History was made in Lansdale Borough on Tuesday evening, as the tandem of Philadelphia-native Michael Reid and Israeli-born Yonatan Belik completed their 48-state journey and broke the Guinness World Record for longest journey on a 50cc scooter.
The record-breaking attempt was part of Project Create 48, which sought to film the landscapes of the continental United States, and tell the tales of those in lesser-known parts of the country. The journey for Reid and Belik began in Lansdale at 8 p.m. on Sept. 7—during the annual Blue Comets Bike Night—and after logging a total of 9,790 miles, the record was officially broken on Nov. 19 at 7:45 p.m.
“We’ve met people and heard stories from parts of the United States that are beyond what is portrayed in the media,” said Belik. “Every person has a story, but rarely are people given the opportunity to be heard.”
To that end, Reid and Belik posted daily updates to their “Wheeling for the World” Facebook page, highlighting the unique and inspiring individuals that they encountered over the course of their travels. From fishing experts to truck drivers and fellow travelers, the page does an incredible job of showcasing the men and women who are the very foundation of the country.
“We got to know the real U.S.,” said Belik. “The World Record is one thing, but the positivity, the bridging of gaps—especially during these times…it’s important.”
Reid spoke of one instance while traveling through New Mexico, where the two men were covered in ice, with a temperature in the teens as nightfall approached.
“That was the first point in the trip where we were really at risk for hypothermia or frost bite, so we needed to get out of the cold,” said Reid.
Seeking assistance, Belik approached a nearby home, knocked on the door and asked for a place to stay. Reid, who recounted his experiences from living in Philadelphia, said he thought knocking on the door was ill-advised, but sure enough, the man who answered the door invited them in and provided shelter for the evening.
“It was a great moment,” said Reid. “When it came down to it, they were very friendly, and we never had the perception they would [be so kind]. So how do you reconcile that? He just opened his door to two strangers at night, in a town of about 40 people.”
“It reaffirmed my outlook on life, in trusting strangers,” Belik added. “We’re told so often not to do these things. That was one example, but we encountered it on a daily basis.”
At the conclusion of their travels, the record was signed and verified by Lansdale Borough Police Chief Michael Trail and Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert. Reid and Belik said they expect the record to be certified by Guinness within a week.
“This was a monumental occasion for Lansdale,” said Herbert. “It is not every day that our community gets to be a major player in a world record setting event. Lansdale is extremely proud to support these two young gentlemen as they achieved a life changing world record. It was a monumental feat to traverse our great country, and they did so while also interacting and experiencing much of what makes the United States so great. To be a part of that positive story cements Lansdale not just in the record books, but also as one of the great places to call home.”
As for what’s next for the duo, Belik said they are heading to Iceland in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest distance traveled on an electric unicycle while juggling three balls.
“Now I know it sounds absurd…it is absurd…but what we’re going to do is utilize the notoriety of this world record to draw attention to things that are important,” said Belik. “The man we are going to do this with has a disease similar to MS, he’s an amazing performer and juggler, but he knows he’s going to lose his ability to perform and be physically active.”
“We want to draw attention to that, not only for the people who are in his shoes, but for those like us, who have physical competence, who aren’t necessarily pushing ourselves,” Belik said.
Afterwards, Belik said they plan on heading to Israel in June to travel 600 miles across the country—and back—on an electric unicycle, in an effort to amplify the stories and humanize the people. The effort will be part of a docu-reality television show, according to Belik.
To learn more about Project Create 48, click here. To read the stories of the unique people Reid and Belik encountered, click here. To learn of their previous broken records, click here.
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