Neighbors

Wantagh resident going the extra mile

Ride at Cedar Creek to honor late cyclist

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“Never Stop Pedaling” is what 62-year-old Phil Kingsbury would title a book about his life — if he weren’t diligently preparing to ride for a world record and a cause.

Kingsbury, a Wantagh resident since 1988, will complete his third annual 24-hour bike ride at Cedar Creek Park on June 23, starting at 6 p.m. The avid cyclist calls the marathon a “two-fold adventure.” He aims to raise $10,000 for the Miles for Matt Foundation, and to ride 400 miles. If he reaches the latter goal, he will beat the Ultra Marathon cycling record of 393 miles in 24 hours for the 60-to-69 age group.

“I don’t get tired during the ride, and it’s never a problem to complete it,” he said. “The pressure is to reach the mileage.”

People tell Kingsbury that he’s the only one “crazy but awesome” enough to do this. But what most people see as an outlier of character, he calls perseverance. “It’s not as hard as it looks,” he said.

He began cycling six miles to and from work at age 48. The first time he did it, he told his wife to be on standby to pick him up in case he couldn’t make it back. When he realized he could do it, he kept asking himself, “How far can I go?”

“Now, I don’t go out to cycle unless I’m going to be riding at least 30 miles,” he said.

To train for the marathon, Kingsbury recently rode to Canada and back, about 720 miles total. Leading up to the big ride, he has been biking at least 50 miles a day, and in the days right before he plans to pedal 200 to 250 miles a day. He recently climbed Mount Greylock in Massachusetts to strengthen his legs.

“He’s doing something monumental that’s not so simple,” said Andrew Hager, of Bellmore. “I could never do it.”

Hager calls himself Kingsbury’s “one-man pit crew.” During the 24-hour marathon, he supplies Kingsbury with water, food and “anything he needs.” Hager is a fellow cyclist. The two men met while biking at the park about 10 years ago. He described Kingsbury as just a normal guy.

“Phil is not training for the Olympics,” he said. “He’s a Wantagh resident who was determined, and determination can overcome a lot of things.”

It was the determination of two parents that inspired the two men to begin with. In 2009, Jim and Lynn Scarpati lost their 19-year-old son, Matt. He was riding along the Wantagh bike path when an intoxicated motorcyclist veered off the parkway and hit him. Dinding inspiration in a devastating loss, the Scarpatis fought to have guardrails built along the bike path, which begins in Cedar Creek Park and leads to Jones Beach.

“Over one million people use that bike path every year,” Kingsbury said. “Everybody that goes on the path owes their safety to Jim and Lynn.”

The Scarpatis also founded the Miles for Matt Foundation. Last year, Kingsbury’s marathon raised $3,000 for the organization, which is dedicated to education, safety and athletic projects. It has donated bicycles to children who can’t afford them and hosted soccer clinics. The Scarpatis also continue to keep Matt’s name alive by spreading awareness about safe driving in the community. On June 4, Miles for Matt held a 5K run at Cedar Creek Park.

“The foundation is all about giving back to people,” Hager said. “All the charity does is give to somebody who needs it.”

Kingsbury had the idea for the 24-hour marathon when he attended the dedication of a bronze statue of Matt at Cedar Creek Park. That day he took the idea to County Executive Ed Mangano and the Parks Department, who were all very supportive and helped make it happen. Hager stepped in to get fliers out and spread the word about the ride.

Kingsbury never met Matt, but he feels as if he knows him through this ride and seeing the work his parents do for the community. During his past rides, he spent some time talking to Matt. Not expecting an answer, he simply asks Matt to give him the same strength and endurance he had when he was a young cyclist. Kingsbury said it gives him the sense of purpose and motivation to keep going.

“Ultimately, this ride is not about me setting a world record,” he said. “It’s about riding for Matt Scarpati.”