Eric Hites weighs 560 pounds. The weight of his Mongoose mountain bicycle and trailer, and the gear he needs to pedal across the country is just over 400 pounds. This brings the total amount he is carrying on his quest to around 1,000 pounds.

“It’s just heavy as sin, I can tell you that,” Mr. Hites said last week while taking a rest on a bench outside the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Hostel where he stayed while on the Island.

Mr. Hites always wanted to take a road trip, to go cross-country, meet people and have an adventure. He always assumed he’d do it in a car, but instead he is traveling by a jerry-rigged bicycle filled with clothes, food, tools and a tent.

At its core, this is a journey of love.

Mr. Hites and his wife separated almost a year ago, and he wants to win her back. He is confident that this trip will prove his love and show her how much he is willing to change, both physically and emotionally.

“One of our songs was 500 Miles by the Proclaimers,” he said. “And I said, tell you what. I’ll ride a bicycle coast to coast, how about that?”

Before he began his trip, Mr. Hites did a five-mile test drive to make sure his bike was in good working condition. Other than that, he’s mostly playing it by ear. He hasn’t even fully quit smoking.

“I’m going to quit,” he said. “I’m already down to about an eighth of what I’m normally at.”

His choice of the Vineyard as the starting point was mostly based on the fact that it is on the East Coast and one of his idols lives here, giant sword maker Michael Craughwell. One of the few things Mr. Hites did do before he left home was to send Mr. Craughwell a message and set up a meeting with him on the Island.

“He lives about a mile away from here,” Mr. Hites said, gesturing away from the hostel. “So I’ll probably try and see him soon, before I go.”

Mr. Hites estimates that his trip to the West Coast will take around four months. He’s planning on paying for the trip through a GoFundMe account he has set up and any odd jobs he might be able to find. Mr. Hites frequently freelances as a DJ, and his minimum rate is $300.

“I probably won’t stoop to the fat man walking,” he said, of another campaign by a different man. “He did some weird commercial thing or something. So not that.” Mr. Hites has created a website called fatguyacrossamerica.com where he blogs about his journey.

As of yet, Mr. Hites has no return plans for when he reaches California. He said he is ready to uproot from his native Indiana, and feels the coast to coast tour will give him plenty of opportunities to explore new cities and towns. Before leaving the Island on Thursday to continue his quest, he considered the possibility of the Vineyard as a potential home.

“It’s nice here,” he said. “A little bit pricey, but you know, my kind of people.”