G.A.S.P.

Gary Nero, age 51, is a retired purchasing manager from Babcock & Wilcox in Barberton, Ohio, and a former consultant to Tech Pro in Cuyahoga Falls. He served on the Coventry Local District Board of Education from 1992 to 1998. His work experience has added to his love for working with children of all ages and his rather wacky sense of humor.

Gary's Last G.A.S.P. Bicycle Tour has been in the works for 10 years: "I've always loved the outdoors and the national parks, and I really enjoy bike riding. For me, this is a dream. I believe people ought to try to live out their dreams."

To prepare physically for his trip, Gary rode every day for years - either outside on a racing bike or a mountain bike, or inside on a stationary bike. Several months before he departed on his journey, Gary wore 20 pounds of ankle weights around his waist. He's not exactly big! (Gary's brother Dave, by the way, walks around his neighborhood with a canoe over his head to prepare for a yearly fishing trip to the middle of nowhere.)

To prepare logistically for his trip, Gary contacted the National Park Service, individual national and state parks, researched route and campground information by using print and software programs, repeatedly scoured national and regional maps, searched the Internet, read 'how to' books by other bicyclists and visited outfitter stores, in person and on the Internet.

After finding the bicycle he wanted in a magazine, Gary had the pieces shipped to RD Bike Shop in Barberton for assembly. He also 'worked' on Saturdays at the bike shop to learn how to perform bike repairs all alone in the middle of nowhere (his brother isn't always fishing there).