Ride like Mike

Bloomingdale man does Jordan name proud, rides bicycle 950 miles to raise awareness for Gold Star Mothers

By Stephen Prudhomme 

Michael J. Jordan hasn’t won an NBA championship or an Oscar, as did two of the people carrying that name. Nor has he performed in front of millions on court or the silver screen.

He’s nevertheless carried on the legacy of excellence associated with that moniker, turning in a performance that merits applause and admiration. 

Jordan, 73, is a resident of Bloomingdale. He’s lived there for 13 years after growing up in Port Wentworth. Jordan worked for Gulfstream, doing production work for several years before becoming a toolmaker. He retired in 2016.

In late May, Jordan, an avid cyclist who goes on weekly group rides in and around Savannah, expanded his route. Riding mostly solo, he went from Bloomingdale to Washington, D.C., in 11 days for a distance of 950 miles. He had two rest days - one in Wilmington, N.C., and the other in Chesapeake, Va.

This was not a trek based on personal accomplishment or a chance to show off his fitness level but an opportunity to promote a worthy organization. Jordan was riding for Gold Star Mothers, Inc., a national organization dedicated to helping veterans and their families and started by the mother of a World War I soldier who was killed in action but whose body was never identified. 

“It was a great ride,” said Jordan, who had two rest days and was accompanied by his wife, Lisa, driving their Ford Explorer. “I chose late spring for the ride, figuring it would about 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in mid June. The heat wasn’t bad. I drank about nine bottles of water a day. My wife kept on asking if I was tired. I told her everything was good.”

It all started last year when he noticed one of his bikes hanging in his garage. “I thought I can do something with this bike,” Jordan said. “I can have a cause. I wanted to bring awareness to the price paid for freedom. The image I have of Gold Star Mothers is what goes on in Arlington Cemetery, which I visited. They lost a husband or son. I was delivering the message of the price of freedom.”

Jordan put his mechanical skills to work by painting Stars and Stripes on his bicycle and purchasing custom riding attire featuring Gold Star emblems and insignia that had to meet the organization’s strict guidelines. To train for the ride, Jordan cycled 10 laps over six hours at Hunter Army Airfield several times a week and averaged 15 to 18 hours a week leading up to his late May departure.

Through Adventure Cycling, Jordan set up an East Coast route that went along mostly back roads; he and his wife drove the route in October 2025. He rode to Charleston, S.C., his first day and made it to Murrells Inlet,, the following day. Jordan credits his wife, who was wearing a sling due to a broken arm, with being his “rock” during the ride. “Driving a Ford Explorer  while wearing a sling isn’t easy,” he said. “I can’t give her enough credit.”

Jordan’s journey was marked by a number of encounters with supportive and generous individuals. His hotel of choice was the Hampton Inn; he and his wife stayed at nine Hampton Inns during his ride. “ “We’ve stayed there before,” Jordan explained. “The rooms are always clean and the staff is courteous. They really stepped up to the plate. Two of the hotels gave us a pass to park out in front, and one paid our bill. I parked my bike next to the front desk, and staff and guests would see it and me wearing my “kit” (jersey and bike shorts) and ask questions about my ride. They were friendly and encouraging.”

People’s friendliness and generosity wasn’t limited to the Hampton Inn. While in Suffolk, Va., Jordan and his wife stopped at a country store. The owner, finding out about Jordan’s mission, gave them several to-go meals. “We met so many great people,” said Jordan, who frequently posed for photos with first responders and other individuals during his ride. 

When he got to Richmond, Jordan found the intended roads too dangerous. He contacted friend and former Gulfstream coworker Tom Huff, a former Naval fighter pilot who was familiar with the roads. Huff flew his plane from Florida to Virginia to meet up with Jordan. The two men rode the remaining distance to the nation’s capital.

On June 4, having ridden nearly 950 miles and drinking more than 80 bottles of water, Jordan arrived in Washington, D.C., and finished his ride at the Gold Star headquarters, where he was welcomed by volunteers and given a tour of the facility.

Rose Duval, national D.C., representative for Gold Star Mothers, said most of the public is unaware of the organization and its mission and the price of freedom tied to what they’re doing. “My hat’s off to Michael,” Duval said. “He helped raise awareness. It’s about telling the story and making it relevant to them. They learn about an organization of mothers that love their children.”

Duval especially enjoyed receiving cards and a poster made by students for an art project at the school where Lisa works as a substitute teacher. The students drew pictures of flags, bicycles, rolling hills and a rendering of Jordan on a bicycle that he said made him look like he was ET, from another planet.

“Their imaginations ran wild,” Jordan said. “I was amazed with what they came up with. It was the neatest thing.”

That could also describe Jordan’s riding adventure. “It all worked out,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience.”

Jordan was feeling so good he considered doing a 50-mile bike ride after arriving in the nation’s capital but following the suggestion of Huff decided to take it easy and play tourist. 

It was in the latter role he attended a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion, having been invited by a retired Army colonel while walking around the World War II Memorial wearing his kit. There were a number of D-Day veterans at the ceremony. "It was emotional, magical and moving," Jordan said. "You were immersed in it. It was like going to the Changing of the Guard at Arlington Cemetery. We were part of it. Everyone thanked me for using the bike ride to highlight the price of freedom. They were very appreciative."

On the trip back home, with his bike relegated to the roof of the SUV and enjoying a cool and comfortable seat in said vehicle next to his wife, Jordan stopped by three veterans cemeteries. There, as at Arlington, he was reminded of the price of freedom and the motivation for his bike ride. "You could see white monuments as far as the eye can see," Jordan said. "It was mind boggling."

Jordan has cycled for nearly 50 years and took it up seriously in 1993. "I enjoyed the fitness aspect of it and enjoyed riding with the group," Jordan said. His mentor was Nestor Garnay, a former pro cyclist from Belgium who managed three bike shops in the Savannah area.

Jordan started riding with the local cycling group but found it difficult to keep up. Garnay encouraged him to ride for 90 minutes on a daily basis to build up his base. To accomplish this, Jordan switched to the night shift at Gulfstream so he could ride in the mornings. After 12 weeks of training, Jordan, having lost 20 pounds, was able to keep up with the riding group. He also worked as a marshal for bike races in Georgia, California and Missouri, fixing potholes and doing whatever else to keep the roads safe.

Following retirement, Jordan gave new meaning to a sedentary lifestyle, spending plenty of time in the saddle. That culminated with his most ambitious trek, going from Bloomingdale to Washington, D.C. Jordan said he's considering a similar ride in 2028 around Memorial Day, perhaps going through as many as 10 states. "I want to recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice," said Jordan, noting he'd like to ride until at least the age of 90. "I want to carry on what I'm doing with Gold Star or anyone attached to them."

As far as his name, Jordan said he wouldn't call it a curse to share a name with one of the greatest basketball players of all time. "It's a conversation starter," Jordan acknowledged. "We even have the same middle initial - J. My middle name is Joseph. His is Jeffrey. He's not paying me anything to use my name. I had it before him. I tell people I'm taller and darker on TV."