Dominic Gill Creates Tandem Bicycle Program For Elderly, Ill And Disabled Riders

Dominic Gill and 74-year-old American cancer patient Ernie Greenwald were set to undertake the challenge of a lifetime by crossing the United States on a tandem bicycle. Sadly, a week before the planned departure date, Ernie's health rapidly deteriorated preventing him once again from living out his lifelong dream.

Nonetheless, Ernie's sense of adventure and desire to inspire others gave birth to a new vision.

In honor of Ernie, Dom offered the opportunity to ride with physically disabled people throughout the USA. The tandem bike, donated by German manufacturer Hase, is specially designed with a recumbent front seat that allows for many weak or disabled individuals to tackle long distances via bicycle more comfortably than ever before.

"The Dom and Ernie Project" (v.2) will involve approximately 10 other adventurers who have volunteered to assume a 5-20 day section of the journey between two major US cities. These companions have one thing in common-like Ernie, they are all elderly, infirm or disabled riders that ordinarily would not be able to execute a cycling tour 100% independently.

"The Dom and Ernie Project" was originally conceived in 2006 during Dom's first tandem bicycle expedition. As chronicled in his popular book and award-winning documentary Take A Seat, Dom met Ernie while traveling more than 20,000 miles from northern Alaska to southern Argentina. At that time Dom was manning an upright tandem and offering his spare rear seat to anyone willing to ride with him. Ernie was one of the 270 companions who volunteered to help Dom pedal south. Three years later the two committed to reunite for the purpose of assisting Ernie to complete a journey that he'd dreamt of since youth.

The proceeds of the documentary and the book Take A Seat go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.