A Year Lived Between Pages and Pedals
Bikes
A year of Books and Bikes...Pages and Pedals...Writing and Riding. Whatever you want to call it -- this has been a year of Resolution to Reality for me.
It's been 2 months since I returned from my 6-week cross-country bike tour with Trek Travel and I still can't believe I did it. There were 22 of us who were crazy enough to ride our bikes from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. We dipped our tires in the Pacific Ocean when we started, and again in the Atlantic Ocean (this pic is from the last day in Portland, ME).
The ride was very challenging, but as I had hoped, it was a great way to see and experience the U.S. And I had never been to many of the states we rode through. I was surprised to find that most of the U.S. (outside of the big cities) is farmland and that there are corn fields in every single state! From the rugged coast of Oregon, to the rolling farmlands of the Midwest, to the forests of the East Coast...the U.S. is a beautiful country.
Here's a quick recap of this epic adventure:
47 days
43 hotels
15 states (OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, SD, MN, WI, MI, OH, PA, NY, NH, VT, ME)
3,800 miles (average of 88 miles per day)
157,000 feet of climbing (average of 3,600 feet per day)
15 centuries (100 miles or more)
126 miles was the longest day
4 rest days (not nearly enough!)
In case you are interested, I documented my journey through short videos at the end of every day to share highlights, what I did, how I felt, and anything else running through my head. You can find them here:
Personal Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shawn.andrews.821573/
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/drshawnandrews/
Books
Before I left for my bike trip, I was laser-focused on finishing my 2nd book because I knew I would not have time to do any writing during all of my riding. And that turned out to be true. Luckily, I did finish it and only had to do editing during my travels.
My first book, The Power of Perception: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and the Gender Divide, focuses primarily on women and leadership. It outlines the barriers that women encounter and explains why we don't see more women leading (and what we can do about it).
This new book, with my co-author Michael O'Brien, focuses on helping and supporting men be better allies to both women and people of color. It's titled, The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real Inclusion. It officially launches on February 3rd, 2026, and I'm excited to share that it is now available (at the above link) for pre-order on Amazon!
Drs. Brad Johnson and David Smith wrote the foreword for the book, and with endorsements from Mel Robbins, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Dorie Clark, Josh Linkner, and others -- we are beyond grateful for the praise we've received.
Here's a brief overview:
Male allyship is critical in attaining gender parity in today’s organizations. And data shows that many men want to be better allies, but just don’t know what to do, don’t know where to look, or don’t have the support they need.
In The 5 Levels of Male Allyship, inclusion experts Dr. Shawn Andrews and Michael O’Brien deliver a groundbreaking framework that charts the path from passive awareness to courageous advocacy. From the resistant Traditionalist to the fully engaged Champion, this book addresses the fears, pressures, and cultural forces that hold men back from meaningful support and offers tools to overcome them.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews with men and women across industries, this practical and eye-opening guide helps men understand where they are on the allyship spectrum—and how to move forward with intention and impact.
In an era when diversity efforts face backlash and burnout, The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is more than timely—it’s essential. It makes the case that gender inclusion isn’t a zero-sum game: it’s a win for men, women, and entire organizations.
Packed with real-world examples, self-assessments, and more than 60 strategies for personal and professional growth, this book empowers men to become stronger teammates while also guiding women and HR leaders in identifying and developing more male allies.
Looking Forward
While I only focused on 2 things this year, they were big things!
In 2026, I’m focused on launching the new book and expanding its reach—especially to men, whose engagement is essential to making meaningful progress toward parity. I’ll be doing that through speaking, consulting, teaching, and writing.
I’m also looking forward to a gentler season of cycling: shorter, more leisurely rides with my local bike club. The early mornings and 100-mile days did their job. That box is checked.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
Shawn
