Preparing and planning for a 3,365 mile trip across the United States takes work; Chuck Temple interviews Alex Simon on how he’s getting ready for Scoot America
In a recent episode of ESG Liveshow, the team got to catch up with Alex Simon on how he’s planning, training, and preparing for his cross-country trip on an electric scooter. As an experienced triathlete, Alex is taking a measured, long-term approach to getting ready for this epic ride.
Pumping Iron, Riding (Long and) Dirty
In addition to riding around 4 hours and up to 154 miles daily to build his endurance, Alex is also hitting the gym. He’s weight training to build up his lower body strength, so his legs can stand those long hours. We also spotted him using this grip strength trainer to have stronger control over the trigger throttles that sport all but one of his scooters (the OX).
As he’s building up endurance and strength, Alex isn’t worried about his mileage or speed, but focusing more on spending as much time on deck as possible to get acclimated to long-term riding. He’s not going to use any seated scooters and although very physically fit, understands all-day riding will require endless endurance and careful planning.
On the actual cross-country trip, Alex plans to ride between 80 and 180 miles each day (not riding at night or in poor weather), with a chase car that will have backup scooters ready in a trailer. Using between 6 to 8 scooters allows Alex to continue his daily route without having to stop and charge. He and his support team will sleep along the route at motels, on campgrounds, or wherever makes sense “depending on how successful funding will be.” If you’re willing to let Alex and his team couch surf and live along Route 20, reach out to Alex directly!
What Alex Is Riding
Alex’s electric scooter collection includes a few Kaabo Wolf Warriors, a couple Apollo Explores, a Kaabo Mantis Pro, and an Inokim OX. Sponsored by well-known scooter sellers from both coasts including Voro Motors (West Coast), Fluid Freeride (East Coast), and even from across the border at Apollo in Canada, Alex feels blessed to have received these impressive machines and sincere support from sponsors — none of which required exclusivity in exchange.
In fact, Alex is reaching out to as many communities, content creators, and innovators in the PEV market as he has the energy for, spreading the scooter gospel on why he’s taking this trip in the first place. He also did an interview with well-known Youtuber Ben Fox. Here’s a one-minute preview (full podcast to come).
When asked if he would modify any of the scooters with trigger throttles to a thumb throttle (like the one on the Inokim OX), which Chuck often touts as more ergonomic for long rides, Alex explained that he is not modifying anything on the scooters.
He wants them to be the same out-of-box models that anyone would purchase, so he can give followers of his journey a real-world experience with the scooters as-is.
Where Alex Will Be and When
Alex’s Scoot America excursion begins on May 2 on the East Coast, starting in Boston, Massachusetts. He’ll spend a few days crossing it and New York before rounding the Great Lakes, and heading on a straightaway through the Midwest. He’ll end his national expedition in Newport, Oregon on the West Coast (aka the best coast), about a month after he starts (weather and body permitting).
| Date* | Start | End | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | Boston, MA | Albany, NY | 174 mi |
| 5/2 | Boston, MA | Albany, NY | 174 mi |
| 5/3 | Albany, NY | Buffalo, NY | 267 mi |
| 5/4 | Albany, NY | Buffalo, NY | 267 mi |
| 5/5 | Buffalo, NY | Erie, PA | 95 mi |
| 5/6 | Erie, PA | Cleveland, OH | 118 mi |
| 5/7 | Cleveland, OH | Maumee, OH | 112 mi |
| 5/8 | Maumee, OH | Elkhart/South Bend, IN | 130 mi |
| 5/9 | Elkhart/South Bend, IN | Chicago, IL | 100 mi |
| 5/10 | Chicago, IL | Freeport, IL | 122 mi |
| 5/11 | Freeport, IL | Waterloo, IA | 155 mi |
| 5/12 | Waterloo, IA | Sac City, IA | 148 mi |
| 5/13 | Sac City, IA | Sioux City, IA | 76 mi |
| 5/14 | Sioux City, IA | O’Neill, NE | 108 mi |
| 5/15 | O’Neill, NE | Valentine, NE | 112 mi |
| 5/16 | Valentine, NE | Crawford, NE | 161 mi |
| 5/17 | Crawford, NE | Casper, WY | 169 mi |
| 5/18 | Casper, WY | Thermopolis, WY | 130 mi |
| 5/19 | Thermopolis, WY | Cody, WY | 122 mi |
| 5/20 | Cody, WY | West Yellowstone, MT | 100 mi |
| 5/21 | West Yellowstone, MT | Idaho Falls, ID | 118 mi |
| 5/22 | Idaho Falls, ID | Carey/Picabo, ID | 111 mi |
| 5/23 | Carey/Picabo, ID | Boise, ID | 165 mi |
| 5/24 | Boise, ID | Vale, OR | 70 mi |
| 5/25 | Vale, OR | Burns, OR | 113 mi |
| 5/26 | Burns, OR | Bend, OR | 131 mi |
| 5/27 | Bend, OR | Lebanon, OR | 109 mi |
| 5/28 | Lebanon, OR | Newport, OR | 67 mi |
Before he can start scooting, Alex will have to drive from his resident Las Vegas, Nevada home to the East Coast with his scooters and team in tow, meaning he’ll be making the cross-country trip twice: once in a car and once by scooter.
Spotlighting Route 20 Along the Way
In addition to being a historic road that spans the northern width of the United States, Alex chose Route 20 to call attention to the neighborhoods along the way that lost visibility as larger highways opened. As these new roadways were developed, Route 20 became a side access road and is no longer widely used.
Recognizing new ways to use existing infrastructure, like Route 20, may just be the path to call attention to micromobility as a real form of transportation. Alex’s goal with Scoot America is to promote PEV and shake up the current direction of personal mobility.
A rising tide lifts all boats, so let’s raise this tide and get some cars off the road.
ALEX SIMON, ZERO TO EPIC
Like Alex’s saying, it takes all of us looking at our lives and how we get around, and recognizing areas where there’s room for change. If you can travel by electric scooter, even across the country, why wouldn’t you?
To find out more about Alex’s trip and how he’s preparing, including what gear he’s wearing and how to support the cause, watch the interview video at the top of this page.
