just incredible.” He’s seen few traffic challenges and only three “encounters” with law enforcement or drivers. Otherwise, thanks to his orange vest that he wears for safety and representing the national color of the Netherlands and symbol of unity, he said his journey has been positive with respectful drivers paying heed to him on the highway. Maasen said in creating the route across America, the Lincoln Highway was meant as a tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower who served as supreme commander during World War II and helped to free the Netherlands. He said he has respected the safety he has felt as an American citizen since being in the country. “I’ve worked overseas in many countries and I have seen the downside of societies that are not well governed,” he said. “I treasure every moment that we can celebrate freedom and safety and I’ve felt very safe in America. People have been treating me with the greatest respect. It’s mind-blowing.” Lou Mazawey, president of the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, said Maasen’s journey provides special attention on a critical issue for patients who need more help. “Gregory inspires everyone with his commitment to bring awareness to this condition that is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed,” Mazawey said. “And when identified, PN is difficult to treat and has no cure. Gregory’s unprecedented e-bike tour is spreading awareness of peripheral neuropathy across the country and underscoring the need for increased research funding for this disabling condition affecting millions of Americans.” Hoke, who had diagnosed Maasen with post-infectious small fiber neuropathy when he became ill, said exercising would be one of the best ways for Maasen or anyone to fight off neuropathy. “E-biking is a wonderful low-impact form of exercising that can be a meaningful aspect of a patient’s recovery and well-being,” Hoke said. “This historic ride is helping to raise much-needed funds for research and awareness for peripheral neuropathy.” For information about the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, visit http://ebiketour.org. Donations are provided directly to the foundation. The website also offers a live tracker to continue following Maasen’s journey.
