Cyclist does Philadelphia to Atlantic City bike ride for pleasure and purpose
Jul. 13—POTTSVILLE — In the past, John Matulevich did the Ben to the Shore Bike Tour from Philadelphia to Atlantic City at a brisk but not competitive pace.
This year, the owner of Ruthless Performance Fitness & Mobility Studio is approaching the 65-mile ride with ruthless determination.
"I'm hoping to finish in the top 25," said Matulevich, 29, whose fitness center is in the 2200 block of West Market Street.
That's 25th out of an estimated 2,500 entrants in the fundraiser for Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation — an ambitious undertaking, to say the least.
A trim 170 pounds, Matulevich hits the roads around 7 a.m. daily for training runs around Saint Clair and Pottsville.
In spare moments at his gym, he works out on an Assault bike and a Concept2 rowing machine.
"I put a huge emphasis on stress training," said Matulevich, an assistant swim coach at Pottsville Area High School.
He swam competitively when he was a student at Pottsville Area High School, and for a short time when he was a student at Bloomsburg University.
In 2010, when he was a junior, Matulevich won four gold medals for Pottsville in the Schuylkill League Swimming Championships at Ned Hampford Natatorium at Pottsville Area's D.H.H. Lengel Middle School.
No stranger to long-distance bike rides, Matulevich rode from San Francisco to Pottsville in 2019.
After 42 days on the road, he was greeted by a crowd upon arrival Oct. 5, 2019, at Humane Fire Company.
The cross-country trek was a fundraiser for Hillside SPCA and the now-defunct Back in Black Dog Rescue in Hegins. It raised $11,000.
The 36th Ben to the Shore Bike Tour leaves Philadelphia at 7 a.m. July 23 and concludes around 3 p.m. at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City.
Along the way, there are rest stops in West Berlin, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City and Galloway, all in New Jersey.
Riders pay a $50 entrance fee and agree to raise at least $200. Matulevich hopes to raise $1,000. Funds raised support first responders and their families.
"In communities along the route," Matulevich said, "police and first responders keep the tour secure."
Last year, Matulevich took along his faithful companion, Kronos, on the ride. A rescued pit bull, Kronos rode in a cart attached to Matulevich's bike.
Kronos will stay at home this year while his master makes the run on a steel-framed Surly bike. Most of the competitors are riding lighter bikes with aluminum or carbon fiber frames.
Matulevich is sticking with the steel-framed bike for nostalgic reasons. It's the one he rode across the country.
He's riding with the Jim Thorpers bicycling team, which draws members from Carbon and Schuylkill counties.
Joining Matulevich are Jon Cicero and his son, Jude, and Fred Cicero, of Saint Clair. Also riding are Sean Eagan, of Pottsville, and Dillon Smith, of Bloomsburg.
On the road to Atlantic City, Matulevich finds both pleasure and purpose.
"It's a unique opportunity to do something that's good for the community," he said, "and that challenges yourself physically."
Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007
