As I write this, I have less than 24 hours before I will be running into the Pacific Ocean, screaming like a maniac. This summer has brought me so many amazing experiences and I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me to complete this journey. To everyone who put their faith behind me and believed that I could complete this trip, a thousand times "Thank you." The support from my family, friends, school, fraternity, and community has been second to none. From the first time that I found out about Bike and Build, I knew that it was the program for me. My parents have always been supportive of all of the absurd ideas that I pitch to them, and this was no exception. The question was never "Is this going to happen?" but rather "How are we going to make this happen?" My parents were constant sources of advice, encouragement, and wisdom to me throughout my fundraising, training, and the trip itself. Without them, I could not have even began to consider this trip a possibility, and will be forever grateful for the opportunities that they have provided me.
To all of my friends at school who never quite seemed to understand what I was doing when I would leave for hours on end dressed in nothing but spandex, but nonetheless encouraged and supported me, I cannot express how much your support means to me. From financial donations, to help planning fundraising events, to simply getting excited about what I was planning on doing, you kept my spirits up and never let me doubt my ability to complete this challenge.
Finally, I want to thank anyone and everyone that I have talk to about this program, have brow beaten for donations, and have gotten advice from.
Brooke, you have heard me talking about bikes more than any person should ever be subjected to in their lifetime. From the day that I got placed on the route, you were huge motivating force for me and for that I will be forever in your debt. There were times when the task ahead seemed to be to steep, but you never allowed me to doubt in my ability to excel. Thank you.
Jesse, I owe so much of where I am today to the help that you gave me. You gave up your time and resources to help me get out my message and get the donation I needed. Even in the middle of a hectic final semester, you gave up your time because you believed in me and the cause that I was working for. I have been thinking about you all summer and I know that I would not be here today without your help.
My Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers. I don't know how many of you really knew what it was that I was trying to do, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for me. You helped shape me into the person that I am now. You have taught me strength, compassion, humility, and humor. I have worked diligently to achieve this goal and I hope that I make you proud.
Sterling and Dave, thank you for the constant words of encouragement and support. They have gotten me through some tough rides on the bikes. Please take my example and continue to work hard to hold up the ideal of Sigma Phi Epsilon. I have complete faith in both of you to be balanced men and to carry yourselves with honor and virtue.
To all of my donors. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I have never lost sight of the mission of this trip. To help educate myself and others about the affordable housing crisis in the United States. I will carry the momentum from this trip forward into the next stage of my life.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Still pedaling away.
We are just over a week away from reaching the Pacific Ocean. As tired as my mind and body have gotten over the past two months, I am still enjoying every minute of this experience. Simply being so close to the end causes me to think back at everything that has happened this summer and everything that I have seen. Cities that we rode through just a few weeks ago now seem like a distant memory. Each day, I am presented with amazing new experiences and the opportunity to do something that I absolutely love. I am so blessed to be able to wake up and ride my bike all day while enjoying the company of amazing people and seeing amazing landscape. I have found myself taking a little bit longer to get into the host sight so that I can have a few more minutes on my bike each day. Everything is so simply and so perfect.
The two nights that we stayed at the Grand Canyon has been not only one of the highs for this trip, but has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The anticipation on the climb up to the rim was almost more that I could handle. I would find myself charging up climbs on the off chance that I would be able to catch a glimpse of the rim only to find myself disappointed and out of breath. However, the wait was worth it. I have previously visited the Grand Canyon when I was 11 years old, but that experience was nothing compared to this past weekend. I was just so overwhelmed with the vastness and the beauty that it was almost difficult to comprehend. My enjoyment was heightened by the faint sense of superiority that I felt over the other visitors who had gotten to the rim by car, bus, or motorcycle. "Oh you drove here from California? An 8 hour drive you say? Yeah, that must have been a tough car ride. Me? Oh, I've just been riding my bicycle for the past 2 months over 3000 to get here. No biggie." The stay at the Grand Canyon was capped off sitting on the canyon rim at sunset and drinking a beer with some of the best people I have ever met. I really can not say that it gets much better than that.
The hiking trails into the canyon were very tough, but really allowed for a more intimate exploration of the canyon. I got a late start in the day, but was able to fit in a 6 mile hike down below the rim. I am just so in love with being outdoors and exploring through my own power.
It is difficult to put into words how inspiring this trip has been and how much it means to me. I hope to keep the momentum from this trip and to continue on pushing myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have permanently raised my status quo. Perseverance and diligence has moved me over 3000 miles under my own power and I know that I am yet to reach my full potential. I am all at once inspired, anxious, and at times terrified for what that means, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. There is still so much for me to learn and so much room for me to grow but I welcome the experience and will continue to face seemingly impossible tasks with the same mentality that I have been trying to cultivate all of my life.
The two nights that we stayed at the Grand Canyon has been not only one of the highs for this trip, but has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The anticipation on the climb up to the rim was almost more that I could handle. I would find myself charging up climbs on the off chance that I would be able to catch a glimpse of the rim only to find myself disappointed and out of breath. However, the wait was worth it. I have previously visited the Grand Canyon when I was 11 years old, but that experience was nothing compared to this past weekend. I was just so overwhelmed with the vastness and the beauty that it was almost difficult to comprehend. My enjoyment was heightened by the faint sense of superiority that I felt over the other visitors who had gotten to the rim by car, bus, or motorcycle. "Oh you drove here from California? An 8 hour drive you say? Yeah, that must have been a tough car ride. Me? Oh, I've just been riding my bicycle for the past 2 months over 3000 to get here. No biggie." The stay at the Grand Canyon was capped off sitting on the canyon rim at sunset and drinking a beer with some of the best people I have ever met. I really can not say that it gets much better than that.
The hiking trails into the canyon were very tough, but really allowed for a more intimate exploration of the canyon. I got a late start in the day, but was able to fit in a 6 mile hike down below the rim. I am just so in love with being outdoors and exploring through my own power.
It is difficult to put into words how inspiring this trip has been and how much it means to me. I hope to keep the momentum from this trip and to continue on pushing myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have permanently raised my status quo. Perseverance and diligence has moved me over 3000 miles under my own power and I know that I am yet to reach my full potential. I am all at once inspired, anxious, and at times terrified for what that means, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. There is still so much for me to learn and so much room for me to grow but I welcome the experience and will continue to face seemingly impossible tasks with the same mentality that I have been trying to cultivate all of my life.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy Birthday America
As someone who has spent a good portion of my teenage years idealizing Colorado, I have been pleased that my very high expectations have been met. The Rocky Mountains have been spectacular. We have had very long days. Many of which consist of over 6 hours in the saddle and up to 10 hours on the road. However, I have been pleasantly surprised to notice that I have been getting used to these long days. The climbs in the Rockies were very tough, but really rewarding. We reached our highest peak at Monarch Pass, 11,312 feet above seal level. Only a few days later, on our ride into Durango, we climbed three passes, each one over 10,500. This is dramatically different than what the 500 miles of training I did.
We have had two days off in the last 6 days. Our day off in Gunnison was spent white water rafting on the Taylor River. It is amazing how a group of young, adventurous people can ruin a perfectly good rest day by battling rocks, water,and the cold for two hours. Today's day off was spent in a much more relaxing manor. Durango seems to be a very quaint mountain town. Everyone seems to be very outdoor oriented and active. Plus this is an extremely cycling friendly town.
On our ride into Durango we had, arguable, the most scenic ride of our trip. Leaving Ridgway for Durango we rode on the Million Dollar Highway. Immediately out of the church we started to climb and continued for the next 25 miles. The climb seemed to be never ending and it is amazing how cold the mountains can be in July. After a morning spent freezing and cursing myself for not buying full fingered gloves, we finally rode into the sun and I began to defrost. The views from the switchbacks and the small mountains towns that we rode through made the day incredible. The 30 mile descent that we were promised from past riders was corrupted by a strong headwind for the last third of the day. However, the headwind was not enough to put a damper on one of the best ride days of the trip.
We have had two days off in the last 6 days. Our day off in Gunnison was spent white water rafting on the Taylor River. It is amazing how a group of young, adventurous people can ruin a perfectly good rest day by battling rocks, water,and the cold for two hours. Today's day off was spent in a much more relaxing manor. Durango seems to be a very quaint mountain town. Everyone seems to be very outdoor oriented and active. Plus this is an extremely cycling friendly town.
On our ride into Durango we had, arguable, the most scenic ride of our trip. Leaving Ridgway for Durango we rode on the Million Dollar Highway. Immediately out of the church we started to climb and continued for the next 25 miles. The climb seemed to be never ending and it is amazing how cold the mountains can be in July. After a morning spent freezing and cursing myself for not buying full fingered gloves, we finally rode into the sun and I began to defrost. The views from the switchbacks and the small mountains towns that we rode through made the day incredible. The 30 mile descent that we were promised from past riders was corrupted by a strong headwind for the last third of the day. However, the headwind was not enough to put a damper on one of the best ride days of the trip.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Colorado...finally
After 9 days and over 700 hundred miles, I am finally sitting here at the base of the Rocky Mountains enjoying the knowledge that I will not be waking up at 5:30 to ride my bike for 6 hours. I could not be more excited to finally be in Colorado. This last week has been incredibly taxing, but all of the stress and fatigue melted away when we got our first glimpse of the mountains on the horizon.
Yesterday night we camped out at the Chico Basin Ranch in Eastern Colorado. The Ranch was a 86,000 acre ranch and wildlife reserve. The ride leading into the ranch was one of our most difficult/exciting rides of the trip. Of the 80 miles, we had to ride over 20 miles on hard packed gravel and dirt roads. While our road bikes are wonderful machines, traversing long distances on extremely slick and rough roads are not something that they are designed to do. Carbon is not exactly the best at absorbing shock. There were countless close calls, but I was able to make it through the motocross style ride in one piece. After getting through the initial gravel section, we were graced with well paved roads until we got to the entrance of the ranch. After we crossed the entrance of the ranch, we were greeted to wide open pastures, livestock, and more cow pies that I would care to remember. We had to stop numerous times to allow stubborn cows to meander their way out of the road.
Once we got to the patch of land that was least covered in ragweed and cacti, we set up our tents and proceeded to do camping things, i.e. lounging, reading, admiring the landscape, and peeing outside. The day was capped off with an absolutely stunning sunset over Pikes Peak. Standing in an open field with the wind whipping, and watching one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever witnessed, I felt a surge of energy and a revitalization for this trip and for the adventure that I am on. I have been fearing that I have build up Colorado to much in my mind, but from the wave of excitment and the way that the past few days have been going, it seems that everything is shaping to be quite an exciting two weeks.
Our group has been hit with a wave of what we have affectionately dubbed "the sickness." The sickness has arose out of a combination of lack of sleep, extreme fatigue, lack of proper nutrition, a rise in altitude, and living in extremely close proximity with 31 other people. This one is going to be quite a bear to combat. Luckily, I have been able to skirt around falling prey to this awful fate. Hopefully I can stay healthy for our two build days here in Colorado Springs.
Yesterday night we camped out at the Chico Basin Ranch in Eastern Colorado. The Ranch was a 86,000 acre ranch and wildlife reserve. The ride leading into the ranch was one of our most difficult/exciting rides of the trip. Of the 80 miles, we had to ride over 20 miles on hard packed gravel and dirt roads. While our road bikes are wonderful machines, traversing long distances on extremely slick and rough roads are not something that they are designed to do. Carbon is not exactly the best at absorbing shock. There were countless close calls, but I was able to make it through the motocross style ride in one piece. After getting through the initial gravel section, we were graced with well paved roads until we got to the entrance of the ranch. After we crossed the entrance of the ranch, we were greeted to wide open pastures, livestock, and more cow pies that I would care to remember. We had to stop numerous times to allow stubborn cows to meander their way out of the road.
Once we got to the patch of land that was least covered in ragweed and cacti, we set up our tents and proceeded to do camping things, i.e. lounging, reading, admiring the landscape, and peeing outside. The day was capped off with an absolutely stunning sunset over Pikes Peak. Standing in an open field with the wind whipping, and watching one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever witnessed, I felt a surge of energy and a revitalization for this trip and for the adventure that I am on. I have been fearing that I have build up Colorado to much in my mind, but from the wave of excitment and the way that the past few days have been going, it seems that everything is shaping to be quite an exciting two weeks.
Our group has been hit with a wave of what we have affectionately dubbed "the sickness." The sickness has arose out of a combination of lack of sleep, extreme fatigue, lack of proper nutrition, a rise in altitude, and living in extremely close proximity with 31 other people. This one is going to be quite a bear to combat. Luckily, I have been able to skirt around falling prey to this awful fate. Hopefully I can stay healthy for our two build days here in Colorado Springs.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Well, hello there Kansas
Just 8 hours ago I was sitting on my bike on a deserted road in the middle of Oklahoma roasting in 97 degree heat, battling a headwind, and dreading the 30 miles I still had to ride. No matter how much food I ate or how much water I drank, nothing was working to pick me up. I was spent. Totally exhausted. It is times like these that I truly love riding my bike. There is no downhill, no tail-wind and zero chance of either shade or cloud cover. It is just you and your bike. The ride pushes you to your mental and physical limits. Your body’s screaming for you to stop. Your brain begins to work just a little bit slow as fatigue sets in, but in the back of your mind you know that no matter how strong the wind, no matter how slow you pedal, each rotation brings you closer to the final goal.
Today I really felt like I was riding across the country. We rode 70 miles on one road due west. While enjoying a wonderful breakfast in Ponca City, we were treated to the knowledge that a local cyclist would be joining us on today’s ride. Chris Mudd is a local rider who just started cycling a few years back. The cycling community is Ponca City is far from thriving, so it was a thrill for both Chris and the entire Bike & Build group to be able to ride together. I was able to ride with Chris for a good part of the morning. We passed the time talking about, surprisingly, bike stuff. The cycling community has really come out to support our trip and it is nice to get some one on one time and hear the different stories that people have an the different paths that brought each of them to this wonderful sport.
Crossing Oklahoma has been a very eye opening experience. When I first saw that we were going to be crossing northern Oklahoma, I just expected to be looking at wheat and corn for 5 straight days. Now, don’t get me wrong, there has been a lot of wheat and corn, but I have been surprised at the variety of Oklahoma’s scenery. Today we passed though huge expanses of farm land, by large lakes, and through the salt plains. Each had its own appeal and distinctive draw. The farm land is incredibly impressive. As we ride our bikes we are surrounded on all sides of these huge expanses of food that will end up in all corners of the United States.
As difficult as today was, I am excited to get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Tomorrow will be long, hot, and windy. I can’t wait.
Today I really felt like I was riding across the country. We rode 70 miles on one road due west. While enjoying a wonderful breakfast in Ponca City, we were treated to the knowledge that a local cyclist would be joining us on today’s ride. Chris Mudd is a local rider who just started cycling a few years back. The cycling community is Ponca City is far from thriving, so it was a thrill for both Chris and the entire Bike & Build group to be able to ride together. I was able to ride with Chris for a good part of the morning. We passed the time talking about, surprisingly, bike stuff. The cycling community has really come out to support our trip and it is nice to get some one on one time and hear the different stories that people have an the different paths that brought each of them to this wonderful sport.
Crossing Oklahoma has been a very eye opening experience. When I first saw that we were going to be crossing northern Oklahoma, I just expected to be looking at wheat and corn for 5 straight days. Now, don’t get me wrong, there has been a lot of wheat and corn, but I have been surprised at the variety of Oklahoma’s scenery. Today we passed though huge expanses of farm land, by large lakes, and through the salt plains. Each had its own appeal and distinctive draw. The farm land is incredibly impressive. As we ride our bikes we are surrounded on all sides of these huge expanses of food that will end up in all corners of the United States.
As difficult as today was, I am excited to get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Tomorrow will be long, hot, and windy. I can’t wait.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Arkansas
185 miles in two days sandwitched between build days. Needless to day, this is not the happiest that my body has ever been with me.
We did deconstruction on a house our build day in Little Rock. A homeowner was refurbishing his house and had contacted Habitat for Humanity to donate much of the furnishings. We spent the day taking out carpets, doors, molding, and appliances which will all be donated to Habitat and sold in their Restore. The family was very thankful and showed their appreciation by getting us access to the community swimming pool after our work day was finished. The pool was a great break and a lot of fun, especially considering the 102 mile day that was looming ahead of us.
That night I took steps to mentally prepare myself for the long day that lay ahead. I knew my body could hold up, but going to bed knowing that I would spend the lion's share of the next day sitting in the saddle still had me a bit worried.
After a 4:30 wake up and a hearty breakfast, I set out for the day. Nature was not going to cut us any breaks and within a few hours the temperatures has risen to upwards to 90 degrees. At its peak, we were riding in temperatures off 100 degrees. Myself and a few other riders have nicknamed that day the double-century. As the we continue to head west and our mileage continues to increase, that may not be the last double century that we encounter.
That night we stayed in college dorms in Clarksville. dorms were very nice, but we did not have quite enough beds. I'm sure the riders in the tour de France don't have to sleep on a love-seat when they are in the middle of a stage race. What is the nonsense that I signed up for? The ride into Fayetteville was a 85 mile ride which took us over the Ozark Mountains. The mountains were a good change of pace from the past few days of long, flat roads. I woke up extremely sore the morning of the ride, but after only a few miles in I was feeling great. I rode the first half of the route on my own and was one of the first riders into lunch. After lunch I caught up with Jeremy and Daniel and rode into town. I was eager to get into town to see my dad (who failed miserably at surprising me), Uncles, and cousins. After driving around town with my uncle and have a few memories from my childhood replayed in my mind, we went back to the host church for dinner and a presentation.
At the church I got to meet the homeowners of a future Habitat house. Patti and her daughter Rose were both sharp as a tack. They had me on my heels from the first minute and had me cracking up throughout the hour conversation that I had with her. The appreciation that she had for the work that we were doing on her house was like nothing I have seen before. She was just so excited to be able to have a home that was hers and that she could leave to her children when she passed away. Our work really does have a dramatic effect on real people, and even if we don't always get to see the direct result, we are helping to change these people's lives.
Tomorrow we are crossing into Oklahoma. Lots of long, flat, windy miles ahead of us.
We did deconstruction on a house our build day in Little Rock. A homeowner was refurbishing his house and had contacted Habitat for Humanity to donate much of the furnishings. We spent the day taking out carpets, doors, molding, and appliances which will all be donated to Habitat and sold in their Restore. The family was very thankful and showed their appreciation by getting us access to the community swimming pool after our work day was finished. The pool was a great break and a lot of fun, especially considering the 102 mile day that was looming ahead of us.
That night I took steps to mentally prepare myself for the long day that lay ahead. I knew my body could hold up, but going to bed knowing that I would spend the lion's share of the next day sitting in the saddle still had me a bit worried.
After a 4:30 wake up and a hearty breakfast, I set out for the day. Nature was not going to cut us any breaks and within a few hours the temperatures has risen to upwards to 90 degrees. At its peak, we were riding in temperatures off 100 degrees. Myself and a few other riders have nicknamed that day the double-century. As the we continue to head west and our mileage continues to increase, that may not be the last double century that we encounter.
That night we stayed in college dorms in Clarksville. dorms were very nice, but we did not have quite enough beds. I'm sure the riders in the tour de France don't have to sleep on a love-seat when they are in the middle of a stage race. What is the nonsense that I signed up for? The ride into Fayetteville was a 85 mile ride which took us over the Ozark Mountains. The mountains were a good change of pace from the past few days of long, flat roads. I woke up extremely sore the morning of the ride, but after only a few miles in I was feeling great. I rode the first half of the route on my own and was one of the first riders into lunch. After lunch I caught up with Jeremy and Daniel and rode into town. I was eager to get into town to see my dad (who failed miserably at surprising me), Uncles, and cousins. After driving around town with my uncle and have a few memories from my childhood replayed in my mind, we went back to the host church for dinner and a presentation.
At the church I got to meet the homeowners of a future Habitat house. Patti and her daughter Rose were both sharp as a tack. They had me on my heels from the first minute and had me cracking up throughout the hour conversation that I had with her. The appreciation that she had for the work that we were doing on her house was like nothing I have seen before. She was just so excited to be able to have a home that was hers and that she could leave to her children when she passed away. Our work really does have a dramatic effect on real people, and even if we don't always get to see the direct result, we are helping to change these people's lives.
Tomorrow we are crossing into Oklahoma. Lots of long, flat, windy miles ahead of us.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Making headway
We are over a third of the way across the country. Looking our route tracker is beginning to become far more impressive. In just a few days we are going to have crossed into our fourth state.
Our first day not spent biking or building was just a few days ago in Memphis, TN. Memphis was a really powerful experience. The day that we got in we were invited to an Urban Salon hosted by a professor of urban development and a few individuals who are highly involved in working work affordable housing initiatives in the city. The organizations differ from any of the other programs that we have worked with. One of the speakers was from United Housing, Inc. The organization focuses their efforts on buying up foreclosed houses, fixing them up, and then selling them to families at a very affordable price and low mortgage rate. The speakers were very well informed and were eager to answer any question that we may have had.
Today's build day was a lot of fun. Tomorrow we have our longest ride day of the trip. 101 miles. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep before our hard day tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Memphis TN
After seven straight days of riding, we are all looking forward to our first off day of the trip. This past week has been tough both mentally and physically, but on the whole all of riders are holding up remarkably well. Aside from the usually aches, pains, and sore behinds our rag tag band of cyclists are doing amazing.
We have definitely had some interesting experiences in this past week. In Dunlap, TN we were hosted by at the Tennessee National Guard armory. The armed forces are definitely not known for their interior design abilities. Quite drab if I do say so myself. In Polaski we were fortunate to be able to stay in a college dorm. It is a funny thing how three weeks of sleeping on the floors of church gyms can make a bare mattress in a tiny dorm room seem like the Ritz Carlton.
Form all sides, Polaski was amazing. I was late getting to the host sight and was greeted by a local cycling club who had volunteered to clean and tune up our bikes. Everyone worked tirelessly until all of the bikes were in top working order. You would be surprised about how much gunk accumulates in the nooks and crannies of a road bike. As much as the riders try to keep our bikes clean, it is often times difficult to find the time and energy to show our bikes the love that they deserve. The help was greatly appreciated. After the bike clean-fest, we all went to the major's house for a pool side BBQ. The mayor and all of the local riders were incredibly friendly and the entire evening was very relaxing and fun.
Tonight we have the privilege of having a roundtable meeting with some students and professors from the University of Memphis to discuss the affordable housing situation in Memphis, and in Tennessee as a whole. This is an amazing opportunity that our leaders have set up for us. Cycling is a large aspect of our trip, but is not the main focus. We are all here to learn as much as we can about the affordable housing crisis in the United States and to think about these issues from a number of different perspectives. Through our rides, we have been able to see first hand the devastating effect that the housing crisis has had on small towns and communities. Many of the small towns that have hosted us and provided us with amazing meals have average incomes well below the national and state average, but have nonetheless donated their time and money to help us complete and excel in our journey. We owe it ourselves, our donors, and everyone that we meet across the country to give ourselves wholly to this cause and the help combat the affordable housing crisis in this country.
Tomorrow's rest day will give us all a new vigor and boost to continue into our third state. Arkansas here we come.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Crossed our first state line
It is official, we have biked our way across North Carolina. It is odd to think that we have come so far, and still have so much more in front of us. The riding has been amazing in the past few days. We have had some extremely rewarding (aka difficult) climbs in the past few days which have really tested all of the riders. Reaching the North Carolina Tennessee boarder after a 4 hour climb made the crossing a little bit more special. Not only did we cycle across our first state, but we had to work our butts off to do it.
It is really exciting to see the scenery change so quickly as we are riding. Coming out of the Appalachian mountains into the foot hills of Tennessee has been such a dramatic change. We have stayed predominantly on back country roads which gives us the opportunity to see some amazing farm lands and car traffic has been low. However, I was unaware that in order to live in Tennessee one is required to own a dog with a deep seeded hatred for cyclists. I am not sure which is worse, angry drivers or angry dogs.
The highlight of this past week had to have been our Build Day in Maryville, TN. All 32 of the riders were able to work on the same work site and we put in the flooring of a house in a single day. The build was made special by the fact that the future homeowner, Stephanie, was working on her house as well. Getting to see the impact that our work had on her, and her holding back tears at the end of the days was extremely powerful. The opportunity to interact with the homeowners in both Asheville and Maryville pushes the riders to work a little bit harder during the builds.
Today's ride has been my most enjoyable ride in Tennessee thus far. Only 3 miles into the day we began to climb Daus Mountain. A short but formidable climb. In less than 3 miles we climbed about 2000 feet and pushing our way up a 10% grade. Many of the riders, including myself, talked about how the could feel their rear wheel struggling to find traction on the wet asphalt. The climb was one of the steepest that we have encounter thus far, which made reaching the summit the top all the more exhilarating. Daus Mountain in a large plateau, so we rode about 25 miles before enjoying the fast descent. After lunch, myself and two other riders cruised into the host site at a good clip, talking and laughing the whole way. Despite the climb, today's ride was extremely relaxing.
Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with how well my body has been holding up to the rigorous activity. I have been able to remain injury free, and my legs haven't fallen off yet, so I am taking that as a good sign. Some of the other riders have been battling recurring injuries and lingering colds, but on the whole everyone is doing extremely well. Unfortunately, this morning we had to say goodbye to one of our riders who has been experiencing problems with his achilles tenants. The recurring pain had just become to much and he was unable to continue with the trip. Saying goodbye this morning was extremely difficult and riding today with one less rider just didn't feel right. Hopefully, he will be able to take some time to recover and meet back up with us later on in the trip.
It is really exciting to see the scenery change so quickly as we are riding. Coming out of the Appalachian mountains into the foot hills of Tennessee has been such a dramatic change. We have stayed predominantly on back country roads which gives us the opportunity to see some amazing farm lands and car traffic has been low. However, I was unaware that in order to live in Tennessee one is required to own a dog with a deep seeded hatred for cyclists. I am not sure which is worse, angry drivers or angry dogs.
The highlight of this past week had to have been our Build Day in Maryville, TN. All 32 of the riders were able to work on the same work site and we put in the flooring of a house in a single day. The build was made special by the fact that the future homeowner, Stephanie, was working on her house as well. Getting to see the impact that our work had on her, and her holding back tears at the end of the days was extremely powerful. The opportunity to interact with the homeowners in both Asheville and Maryville pushes the riders to work a little bit harder during the builds.
Today's ride has been my most enjoyable ride in Tennessee thus far. Only 3 miles into the day we began to climb Daus Mountain. A short but formidable climb. In less than 3 miles we climbed about 2000 feet and pushing our way up a 10% grade. Many of the riders, including myself, talked about how the could feel their rear wheel struggling to find traction on the wet asphalt. The climb was one of the steepest that we have encounter thus far, which made reaching the summit the top all the more exhilarating. Daus Mountain in a large plateau, so we rode about 25 miles before enjoying the fast descent. After lunch, myself and two other riders cruised into the host site at a good clip, talking and laughing the whole way. Despite the climb, today's ride was extremely relaxing.
Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with how well my body has been holding up to the rigorous activity. I have been able to remain injury free, and my legs haven't fallen off yet, so I am taking that as a good sign. Some of the other riders have been battling recurring injuries and lingering colds, but on the whole everyone is doing extremely well. Unfortunately, this morning we had to say goodbye to one of our riders who has been experiencing problems with his achilles tenants. The recurring pain had just become to much and he was unable to continue with the trip. Saying goodbye this morning was extremely difficult and riding today with one less rider just didn't feel right. Hopefully, he will be able to take some time to recover and meet back up with us later on in the trip.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Build Days in Asheville
After completing a very difficult 85 mile day on the Blue Ridge Parkway into Asheville, everyone prepared for our next two build days. The 32 riders were split up into 3 different build sites. I went with 7 other riders to work with Mountain Housing Opportunities to put in a wheelchair ramp in at a man's home. MHO works with low income housing to help with necessary repairs and additions. The man who's house we were working on was named Robey. He had just had a double hip replacement and was having difficulty walking up and down the the stairs into his home.
The work site was only a few miles from the church that we were staying in, so the group of us rode our bikes their the two mornings. Everyone worked together really well and we were able to complete the ramp in only a day and a half. It was really gratifying to be able to see our project completed. Bike and Build is an amazing program, but since we are constantly on the move, we are rarely able to see the final product. Working with MHO and being able to talk directly to the person whose house was being worked on made the experience far more personal.
Robey was a really interesting character. One of 13 brothers and sisters he had grown up outside of Asheville on a family owned farm. For both days, he stood on the porch chit-chatting with us and telling us that we had "about whipped the porch" in his heavy southern accent. He proudly showed us his collection of hand made model cars and doll houses, as well as his extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia. All of the workers were given an extra push when we saw how much he appreciated us coming and working on his house. I left the previous two work days exhausted, but in Asheville I felt energized. Our work was making a dramatic effect on a persons life and we were able to watch the experience take place. It was a really powerful two build days.
The rides have been difficult, but everyone is falling into a routine. Wake up, pack, take your bin to the trailer, eat breakfast, do chores, route meeting, ride. It is amazing how quickly someone can adapt to an entirely different way of life. The intense physical activity has been difficult, but manageable. Plus, seeing everyone else working so hard and finishing the route in such high spirits gives me such a burst of energy that it clouds any negative thoughts that I may have had during the ride. I have been experiencing such a high after each of our rides, it is like nothing that I have ever experienced.
The work site was only a few miles from the church that we were staying in, so the group of us rode our bikes their the two mornings. Everyone worked together really well and we were able to complete the ramp in only a day and a half. It was really gratifying to be able to see our project completed. Bike and Build is an amazing program, but since we are constantly on the move, we are rarely able to see the final product. Working with MHO and being able to talk directly to the person whose house was being worked on made the experience far more personal.
Robey was a really interesting character. One of 13 brothers and sisters he had grown up outside of Asheville on a family owned farm. For both days, he stood on the porch chit-chatting with us and telling us that we had "about whipped the porch" in his heavy southern accent. He proudly showed us his collection of hand made model cars and doll houses, as well as his extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia. All of the workers were given an extra push when we saw how much he appreciated us coming and working on his house. I left the previous two work days exhausted, but in Asheville I felt energized. Our work was making a dramatic effect on a persons life and we were able to watch the experience take place. It was a really powerful two build days.
The rides have been difficult, but everyone is falling into a routine. Wake up, pack, take your bin to the trailer, eat breakfast, do chores, route meeting, ride. It is amazing how quickly someone can adapt to an entirely different way of life. The intense physical activity has been difficult, but manageable. Plus, seeing everyone else working so hard and finishing the route in such high spirits gives me such a burst of energy that it clouds any negative thoughts that I may have had during the ride. I have been experiencing such a high after each of our rides, it is like nothing that I have ever experienced.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
An amazing day!
In every way conceivable, today’s ride was the most fulfilling and enjoyable bike ride that I have been experienced. No one really knew what to expect during our morning route meeting. The 63 miles from
After an extended lunch, I got back on the road to finish the final 23 miles to our host sight. The final leg of the ride took us on an 11-mile stretch of the
All of the riders are on such a high after today’s ride. Tomorrow we get back on the Parkway for our ride into Ashville. We will have two build days in Ashville working with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. As sore and tired as I am, I cannot wait to get back on my bike and see more of the beautiful
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wake Forest
Nags Head to Swan Quarter to Belhaven to Greenville to Wake Forest. What a week! The last few days have been a blur of riding, eating, and sleeping. Not much else. The group usually starts our days between 6:00am and 6:30am. After eating breakfast and loading up the trailor we have a group meeting, where we are given our directions for the day. The rides are an absolute blast. The routes that we have be on have been mostly back country roads with little car traffic. We can sometimes ride two abreast which allows the riders to talk and joke. The conversation along the way makes the rides go by a lot quicker.
Our host sites have been incredible. The hospitality that we have been shown has been truly amazing. I can't remember the last time that I have eaten this well. At least not in college anyway. The churches have have greeted us with open arms and been strangely eager to welcome 32 sweaty bike riders into their nice clean building.
The other riders have are great. I have been trying to make a point to get to know all of the other people on the trip. Everyone is here to achieve a common goal and that definitly shows when we are interacting and joking around. We can all have fun and joke, but when it is time to get serious and give our presentations to the communities in the different towns everyone gets down to work and doesn't loose sight of the goal that we are trying to achieve. After only a week on the trip it is hard to imagine how this summer could get any better. The scenery, the riding, the people, the service have all come together to make this trip fantastic.
It would be to much to give an overview of every ride that we have done so far, but I do want to give a run down of our ride today. This morning a fellow rider (Sam) and myself went to Starbucks for some coffee before heading out on the ride. The scheduled milage for today was 85, but I think I ended up going around 90-95 total. The first 40 miles went by in a flash. After leaving Greenville we went through a few small towns and stopped for lunch just past Wilson. After filling up on PB&J we set out to finish the final 40 miles. Unfortunatly that is when the hills started to make their presence felt. As a resident of Central Florida for the majority of my life, I consider anything over an overpass a fairly substantial hill. Around mile 60 the group that I was with found a neat old gas station and rested for about 30 minutes. Filling up on ClifBars, GU and Gatoraid. The 25 miles heading into Wake Forest were really fun, but in a sadistic sort of way. The ache in my legs was present, but never a hinderance. I have truely found a new love for the sport of cycling. Riding at 22 MPH in a pace line brings an uncontrolable smile to my face everytime.
Tomorrow we are riding into Chapel Hill for our first 2 Build Days. There are a few of the riders who know the area well and are excited about showing everyone around. The past 7 days have been amazing and I can't wait to see what the next 63 have in store
Our host sites have been incredible. The hospitality that we have been shown has been truly amazing. I can't remember the last time that I have eaten this well. At least not in college anyway. The churches have have greeted us with open arms and been strangely eager to welcome 32 sweaty bike riders into their nice clean building.
The other riders have are great. I have been trying to make a point to get to know all of the other people on the trip. Everyone is here to achieve a common goal and that definitly shows when we are interacting and joking around. We can all have fun and joke, but when it is time to get serious and give our presentations to the communities in the different towns everyone gets down to work and doesn't loose sight of the goal that we are trying to achieve. After only a week on the trip it is hard to imagine how this summer could get any better. The scenery, the riding, the people, the service have all come together to make this trip fantastic.
It would be to much to give an overview of every ride that we have done so far, but I do want to give a run down of our ride today. This morning a fellow rider (Sam) and myself went to Starbucks for some coffee before heading out on the ride. The scheduled milage for today was 85, but I think I ended up going around 90-95 total. The first 40 miles went by in a flash. After leaving Greenville we went through a few small towns and stopped for lunch just past Wilson. After filling up on PB&J we set out to finish the final 40 miles. Unfortunatly that is when the hills started to make their presence felt. As a resident of Central Florida for the majority of my life, I consider anything over an overpass a fairly substantial hill. Around mile 60 the group that I was with found a neat old gas station and rested for about 30 minutes. Filling up on ClifBars, GU and Gatoraid. The 25 miles heading into Wake Forest were really fun, but in a sadistic sort of way. The ache in my legs was present, but never a hinderance. I have truely found a new love for the sport of cycling. Riding at 22 MPH in a pace line brings an uncontrolable smile to my face everytime.
Tomorrow we are riding into Chapel Hill for our first 2 Build Days. There are a few of the riders who know the area well and are excited about showing everyone around. The past 7 days have been amazing and I can't wait to see what the next 63 have in store
Friday, May 14, 2010
5/13/2010
It is the day before orientation and my parents and I drove up to South Carolina and are staying in a hotel. We got a late start on the trip and didn't hit the road until arount 1. We got about 2/3rds of the way to Nags Head before deciding to pull off and get a hotel room in Florence SC. The drive up has been undeventful and has pretty much consisted of listening to A Brave New World and napping. Hopefully we can get an early start out so we don't have to be rushed getting to the orientation tomorrow afternoon. I still have no idea what orientation will be like or who the other riders are. Overall I am not very nervous, but I have been experiencing bursts of anxiety over the trip.b These usually pass quickly and I try not to let them bother me. However, I am going to remain positive and enjoy whate3ver this experience has in store for me.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
3 days away
It is hard to believe that I am just a few days away from embarking on this journey. The outpouring of support that I have received from so many of my friends, teachers, and even complete strangers has meant so much. It is such an honor to know that people believe so much in me that they are willing to dedicate their time, money, and hard work into helping me achieve my goal. The incredibly generous donations that I have received have helped me surpass my original fundraising goal by almost $1500. Every single dollar that I have received has only motivated me more to keep pushing and to prove that I am deserving of the generosity that I have been shown.
In just three days I will be making the drive up to the Outer Banks in preparation to start my summer trip. While I feel that I am not as prepared physically as I could be, I am still very confident about my ability to finish this trip without experiencing a complete breakdown. It has been difficult to fit in training while preparing for finals and graduation. I'm sure that I will be not speding more time in the saddle about a week into the ride, but that is why they invented biofreeze. Aside from the physical aspects, I feel that keeping mentally strong will be just as hard, if not harder, to do than keep my body functioning. I am fully expecting numerous minor breakdowns, but nothing that I won't be able to recover from. Although I have not met any of the other members of my group in person, through the magic of the internet I have already made some good friendships and I cannot wait to meet everyone in person.
These next three days are going to be extremely busy. I will be splitting my time between Deland and Titusville. Packing, unpacking, moving, driving, researching. I can't wait. There are only a few more supplies that I need to buy, but for the most part I have everything that I will need. I just bought the ISM Adamo Typhoon Saddle. With only a few days to go before I set off, I was not sure if I wanted to risk buying a new seat. The seat that I have been using has worked well, but I was nervous that I would begin to experience problems in the middle of the trip. The unique design of the ISM saddle relieves pressure directed and increase blood flow to the groin. As that part of my body is very important to me, I want to do everything in my power to protect it.
In just three days I will be making the drive up to the Outer Banks in preparation to start my summer trip. While I feel that I am not as prepared physically as I could be, I am still very confident about my ability to finish this trip without experiencing a complete breakdown. It has been difficult to fit in training while preparing for finals and graduation. I'm sure that I will be not speding more time in the saddle about a week into the ride, but that is why they invented biofreeze. Aside from the physical aspects, I feel that keeping mentally strong will be just as hard, if not harder, to do than keep my body functioning. I am fully expecting numerous minor breakdowns, but nothing that I won't be able to recover from. Although I have not met any of the other members of my group in person, through the magic of the internet I have already made some good friendships and I cannot wait to meet everyone in person.
These next three days are going to be extremely busy. I will be splitting my time between Deland and Titusville. Packing, unpacking, moving, driving, researching. I can't wait. There are only a few more supplies that I need to buy, but for the most part I have everything that I will need. I just bought the ISM Adamo Typhoon Saddle. With only a few days to go before I set off, I was not sure if I wanted to risk buying a new seat. The seat that I have been using has worked well, but I was nervous that I would begin to experience problems in the middle of the trip. The unique design of the ISM saddle relieves pressure directed and increase blood flow to the groin. As that part of my body is very important to me, I want to do everything in my power to protect it.
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