There are one hundred and two days, fifteen weeks, twenty two hours, and (approximately) fifty two minutes until we hop on that bike saddle. 102 days!!!I find myself constantly repeating this hoping I can maybe, just maybe, finally grasp that this ride is actually happening. That's right. Five months into training and team events and it still hasn't hit me.I'm guessing (or hoping) that's a good thing because all my pent up excitement will boil over when I'm desperately trying to pedal up the roads of New York.Until then, I shall begin the search of my partner in crime (bike).
Phoenix
It's hard to believe that this day is finally here! Today I brought my bike home. It was a one-week wait from the time I bought this baby, to the time I brought it back to Stratford House. The fitting was a cool process which took about 3 hours, including shoes and pedals. A number of adjustments were made and now my bike is super comfy. As you may have guessed from the title of this blog posting, the bike's name is Phoenix. It is a Domane 4.5 WSD, which is a carbon fiber bike with higher-level components than those of the Lexa SLX, the aluminum bike I was originally looking at. I'm sorry that this posting is so brief but I just wanted to update you all that now I have a bike! And I'm kind of obsessed with it... This machine will bring me across America! Okay, that's all for now, more pictures coming later. :)
T-minus 105 days...
It is hard to believe that we only have 105 days until the start of the ride in the Big Apple. It feels like just yesterday that I remember receiving the acceptance email, though in reality it was back at the beginning of October 2013. It is funny how one's perception of time changes depending on the past, current, and/or future circumstances impacting one's life. On this note, I plan to devote my next blog post to further flushing out this thought. Stay tuned...
Filters and Dreams
Hello, blogiverse! So I, like most college-age people, am the victim of a smartphone addiction hanging treacherously on the edge of compulsive obsession. As much as I try to kick the habit of checking text messages and Twitter during class, I can't quite get it out of my system. Normally, this really bothers me, but today I'm thankful for where I ended up on my cellular device. Its not the most profound story by any means, but here's why:Instagram is a photo and video sharing application used mostly on smartphones. One can add artsy filters and effects to photos before posting, and the increasingly popular #hashtag is used to categorize them. I happen to quite like this app since my newsfeed is filled with hard-core bicycles, pretty dresses, marathoners, and food of all kinds. Anyway, the other day I got a new follower (one step closer to becoming internet famous, y'all!) with a bicycle inspired username. This peaked my interest and after checking out his profile and doing a few quick searches, I discovered that this man was also on an American bicycle journey to draw attention to several causes close to his heart. Each day pictures of his travels slide into view on my screen and as they do I think of how my own adventure is drawing closer and closer. Today, I left a comment on one of these posts thanking him for the inspiration and explaining very briefly about Illini 4000. The comment I received back got the gears in my head turning. He said, "I am so pleased to hear you are doing something so epic! Best wishes and keep us posted on your progress as you pursue your dreams.""...as you pursue your dreams." In the short time I have been involved in the Illini 4000 I've heard it described many ways. Amazing, crazy, kick-butt (use your imagination, folks), stupid, outrageous, life changing, and painful are only a few of the descriptions I've come across, and I'll admit "dream" was not one I expected to hear. In my current world of problem sets, exams, and emails, dreams are either what my degree is supposed to provide or something I'm too tired to remember. I mean, let's be honest, college is far from easy! However, we all know there's so much more to life than a 4.0 GPA and a $90k per year salary. On a deeper level my real dreams (and I'm sure I'm not the only one!) lie in the same place as where "more to life" can be found. Call me crazy, but I dream about prioritizing people; about making the world a better place. I dream about childish idealities that the proverbial "they" should have knocked out of me by now. World hunger? We could feed it. Poverty? We can pay it. Cancer? We can cure it. I dream in cliches and I am not ashamed! All of my teammates, I think, have to be somewhere on the same overzealous page as me to dedicate themselves to something as crazy, kick-butt, stupid, outrageous, painful, and dreamlike as Illini 4000.Because we're not just a bike ride, and we're not just a fundraiser. We're a bunch of crazy kids with enough reckless passion to act on our convictions and desert life as we know it because we care about the future of others, for goodness sakes! If that isn't dreaming I don't know what is.
Unwritten - The Start of an Adventure
Before I start this blogging adventure with you, here are five things you should know about me:1. My name is Kevin Daliva. I’m 22 years old. I’m a senior studying Accounting and Technology & Management.2. I tend to type how I talk. So if you ever start reading these posts out loud, make sure you do your best impression of me. Make sure you clear your throat a lot. I do that.3. This isn’t my first time blogging. I’ve had a few personal blogs, some private, some that I've shared with friends. I also used to have a Xanga where i wud tiPe LyKe DIS! That said, I think this is interesting in that it’s the first time that I'll be able to touch upon some more serious topics.4. I love puns. I also love what some have labeled “Dad Jokes.” Since we’re biking across the country, don’t be surprised if I pump a few in here. I hope you don't tire of them. Oops. Spoke too soon. Bike.5. I’m biking across the country. I'm biking with 20 other crazy college kids to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Along the way we interview people in the hopes of documenting “The American Cancer Experience.” But if you’re on our website right now, you probably know that. Feel free to check out blogs by other riders, our rider profiles, our route, and definitely donate to our cause!Expect a more substantial post coming next week, but for now, have a great weekend everyone. I can't wait to go on this adventure with all of you :)I am literally so excited.
Hey look! An I4K Blog!
So, I've never blogged before, but what else is new regarding I4K. I've never ridden my bike over 4000 miles either. Basically, this post is just me saying a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far! I'm almost two-thirds done with fundraising, and am astounded with people's generosity. So again, thank you!!!Regarding I4K life, besides fundraising, I'm also on the hunt for the perfect bike (jk, lol- cheapest that won't fall apart). So the next week and a half will be me wandering aimlessly through Champaign Cycle pretending to know what I'm looking at :) . Wish me luck!Hope everyone is staying warm!
Blessed!
Hey friends! This is going to be a short post, since it's just my first one and I suppose it's rather late at night. But I would like to convey to you the incredible, overwhelming gratitude I feel right now at the ways God has blessed me in the past week.First of all, it is simply enough to say that I am able to go on this trip, that I am financially and physically able to be a part of this journey, this insane undertaking at which so many marvel. People don't believe me at first. Sometimes they think I'm lying and that I could not possibly use a bicycle to travel from sea to shining sea. But they are wrong; it is possible. I have yet to comprehend the magnitude and greatness of this country, but I'm sure it will hit me once we begin.I would also like to give an update on fundraising. Last week was a huge push for reaching $2000. As some of you may be aware, there are checkpoints, and I was trying with all my might to tell people about the trip and send out letters and sell cookies. But I discovered that my might was not enough. I sell cookies in my classes and outside of sporting events, but when I add it all up, the best time to fundraise is 11pm-2am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That's not easy. As I wandered the well-lit Green Street with a box of over a hundred cookies, it occurred to me time and time again to give up. It is cold. This is impossible, I would think. About to head back, I'd talk to one more person, who would proceed to throw in $20. It shocked me. My God is a God of impossible things, and He is my strength. He gave me courage (I'm not typically super-duper outgoing with sketchy strangers!) to talk to the people who seemed to have the least promise. And in one day, I raised $320, including an older man with a cane who took a cookie and dropped $40 into the can. Near tears, I realized how blessed I am! He has given me the weighty responsibility to "provide opportunities for people to be good stewards in distributing the resources entrusted to them." Found that quote on a site that talks about how to have the right perspective on fundraising. One more thing... I am trying my best to avoid saying "We can do this!" but rather "God show me the way."So it seems a fitting title to my first blog post: blessed. He has taken my fears and swept them away. I am so hopeful and excited for the rest of the semester, that I can blow past these monetary goals and bless others in a way that He has blessed me.Love, Grace.P.S: I bought a bike on Saturday! <3 (more info coming soon!!)
Feeling Grateful
As I sit here writing some long overdue thank you notes (I am always out of stamps), I figured it’s as good of a time as ever to get this blogging started. While the ride won’t start for another 100 or so days, this journey started back in September when, in typical Kathleen fashion, I submitted my application the day before it was due. I’ve always wanted to do something out of the box and be adventurous, I just couldn’t find anything that really got to me. It’s my senior year, and I saw this opportunity as one of my last chances to really do something like this, and I can’t think of anything better than this opportunity. I hope this is just the beginning of the crazy awesome adventures in my life.So, sitting here writing these thank you notes really makes me extremely grateful for all the support I have been getting for this trip. Every single time I get a donation, I can’t resist the urge to call my parents and tell them about it. Someone could hand me a dollar and I would still call them, because every little bit holds the same amount for me. I’m so glad that so many people have decided to support me on this adventure. I know it will not only leave a large impact on my life, but hopefully the lives of the people I will be able to interact with along the trip this summer. Insanely grateful for all who have donated. It seems like every time I think I won’t be able to do this ride I get the support from someone I wasn’t expecting and I get excited all over again. So, thank you thank you thank you! I don’t know if I can really express how grateful I am, just know I am, even if I don’t start jumping up and down and start yelling.I’ll keep you posted on future happenings, such as my level of soreness after Saturday morning training.
Ride with I4K in Summer 2015!
The Illini 4000 is recruiting NOW for our summer 2015 ride!If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the 2015 Bike America Team and helping in the fight against cancer, come visit us at one of our info sessions:Tuesday, February 4 (tomorrow!) in English Building 259Thursday, February 20 in English Building 259Tuesday, March 4 in English Building 259Wednesday, March 19 in English Building 303All info sessions take place at 7pm.
2014 Team!
In all the excitement of sending out donations from the 2013 Bike America Team and the process of selecting the 2014 Bike America Team, we haven't yet had the opportunity to introduce the members of next summer's ride. So, without further ado, we present the Illini 4000 Bike America Team for the summer of 2014!Eric BaehrJeffrey BogueEllen ButlerMarissa CastnerKevin DalivaGrace DeetjenShiqi FuAlex KnickerBlake LandryTyler LevyKathleen MammoserAlysha MartiniRyan NewquistChristy NicholsIsalia RamirezAnna RenardoMike SchneiderbauerShuchen SongArthur TsengAnne WaveJosh WeisbergA big congratulations goes out to them for undertaking such an endeavor, and we're excited to start preparing for another summer riding bikes and fighting cancer!