Tuesday, August 28, 2018

DirtDrift 2018: Update

Biking the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail with the BWI Loop
Only a couple weeks now until I arrive in Boise, ID and head off on my second Bike & Build trip! We had a team meeting over the weekend and squared away some detailed trip info:

  • 2 Build Days (in Boise)
  • 6 Riding Days
  • 250 Miles to Cover
  • Camping Every Night
  • Weather - Highs in 80's, Lows in 20's
  • Cell service - Not likely
  • Wildfires - Maybe?


As for me, I'm hurriedly getting ready for this trip along with everything else going on around here! At the suggestion of other Bike & Builders, I am using BikeFlights.com to arrange ground shipping straight to Boise and hopefully I'll have a good review to leave when my bike arrives safely via FedEx (their shipping partner). I never needed to ship my bike when I was on SUS 2014, so I'm a little nervous. My local bike shop was kind enough to give me a used bike box and somehow I managed to fit my 29er into this small box (made for a cruiser bike) during a test fit.

Attempts at Bike Packing

Well I'm home now from my 45-mile ride on the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, adding in the BWI Loop for good measure. I was hoping to make this 60 miles but I ran short on time... Anyways, I'm quite tired and I shall say goodnight! Thanks for reading my blog!


Friday, August 10, 2018

I'm Back!

Hi friends, welcome back!! I ask that you please take the time to eventually read this whole post, but if time is short or if you want to know why now, 4 years later, I am creating a new post on this blog, go ahead and skip to the end. As always, thank you for your friendship and support!

Just over 4 years ago, I joined an amazing group of individuals on a 4220-mile trip from Jacksonville, FL to Monterey, CA. This trip was the 2014 Bike & Build Southern US (SUS) trip and it opened my eyes not only to the wonders of our great country but to the needs of those within it. All across this country, there is a significant need for decent, affordable housing. Many families lack the funds and support to have a place of their own, something which many of us take for granted. Supporting affordable housing is about helping others to fulfill the basic human need for shelter and giving them the chance to improve their own well-being.

 

On SUS 2014, our group of cyclists met many people along the way that were positively supported by affordable housing. From veterans to single-parent families, those that we met were the kindest, most gracious and welcoming people that I have ever been in contact with. I have been very fortunate to be a part of this and see firsthand the benefits that an organization like Bike & Build and its affordable housing partners can bring to the less-fortunate all across the country. 

My OTHER Ride (Rocky Mountain Trailhead 29er)

Wait, what happened to my road bike??  Well, friends, I am pleased to announce that this summer, I will be joining Bike & Build for another ride, but this time it will be on a less-paved course very far from any ocean. On September 14th, I join the  Bike & Build DirtDrift leaving out of (& returning to) Boise, Idaho!

This ride will be the first test of a future off-road Bike & Build trip and although we won't stray outside of Idaho, we are still following the same organizational goals of my 2014 trip. These include earning our 'sweat hours' on at least two affordable housing build days and raising funds for affordable housing projects. I am extremely excited to be joining Bike & Build once again on this shakedown ride and paving the way (though not literally)  for future generations of service-minded young adults to continue supporting the affordable housing cause. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your support as I tackle this new trip!

Please feel free to follow me here for updates on the ride. Given the nature of the ride itself, I may not be able to post every day during the week-long ride (or at all), but I will have some amazing pictures after it has wrapped up. I am responsible for fundraising $700 towards this trip, so if you wish to help support me financially, please see my fundraising page at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1521309. Thank you once again!!

More information about this Bike & Build trip is available at https://www.classy.org/event/bike-and-build-dirtdrift/e188238.

Training For The Trip (Plainfield, NH)