Say hello to Mike Cohen, a man with many titles. Mike is a cancer survivor, the recipient of a heart transplant, and an accomplished cross-country cyclist.

Mike embodies the Nomad spirit of adventure and resilience, and we’re honored to share his story. In this blog, we’ll explore his past, future, and all the gear that keeps him going.

At 18, Mike was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. Reflecting on the first few days after his diagnosis, Mike shared that he felt a deep responsibility to recover for his family. Mike had recently lost his grandmother, and just a couple of months earlier, his grandfather had also been diagnosed with cancer.

After more than two years of intensive chemotherapy, Mike’s cancer went into remission, and he slowly began to regain his strength. Ready for a fresh start, he made the decision to move across the country from New York to San Diego, California. “I moved there to put it all behind me,” he said. “I just wanted to look at everything with fresh eyes.”

In 2012, six years after his last cancer treatment, he decided to bike across America. His longest bike ride prior to this idea was 45 miles, but that didn’t stop him. 38 days and 3,168 miles later, he achieved his goal. He admitted he was wildly unprepared for such a strenuous endeavor, but he loved every second of it. He returned home to San Diego with sore muscles and a deep love for cycling.

On July 27, 2017, what began as an ordinary night quickly turned into a life-threatening situation. Mike's arm suddenly went numb, and he felt a stabbing pain in his jaw. Sensing something was seriously wrong, he texted his brother and girlfriend: 'I think I’m having a heart attack.'

Later that night in the emergency room, doctors discovered a blood clot the size of a golf ball in his left ventricle. A week later, Mike underwent open-heart surgery to remove the clot, and surgeons implanted a left ventricle assist device, or LVAD, to help his heart pump blood. Although this was a huge challenge, it wasn't Mike's first battle—he had already faced and conquered cancer. This was just another obstacle on his journey.

LVADs are often considered a temporary solution, acting as a bridge while patients wait for a heart transplant. The challenge for heart transplants lies in the qualification process: you need to be sick enough to need a new heart but not so ill that a transplant won’t help. Fortunately, Mike met the criteria perfectly. 

Mike was well aware that the new heart could fail in his chest, that he might not even wake up from the procedure. But the prospect of having a healthy heart and the chance to return to an active lifestyle far outweighed the dangers. He was ready.

On February 25, 2018, Mike woke up with a new heart beating in his chest.

When Mike woke up with a new heart, the idea of a second bike tour across America crossed his mind. He knew it was a distant goal, let alone even possible, but the thought stuck with him.

Fortunately, his recovery in cardiac rehab was remarkably quick. Just six months after his heart transplant, his doctors gave him the green light to start training for the ride. It wasn’t a full-fledged approval—more of a cautious go-ahead, with plenty of check-ins along the way. But even so, his dream of biking across America again was slowly becoming a reality.

Mike's new heart came from Navy flight surgeon James Mazzuchelli, who tragically lost his life in an accident at Camp Pendleton. Surprisingly, it was James’s family who first reached out to Mike. After exchanging letters and phone calls, Mike asked for their blessing to honor James by biking across America. He would start in San Diego and end in Jacksonville, Florida, where James was laid to rest. With their support, Mike started to set things in motion.

On November 20, 2019, just 473 days after his transplant, Mike completed his 28-day, 2,462-mile ride across the country.

We first connected with Mike in 2018, shortly after his heart transplant. At the time, he was planning his second cross-country ride and seeking brand support. When he shared his story, we knew we wanted to be part of his journey and help in any way we could. To support his ride, we sent him a selection of our power products, including USB-C, Lightning, and Universal cables, along with a few power banks.

Five years later, we’re still working closely with Mike. Over the years, we’ve gotten to know him well, and one thing that stands out is his appreciation for quality products. The gear he uses reflects this: his POC Ventral Air helmet and Aspire glasses, Canyon Grizl bike, Topo Designs Global Tek Crew, and ALMSTHRE handlebar and saddle bags are all thoughtfully designed by brands that push the limits in their industry.

Mike’s way of life is a constant reminder of who we design for—those who push themselves and their gear to the limits, appreciate the small details, and seek adventure in every moment. When we set out to create Rocky Point Band, people like Mike were our inspiration.

This past June, we met up with Mike on a gloomy Saturday morning in Santa Barbara for a bike ride around town and to share an early sample of Rocky Point Band with him. We were looking for his thoughts and feedback on it, and also wanted him to put it through the ringer to see how it would hold up in real life situations.

Mike has been a long-time advocate of Nomad, and his support for Rocky Point Band inspires us to keep innovating. We’re committed to keep creating products for people like Mike, and to enhance people's everyday lives.

Mike has an incredible story with so many chapters, but what impressed us the most was his unshakeable can-do spirit. Mike's energy is a powerful reminder to cherish every day—and that every day is a great day for a bike ride.

The road doesn’t stop here for Mike; he's planning rides to support cancer and heart patients with financial assistance, through local and regional biking events. Mike is calling these rides FLNT, or Fighting Limits, Never Tired. 

Want to follow along on Mike’s ride? Visit www.mrmikecohen.com or follow him on Instagram @mrmikecoh to learn more.