Ben Lubkin's 1,300-mile trek across Europe is a colossal feat for any athlete, especially a 17-year-old who at one time could barely bend his legs without excruciating pain caused by a rare bone disease.
"For Ben, the bike is a sense of speed and freedom he doesn't have from his body," his mother Wendy Lubkin said. "He is a determined young man."

Tomorrow the the Blind Brook High School senior, a serious cyclist since the age of 15, will embark on his longest ride ever. It will take him from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Barcelona, Spain, across the grueling heights of the Alps and Pyrenees mountains.

The ride will also raise money for Lubkin's bone disorder, multiple hereditary exostoses, a genetic condition that causes his body to grow dozens of extra bones - some the size of an orange. The benign tumors become painful and require surgery when they develop near nerves and muscles. About 6,000 Americans suffer from the disease, including Lubkin's mother and 13-year-old brother Alex, though Lubkin has the most severe case in the family. The disease is not fatal, but it increases the risk of developing bone cancer.

High-impact activities, such as running or playing basketball, are too damaging to Lubkin's body, yet he is able to ride a bike and swim with minimal pain.

"When you stop growing, it's more manageable," said Lubkin, who was born with the disease and has had 16 surgeries on his hands, ankles, hip and knees. "I'm over the worst. My brother is in the thick of it. When I am older I will have a higher chance of arthritis."

He hopes to raise $100,000 for research that will focus on finding a cure and may also help cancer studies, he said.

Lubkin's legs are crisscrossed with deep scars that show the history of his treatments, which began in the first grade when his ankle was restructured to correct his lumbering gait. His most recent surgery in December removed a tumor near his knee that was causing a sharp, burning pain when he biked and swam.

Recovery from the surgeries can take up to three months and sometimes forces the teen to use a wheelchair and crutches. To celebrate his last surgery for the foreseeable future, Lubkin decided to take on the biggest bike ride of his life - the farthest he has biked before is 116 miles. The ride is organized through a Massachusetts outdoor adventure group and includes 12 high school students and two adult guides.

"I wanted to achieve a personal feat after all my operations by undertaking a massive physical endeavor," he said. "It's a way to move my legs and have fun with my bike."

At first, his parents were hesitant about allowing him to take the month-long trip because Lubkin will bike 70 to 80 miles a day, camp outside and have no contact with home. His father Richard Lubkin acknowledged that he's "not crazy about him barreling down the Alps at 50 miles an hour," adding that "as an overprotective parent, I am concerned he will be so far away doing an activity that is so inherently dangerous, regardless of his medical condition."

Worry has yet to slow Lubkin down. His ultimate goal is to ride 3,100 miles across the country.

"I think I need to keep seeing what my body can do and enjoying myself and making the best of my situation,".