Man embarks on 8,500-mile bike to promote health

A central Michigan man who shed about 130 pounds over the past year by riding a bike has embarked on an 8,500-mile ride to visit U.S. cities that are battling obesity.

Jerry Smith began his trip Sunday afternoon from Trinity Church in Lansing. By Sunday afternoon, he'd stopped in Milford and at the Founders Sports Park in Farmington Hills.

Smith will be joined by another rider and followed by a driver carrying supplies. They'll visit the fattest cities on the Men's Fitness magazine "Fittest and Fattest Cities in America" list. Smith is passing out information about nutrition and exercise with a message aimed especially at youths.

Smith estimates he'll ride 114 days before ending in Los Angeles.

A Facebook page titled "2012 Catch On Tour" will track the ride.