For Immediate Release: September 15, 2003

"Bicycling Comedian" Pedals to Hawaii

Comedian Tom Snyders has spent the past 16 years pedaling his fully-loaded touring bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances. He's cycled more than 122,000 miles through 49 states. But Snyders believes his Forrest Gump-like journey would not be complete without fulfilling his longtime goal of biking to all 50 states.

He will finally reach that elusive 50th state -- Hawaii -- on Sept. 30.

He'll do it aboard the cruise ship Carnival Spirit, which leaves Vancouver on Sept. 24. Snyders will arrive by bicycle, having pedaled up from Seattle. He'll then board the ship, place his bicycle on a stationary stand on deck, and pedal eight hours a day as the ship heads to Maui.

Snyders will not be a stowaway on board; he'll perform his comedy show for passengers in the evening.

Snyders' journey and his "Smile America Bicycle Comedy Tour" began on June 20, 1987, when he left Las Vegas by bicycle. Since then he's been pedaling the back roads of this country performing at bike events, conferences and at more than 200 comedy clubs. He's made nine national television appearances along the way, including three on "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee."

 In August 2000, Snyders left Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on his bike and pedaled the 6,100 miles to Key West, Fla., encountering 500 miles of isolated gravel roads and six grizzly bears en route. That would've been a lifetime adventure for anyone else, but for Snyders, it was simply another interesting two months within an incredible, ongoing, 16-year bike trip.

In 1995 Snyders spent four days in a coma and on a respirator at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after being hit by a car and dragged 30 feet. "Apparently he didn't think I'd had enough yet, so then he backed up over me," Snyders says. After eight months of physical therapy, Snyders returned to the open road with a plate and eight screws still embedded in his left ankle.

On this journey Snyders has also: been attacked by a police dog; pedaled up a mountain in the middle of a raging snow storm; and been run out of town by local police in Georgia.

Snyders' specialty is taking color slides of weird road signs from his travels. He now has a collection of more than 6,000 -- the best of which are featured in his live performances.

Snyders has also written a screenplay; coincidentally, it's about a comedian who travels by bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances. "It's Forrest Gump meets Seabiscuit," he jokes.

As Snyders likes to say, "It's not just a comedy show, it's an adventure!"

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