Shadow of a Wheel

The teen riders of a cross-country bike ride are introduced, and the journey begins. Misadventure, chaos and pain take them through California. Leader Chuck Williford is introduced posthumously, along with the origins of his quixotic quest. The teens share why they signed on to raise money for multiple sclerosis.

The riders struggle through California, Nevada and Arizona. Crashes ensue, and a few riders contemplate quitting. Heat forces them to the side in Arizona, but experiences in the Grand Canyon, Navajo Nation and Durango, Colorado, propel them eastward. Williford’s leadership is brought into question. One rider returns to Kingman to complete “missing” miles.

Now road savvy, the group heads through the Great Plains and the Midwest. A Cardinals game provides welcome relief to broken ribs and a fight with locals. The riders blaze through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio despite leadership breakdowns, highway stress and tense emotions. A post-trip story reveals one rider’s tragic death in the ’90s.

The riders arrive in Washington, D.C. Fireworks break out in a hotel room, and the police show up. The significance of the journey weighs on the riders as they approach the end, and a sudden death sends a shock that echoes for years. One rider is haunted by missing the final day at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.