In 2009, Jon was cycling across the USA on the Southern Tier Route with his best friend. Their trip was cut short when Jon was clipped by a reckless driver in Texas. While recovering, his best friend passed away from an unrelated heart condition. In April of 2010, Jon completed the trip in his honor with a smile on his face and a new passion for bicycle touring. He now runs Pedal The Globe, an informative site on bicycle touring, and has plans to travel throughout the world on his bicycle.