Fred W. Mauney, "The Phoenix," made his first solo bicycle ride from Salt Lake City to Washington, DC in the summer of 2000. Again, leaving Salt Lake City July 11 2001, Freddy then bicycled from Salt Lake City to New York City. Mauney has been retracing his route to stimulate discussion of American issues that were ignored during the Presidential campaign.

    Mauney met with thousands of Americans all across the country last year and found most frustrated with the way political leadership ignores their local needs as well as their opinions on national concerns.

    The first leg of the 2001 Ride from Salt Lake to Denver focused on formulating a 30-day 1,000 mile Ride in 2003 for the Youth of America to increase their awareness and understanding of these issues and provide them opportunities for networking together in discussions. It is Mauney's hope that many young people will arrange to obtain summer school credit through this "rolling educational forum" as they deal with issues and selected subjects of interest to them. Special guest speakers will join the Ride along the way for lectures and discussion groups.

    A weeklong set of special activities in the Snowmass/Aspen area is planned including hiking, biking, rafting and other events of interest to youth such as music, art, competitions and numerous facilitated discussion groups. Also in the planning stages is a two-three day music festival featuring headliner groups as well as undiscovered talent. Local sponsors throughout the area have been supportive of the concept, and planning is in progress toward an early August 2003 timeframe.

    The second leg of the Ride which Mauney is now on is to seek sponsors for the events at Snowmass, Colorado ski resort and the Ride. Of particular importance are issues surrounding the American Flag. This year Mauney is flying a large U.S. flag on his bike as he rides. He said response by passersby has been nothing sort of phenomenal. Horns blowing, people waving, saluting, cheering, shouting and clearly expressing their support for the effort, the importance of the ride and the need to take our country back.

    "Mauney encourges everyone to "...get involved. America is what we make it. This American flag I carry represents the freedoms we enjoy. When you pay taxes on the work you do, you are also sacrificing for those same principles and freedoms. What are we doing to honor those sacrifices? What are we doing to resolve our country's problems, remembering others who were willing to fight and die for just what they believed in so we could have the abundance of a free country?"

    Mauney, a paralegal investigator originally from Charlotte, N.C. talks to farmers and union workers as he travels. One issue he is supporting is the legalization of industrial hemp for farmers and to create jobs.

    Mauney wants some of the money raised through his Phoenix Charities to go toward helping encourage grassroots organizations such as Grass Roots Unity.

    "When people get involved with what's going on around them," he said, "they learn what some innovative minds. such as Jim Starry or GrannyD, are working on in basements and garages."

    That's who needs funding.

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