Shawn Cranwell loves using pedals on both his 18-wheel big rig and two-wheel bike.

The longhaul truck driver slips smoothly between horsepower and manpower on the road while earning a living and enjoying his passion for cycling.

The 54-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., started driving trucks when he was 26 years old. Before that, he was an amateur race cyclist, and he literally took the sport into the cab of his truck.

Cranwell hauls LTL freight from Ontario to California and back into Canada and is gone from home for 11 to 14 days at a time. While he’s at it, he also transports three bikes on the top bunk of his sleeper cab. “It’s a very natural thing to do. Trucking and bicycles complement each other so well,” he said.

He straps each bike individually to the bunk, with the front wheels off, and puts furniture blankets between them. He has a bin that contains spare parts because it’s hard to get a truck to places where bike repair shops are located. He also carries a couple of race wheels, just in case he wants to enter a race. He still has a license to race in the United States.

If the weather is bad, he uses a trainer that he can bolt his bike onto in the cab. An app provides readings on speed and distance. “You can ride your bike like a hamster on a treadmill,” he said with a laugh.

Hauling LTL freight offers Cranwell some flexibility in organizing his work schedule. He splits his off-duty hours in the United States. For example, he’ll drive five hours before taking a break and hop on his bike for a couple of hours. Then, he gets back into the truck and drives for another six hours.

Regular bike routes

“I wake up and drive, and when the clock says it’s time for a break, I go for a ride.”

For him, it’s an efficient way of getting down the road, although it makes for a longer day. For the most part, Cranwell does not set an alarm to wake up, only using it on days he has to deliver freight.

He has regular routes where he rides his bikes. They include places in states such as Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, California, and Illinois. The driver says although sometimes it’s nice to try to find a new route, the familiarity of where you’re riding helps get the job done.

Cranwell said he looks for a minimum of an hour-and-a-half on the bike, but he’s done rides that have lasted 10 hours.

Healthy eating habits

Salads, protein, and smoothies help replenish the calories he burns during his long hours at work and riding the bike. He carries eggs, tuna, and chicken, along with frozen berries and protein powder for smoothies. He also shops along the way to ensure a healthy diet. He does like his sweets, too, and does not deprive himself.

This healthy lifestyle helps Cranwell be present for his wife and family when he returns home. He can go for long walks or hikes with his wife without being tired. And he does not take any medication.

Mental health benefits

This also has a huge mental benefit. If he’s having a rough day with a lot of deliveries or a difficult customer, he knows he’ll be getting on his bike later. “I can still salvage something from the day. You still have to do the job. It gives you something to look forward to.”

Biking also helps him meet and interact with people. He sometimes goes online and finds a cycling club that has a planned ride and joins them. These rides, he said, keep him engaged and help avoid loneliness on the road.

Recently, Cranwell entered the Mr. Health & Fitness competition organized by a muscle publication that supports a charity that helps fight childhood cancer. And, he’s made it to the Top 20.

“The things you can see just 10 miles from a truck stop are incredible,” he said. As he continues to clock miles in his cab and on the bike’s saddle, Cranwell encourages other drivers to get away from truck stops or rest areas if they can. Even a short walk helps, he added.