most people would start thinking about 
slowing things down. He’s the owner 
of a successful real estate company and 
has raised a family. He’s earned the right 
to sit back and relax, to look forward 
to retirement. And while he’s taken 
advantage of the security he’s gained by 

taking his hands off the 
day-to-day workings of 
office life, he’s put those 
hands to use elsewhere, 
firmly grasped around 
the handlebars of a bike 
that now seems a natural 
extension of his body. 

Pushing himself has 

taught him many things 
and those lessons are 
ones he hopes will inspire 
others, as well. “Too 
many people let so much 
of their lives pass them 
by without ever seeing 
this world and it’s such 

a wonderful, beautiful place,” Catanese 
says. “God gave us the ability to go 
beyond the limits that our minds confine 
us to and this journey has taught me to 
trust the strength of my mind, my body, 
and my soul to accomplish things beyond 
anything I’d ever imagined possible. 
Anyone can do that if they have the faith 
to challenge themselves.”

Such physical fortitude required to push 

through all those miles naturally mandates 
proper fueling. While one could certainly 
rely on easy-to-pack protein bars and 
tasteless nutritional supplements to keep 
their bodies charging along, Catanese is 
exploring at every opportunity, using his 
time in each country to taste the authentic 
flavors of the world he rides so far to 
see. “I lose a lot of salt on my rides, so I 
love to have pizza loaded with anchovies 
and olives to help replenish that sodium 
anywhere I can. I’ve enjoyed some of the 
most amazing breads and cheeses and 
I eat dessert every day. I usually stop 
somewhere around the last ten miles of 
my ride each day and have an ice cream!” 

Tom laughs. “With the amount of calories 
I burn everyday refueling is the key, so 
I enjoy eating my way through these 
countries and getting more of a sense of 
their culture through their cuisine.”  

With plans on the horizon to explore 

more of the Mediterranean countries he 
has yet to see he’s keeping his calendar 
full, tentatively setting his sites on biking 
a course from Paris to Istanbul. For 
Catanese and his adventurous soul, life 
is truly a journey we should all enjoy to 
its fullest—and he’s hoping to inspire the 
world to open their hearts and their minds 
to come together and take the ride.

December/January 2017   |   29  

“God gave us the ability to go beyond the limits that our minds confine us to and 

this journey has taught me to trust the strength of my mind, my body, and my 

soul to accomplish things beyond anything I’d ever imagined possible. Anyone can 

do that if they have the faith to challenge themselves.”

XX-XX AdventureOut.indd   2

11/29/16   9:26 AM