California Comedian Rides BMX Across the U.S. to Help Kids

A California comedian has made history by becoming the first known individual to ride a 20-inch BMX bike across the United States, traveling from San Diego to New York City in just 80 days.

At 31 years old, Sebastian Fowler covered a staggering 3,333 miles, with a support vehicle trailing behind him, and remarkably, without any formal training. His motivation? To raise funds for providing 100 BMX bikes to underprivileged children and teens, so they can experience the joy of BMX forever. “I think I’m the first person to do this in the U.S.,” he mentioned.

“It took 80 days to get to New York City from San Diego on a BMX bike,” he said, expressing his excitement about the journey.

Fowler has a deeply personal reason for choosing this unconventional route. Following the loss of his father, drummer John Fowler, during his teenage years, BMX became an escape for him—a way to cope with grief. “I’ve been riding BMX since I was five or six. It was my reprieve as a teenager when I lost my parents,” he said, recalling how his mother raised four children on her own with little financial support.

To fulfill his mission, Fowler launched a fundraising campaign aiming to collect $30,000 to buy bicycles at around $100 each. “I was that kid once, so I just wanted to help some kids,” he stated. Known to friends as “Sea Bass,” he set out in late February, hauling a 60-pound load that included a hammock, sleeping bag, knife, and even a short baseball bat.

Throughout his journey, Fowler camped in various places—sometimes behind dumpsters, sometimes in the open desert. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I was all alone, just me with my thoughts and my little bike.” Living in Ocean Beach, California, he plans to turn the experience into a stand-up comedy tour.

During his travels, he performed in six different cities, even landing a spot in the popular Netflix series “Kill Tony.” “The next day, I rode 70 miles to the world’s biggest comedy show,” he recounted about his performance in Austin, Texas.

But not everything was smooth sailing. One night, while riding in Texas, he found himself in a precarious situation with mountain lions nearby. “It was the first time I’d called the police,” he recalled. The dispatcher advised him to calm down and assured him help was on the way, eventually dropping him off at a nearby convenience store where he spent the night.

Reflecting on his preparations, he admitted, “I was barely prepared. I basically just rode my bike around town.” As daunting as it was at first, he recalled, “When it actually started, I was like, ‘Good Lord, what did I get into?'” Yet, he slowly found his rhythm, increasing his daily mileage from an initial 45 to an impressive 65 miles.

Fowler completed his journey in May, making a meaningful stop at his father’s grave in Connecticut before returning to San Diego. “It felt like my dad was flying over my shoulder, keeping me safe,” he shared.

So far, he’s raised over $9,000 for kids in need of a bike. On his fundraising page, he noted, “I’m back in San Diego, but the fight is far from over! It’s time for these kids to get these bikes! We still have a long way to reach our goals.” Reminiscing about his journey, he added a quote that his dad often used, saying, “It’s a little long way! Thank you very much!”