Day 12: Welcome back to the Midwest! | Zanesville, OH to Columbus, OH

Maaike approached me halfway through the ride today, wondering what we were going to write about on what had been an uneventful day for the team thus far. Well, the state of Ohio heard her remark and answered back with chaotic car traffic and the dreaded return of headwinds (she has learned her lesson and will never test Ohio again). As much as we enjoy dunking on Ohio — it’s become somewhat of a team bonding activity — we acknowledge its good parts as well, whether it's the fellow cyclists we meet or the state’s quaint natural beauty. 

Ride Overview

Mileage: 73.6

Elevation: 2,454’

Points of Interest: Linville Community Church, Buckeye Lake State Park, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Soap City Laundry, Mona’s Eats and Treats

Quote of the day

“PEDAL, PEDAL, PEDAL!!!”

— Lucas (while his group gets chased by a concerningly large dog)

Tales of the Trail

Morning activities have become a team tradition as of late, and are a great laughter-induced way to start the day with everyone. Today’s activity was decided by Tommy, who had us go around in a circle and scream progressively louder or quieter with each person. We swear these activities are more entertaining than they sound. 

Speaking of fun — or a lack thereof — we began the ride with a long stretch on a highway. It took us through gradual uphills and downhills, and was generally unremarkable apart from the occasional roadkill or tire-threatening nail in the shoulder. 

Here, we want to refer our readers to the first paragraph of this entry from 2023 I4K team journalist Jonathan Boudreaux. He perfectly describes the often overlooked aspects of the cross-country bicycling narrative. Even in a group, boredom and loneliness can envelop any rider — especially in a landscape as rural and spread out as the one we were experiencing. It takes persistence and mental strength to learn how to overcome these facets of the ride, and we believe the team did that today. Groups played games of “My Cow” that survived the entire ride (Dylan had an impressive number of immortal cows by the end of it), exchanged achingly relatable complaints about how much their butts hurt, and took breaks whenever or wherever.

Logan, Olaf, Kev, and Olivia are thrilled to be in Columbus :)

Following the highway, we had the pleasure of discovering a trail encircling Buckeye Lake State Park. Groups were able to wave and say some “morning”’s to other faces, this time unhidden by the windshields of a motor vehicles. One group met a few cyclists at a stop sign, some of whom had biked across the country as well. We love separated paths for this reason — we get to come face-to-face with the community that we are an active part of.

Lucas, Anthony, Riddhima, and Dylan stop for a picture at Buckeye Lake State Park.

A look at some endlessly straight, headwind-filled roads.

Then, the traffic hit. Lines of semi-trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles impatiently rushed by us on one-lane roads. Groups did a stellar job of utilizing callouts and hand gestures to their fullest extent. One could feel each rider become alert, instantly forgetting their respective bodily aches and pains in order to ensure the safety of the entire group. It was one of those moments where a group transformed into a well-oiled machine, and all that we had learned from team meetings in the months before was now rising into action. The conditions made for some close passes from some drivers, but everyone handled them with as much caution as they could. 

We are now at our stayover, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (which is celebrating their 175th anniversary!), and grateful to say everyone is safe and healthy. After every group arrived, some teammates went to a nearby laundromat called Soap City Laundry and the local YMCA. We also stopped at a nearby saloon and Mona’s Eats and Treats (don’t forget to check out @i4kones on Instagram!). At the laundromat and the ice cream shop, we talked about our mission with some friendly and encouraging strangers, which leads us to point out a rare yet significant pro about Ohio — the people. Wherever we have gone so far, we are grateful to say we have been met with an overwhelming amount of kindness. 

As the team watches “The LEGO Batman Movie” and kicks their feet up for a welcome rest day in Columbus, we look forward to our annual I4K “Valentine’s Day” event tomorrow where we’ll split into pairs and explore the city together. The journals will be back after some good rest and our first intentional century of the summer on Sunday.

Thank you to Domino’s and Texas Roadhouse for donating dinner to us tonight, and thank you to Emma and Neal for picking it up!

The action-packed game…

…and the entertained spectators.

(Author’s note: apologies for the late post! We had some Wi-Fi issues on our end.)

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jack Hutchens

How are you feeling today?

It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks. A lot of fun, but pretty exhausting between bike issues, not getting enough sleep — mostly my fault — I have a lot of stuff going on right now…trying to get my bike working correctly, which is a long story. 

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

When I bought it, I really had no idea what it was. I did some research — I knew what the brand was and knew it was a good brand. It’s a Calfee, they do custom carbon bikes. The guy hand-molds them, he has his own special process in a whole 50-page document that shows why he does what he does. But yeah, the bike’s carbon and titanium. It handles amazing. The problem is, the one I have happens to be from 2006, as far as I can tell. The frame might be older, but that’s the time frame the parts I’ve identified come from. Which means finding replacements is basically impossible in a lot of cases. And, gotta love tubular [tire]s! If you don’t know what those are, they basically have the tube vulcanized inside the tire itself, so if something happens, it’s impossible to repair — besides sealant, which actually works pretty well.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I have always been super into mountain biking. Mostly downhill, like pretty much exclusively downhill. I was into surfing, played varsity baseball for a few years, that was a lot of fun. Just whatever I felt like doing. I had the privilege of playing in SoCal, so a lot of time to be outdoors, and just like, enjoy the nature.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

One time with Logan, we hit this kind of sketchy gravel-ish downhill trail. We hit 53 [mph] on it. That was sick. I wanted to go faster, but honestly it was probably good I was following someone for my own sake. But either way, we made it down. It was absolutely impeccable. But for actual cities, I really loved the architecture in New York City. It was so cool to see, you had the really old stuff, and how it changed through the eras, and was reflective of the city during that time. It was incredible.

Why did you decide to join Illini 4000?

I do definitely believe a lot in the cause, and having talked to a lot of people involved with the research beforehand, there’s a lot to be said about the financial pressure that the researchers experience, right? People going into this field are faced with incredibly low wages, a lot of pressure from funding sources to get results out quickly… So I do really believe in the fellowship program, because that helps actually give [the researchers] the time they need to do real work. Beyond just wanting to help the cause, I wanted a little bit of time just to reflect on how my past year went, and really think on what I actually want to be doing in the future. I do also think the Portraits Project is incredible too. I just wanted to experience all of America, and go through it slowly and really see all of the different places. Like, most people never see rural Appalachia, and talk to the people that live there — that was definitely an interesting experience, and I think it’s worth something. There’s no other real way to do it like this.

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

Not gonna lie, I’ve been pretty quiet so far on [social media] and stuff, I’m just trying to take a break and live this up. But I will say, for whoever donated, thank you so much, it’s all going to great causes. I’ve met some of our beneficiaries, we are really doing great work here. I would like to definitely thank you for that. This trip has been incredible. And for my bros back home, I am looking forward to being back.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

I will say, food has been a bit of a struggle…it’s just a tough situation, because money’s gonna be tight no matter what. 

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 11: Swag like Ohio, down in Ohio | Wheeling, WV to Zanesville, OH

The horror. The terror. The greatest trial of being an Illini 4000 rider. Each year, the brave individuals of the Bike America Team must withstand one of the toughest tests known to mankind. Advised and warned by those who came before us, we follow in the path of the courageous former I4K riders who have already endured the trials of the most challenging, grueling obstacle the country has to offer. Dear readers, the 2024 I4K team has at long last arrived in the state of Ohio. And no, it did not disappoint. 

Ride Overview

Mileage: 83

Elevation: 5,133’

Points of Interest: The Ohio River, Bridgeport, OH, Kennedy’s Cakes and Donuts, Great Guernsey Trail

Quotes of the day

“I specialize in anxiety and adrenaline.” - Emma

“I don’t wanna see this road ever again in my entire life.” - Michael

Tales of the Trail

Following the briefest of stops in West Virginia, we took to the road after a quick safety lesson (courtesy of Kavin) for our morning activity. Our last truly mountainous day for a while, today was sure to be a long and difficult one, but brought with it some excitement — another new state! The downside? This new state is Ohio, a legend within I4K for being a short but somewhat miserable stretch of the trip due to its dullness and knack for bringing bad luck to the team. However, this year’s crew was ready to welcome the challenge after a good night’s sleep, as we’ve finally hit the groove of living together in this new lifestyle.

The day started eventfully with a lengthy climb at a 10% gradient at mile five. With hard climbs always comes a beautiful view — we loved getting to see the village of Bridgeport, OH from the top. We took an extra moment to appreciate this, knowing it would likely be one of our last beautiful views for a while as we re-enter our beloved cornfields of the Midwest. The mini-rest stop also came in handy for healing our tired legs and knees.

The exhausted but obligatory “we made it!” pic.

Part 2!

The gorgeous view minus the sweaty cyclists, courtesy of Olaf.

Time to use our favorite phrase — what goes up, must come down! We were greeted with an extremely steep descent on the other side of the mountain, which unfortunately did not pass the I4K Descent Safety and Quality Test™️ of not causing any crashes (Maaike was the lucky rider who discovered this. Whoopsy.) An honorable mention needs to be given to Dylan, for being the only rider to descend the mountain safely, then having to walk back up to meet with the team to consult, and walk all the way back down again after. After a slow but safe walk down for the rest of the team, we continued on our merry way.

Not continuing quite as merrily along was the van. In an attempt to join in on the fun, the van naively meandered its way down the narrow descent only to be met by a fallen tree blocking the road. Riders were able to walk around it, but the bulky van — bless its heart — was forced to turn around. Massive shoutout to Michael, our van driver for the day, who used his former EMT ambulance-driving skills to perform the maneuver. He did so lodged securely in the middle of a steep drop on one side and muddy trenches on the other. At one point, the van’s rear wheel got stuck in a patch of some particularly adherent soil. The rest of the van crew — Emma, Izzy, Riddhima, and Tommy, who had all wisely sagged during the dangerous descent — got out and manually pushed the van back on track. The endeavour was the definition of a team effort, and yet another example of the multifaceted chaos that is a day on this ride. We feel it earns its own mini-photo essay to truly capture the event.

Van encounters tree. Driver Michael strikes the dad-who-is-on-a-roadtrip-and-way-too-tired-for-this pose.

The van crew inspects the tree situation as a group moves through. Emma is showing some doubts.

Never doubt Michael’s EMT driving skills and four cyclists pushing skills. The van is freed, and victory is celebrated.

A second celebration pic — Michael is also very happy with the outcome.

After the first mountain adventure, we were mostly done with our hills for the time being. A second large ascent was made up a not entirely pleasant unpaved road — although we do always enjoy our Bonus Gravel!  The team has gotten much more comfortable riding on gravel throughout the ride, although no one in this year’s group brought a gravel bike to use for the summer. A big thank you to the construction workers of Eastern Ohio for their kindness in directing us and advising us on roads that are currently being worked on — we love talking with the only other people who are awake as early as we are in the mornings :) 

Our first day in Ohio brought us somewhat of an abundance of mechanical issues, leaving a team stranded about halfway through the ride. This created the first true use of our Zoleo satellite communicators, as the van was out of reach and not contactable by text. Day after day, this ride continues to consist of different problem-solving situations that we always conquer together, as a team. Everything that Ohio threw at us, from the return of Midwest headwinds (we did not miss those!) to bike problems galore, we took on and figured out together. The 2024 I4K team is a group of truly unique individuals, and our combined skill set hasn’t let us down yet.

A mega group of nerds in orange shirts has formed along the Great Guernsey Trail!

After a long day, we have arrived safe and sound at Westwood Baptist Church in Zanesville. Our kind hosts have provided us with an abundance of delicious  food (I4K should be sponsored by Chipotle at this point), and we’re settling in for a good night of sleep before a 70-mile day tomorrow that will bring us to Ohio’s capital. We’re well motivated with a rest day on the horizon and are thrilled to be getting closer and closer to Champaign every day.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Kev Murphy

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling pretty good. Today was a very long day, there was a really big climb early on that was rough and then there was a descent that we ended up having to walk down because it was unsafe to ride. And then, we had a lot of climbing. In general, it was just a long day. But, I’m feeling good — tomorrow hopefully should be shorter, which is exciting.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

I’m riding a Cannondale Synapse 2 aluminum… I love the bike, it’s a nice bike. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I have not been sporty in a while. I played sports in middle school and then I didn’t play anything in high school, but I’ve been going on bike rides with my mom since I was nine, ten years old. I remember we biked 20 miles sometimes to get ice cream, and at the time I was on a tiny bike and it was such a fun ride. So ever since then, my mom got me into biking for exercise. And I got more and more into it, and I wanted to get more into cycling cycling… I’m also involved in Illini Cycling. I go on a couple of their group rides and stuff, so I’ve had some more cycling experience — I’ve been cycling for the past two, three years now.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

I don’t think I have a favorite day of the ride or anything like that, but I think just in general getting to know my teeammates and getting to know stayover hosts. We meet really interesting people along the way, and I also get closer with my teammates along the way. So that’s really nice. It’s really good bonding experience and we’ve also been meeting the most interesting people. Yesterday I met a guy named Dave who’s biked across the country — he’s such a cool guy. You meet people in the most random spots and they’re always the most generous. It’s just realy nice, and getting to know our teammates has been just amazing. 

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

Cancer runs in my family, so I’ve had a lot of family members affected by cancer. My grandma, two of my aunts, my uncle who passed away, my dad… and a lot of extended family too. I am doing this ride for them and for anyone that’s been affected by cancer.

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

Thank you for the kind messages and all the support, it’s been really amazing to see. And some of it’s not directly to me — my mom has been posting on Facebook all the time, and it’s been great to read the comments on the Facebook posts when I’m having a rough day… all the people who are like “good job,” “amazing,” “oh, this is  so cool that Kevin’s doing this!” So it’s just really nice. My parents are definitely a great support system. My friends, my roomates. It’s really cool how much people have been texting me and asking me how it’s going. Some people I didn’t even think would ever reach out have reached out that I haven’t talked to in years… they’re excited that I’m doing this type of thing. It’s been really cool and I just wanna thank them for being so supportive.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

I really enjoy singing on the road! That wasn’t something I mentioned in my favorite parts of the ride, but I really love when we just break out into song. We sing random songs, and we never know all the lyrics to the song so we only do 30 seconds of it, but then we switch to the next song and the vibe just keeps changing as we’re on the road… I really like that. 

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 10: Country roads, take me home | Pittsburgh, PA to Wheeling, WV

A few teammates have been saying Pennsylvania is their favorite state of the ride so far, and today was evidence as to why. Although we had to overcome some daunting climbs, crisp weather and abundant greenery surrounded us as we did so. We covered a type of terrain we are now familiar with — a healthy mixture of rolling hills and paved trails. It tested us as riders, but also rewarded us with some beautiful sights and the contentment of another day well done. We ride on into tree-enfolded West Virginia, curious to see what the upcoming Ohio section may bring.

ride overview

Mileage: 70.3

Elevation: 2,889’

Points of Interest: Pizza Capri, Quick Service Bicycle Shop, Hot Metal Bridge, Southside Riverfront Park, Wheeling YMCA, South Side Trail, Station Square Trail, Panhandle Trail, Robinson Run River, Ohio River, Brooke Pioneer Trail, Wheeling Heritage Trail, Greater Wheeling Trail, Wheeling Heritage Port Sculpture Garden

quote of the day

“Sun hoodie! Sun hoodie! Sun hoodie!”

— Olivia and Riddhima

tales of the trail

After the usual flurry of bag-packing, van-loading, and oatmeal-eating took place, the team decided to play a game of human knot. For those unfamiliar with how to play (as were many of our bewildered teammates), we stood in a circle in which every person reached into a tangle of outstretched hands to grab a random one with each of their own hands. Then, we attempted to unravel the “human knot” we made through various awkward bodily contortions — all without letting go of any hands. If it sounds ridiculous reading it, one can only imagine how ridiculous it felt actually doing it. Even so, it was the lighthearted morning activity we needed to begin our day. 

A challenge for the reader — see if you can identify and name every person in this picture.

Emma and Kev manning the van (can you spot a certain sleeping Ride Leader in the back?)

Kavin, Joey, Olaf, and Jack follow up the human knot by doing… whatever this is.

We rolled out into the outskirts of Pittsburgh, getting the opportunity to bypass cars on a closed road littered with an assortment of graffiti. It felt like something out of an apocalyptic movie, and it was interesting to imagine all the people who had contributed their art to its concrete canvas at some point in the city’s history.

Are we in a set of “The Walking Dead?”

The first climb hit us pretty hard, forcing upwards of a 10% grade under our worn wheels and taking us through a rather untame section of uneven and overgrown concrete. As always, though, we made it through and onto some of our favorite trails of the ride. These trails were interspersed throughout the day’s route, and an enjoyable opportunity to view wildlife (from cautious deer to narrowly-avoided snakes), take shelter in the shade of trees, and keep a steady pace toward our destination in Wheeling, West Virginia. One group took advantage of the lack of traffic to take a break and indulge in a 5-minute power nap on the surface of the path, with a view of the Ohio River right across from them. 

Riddhima captures Neal and Olaf striking a classic on-the-bike flex.

Maaike wakes Neal up from his trail nap (which he’s somehow managed to look genuinely comfortable!)

Lucas, Michael, Kavin, Logan, and Jack document our passing into West Virginia :)

Lucas poses looking satisfied with a meal from Pizza Capri, a hunger-fueled detour on our first rest stop. Fun fact: he found the glasses hanging from his collar on the side of the road.

The van was piloted by Kev and Emma today, who were an immense help in everything from stayovers to bicycle mechanics. They met a staff member named Dave at Quick Service Bicycle Shop, who has actually biked across the country three times. They exchanged stories, and it was exciting to meet someone who could understand the nature of our unique journey.

The second big ascent was gradual but longer, with around two miles of climbing through a series of switchbacks whose ample trees kept the hot sun off our already sweating backs. These climbs are becoming almost enjoyable given their more forgiving character. 

Brushing off a brief rain scare that had us questioning the effectiveness of our brakes, we followed the climb with a truly epic descent (depending on who you ask). The steep road eventually transitioned into our final trails of the day and ended at our stayover, Christ United Methodist Church, where we gladly set up our stuff in their spacious property. The pastor kindly offered us Lemon Crisp Kit Kats, an exotic treat that our teammates rushed to try, as well as a generously donated Chipotle dinner — we are massive fans of Chipotle. Thank you to Michael, Lucas, Olivia, and Dylan for portioning the food!

From there, we drove to the Wheeling YMCA, who warmly allowed us to shower in their locker rooms. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was collectively sung on the way back. The lyrics, especially the opening line — “almost heaven, West Virginia” — have never felt more real. 

The I4K Valentine’s Day pairings were also dropped. For this I4K holiday, members of our team will go on “dates” during our upcoming rest day in Columbus, OH. We look forward to spending time with each other on a smaller scale :) Speaking of hanging out with the team, the first I4K movie night of the ride is ongoing. We are watching “Smokey and the Bandit” — which beat out “Barbie: Mermaidia,” much to some of our teammates’ disappointment. All in all, another solid day for I4K.

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Logan Maurer

How are you feeling today?

I’m doing pretty well. I’m a little bit sore from all the mountains, but my joints are doing well, so I’m glad for that. I’ve been caught up on sleep, I’ve had a good couple nights the past couple days.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

I built it myself. The frame is a Ritchey Swiss Cross 2022 50th anniversary model. The wheels are made by DT Swiss. The rest of the parts are parts that I’ve collected over the past couple of years. I’ve ridden a lot of bikes in the past couple of years, and this is by far my favorite of all time…I would say I’ve been collecting parts for about three years, but the build took about two months of  sitting down and deciding on parts, to actually having a complete bike. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I wouldn’t really consider myself an athlete. I enjoy rock climbing, and obviously I do a lot of cycling. But before high school, I didn’t do many sports at all. In high school I got a job in a bike shop, and I discovered my love for cycling. I regularly do rides and commute everywhere. But otherwise, I’ve been riding a lot in the corn fields, and I occasionally go out with Illini cycling.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

I really like climbs. Both the climbing and the descending. The climbs have been kind of rough, especially in the Appalachian mountains, but it’s been very fun, and everyone’s handling it very well. One of my goals for this ride was to break 50 miles per hour, and I just got that the other day, 53 miles an hour. I checked the route ahead of time, went through all of the turns in my head and made sure it would be safe and reasonable. 

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

I don’t have a particular person, but I’ve always liked helping people, and especially recently I’ve really loved being on my bike. So I figured I could combine those two things, and spend a summer doing a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’d get to combine those things in a very positive, impactful way.

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

It’s been very eye-opening, all of the things I’ve been seeing around the country, and all of the people I’ve met and stories I’ve heard…I’ve learned so much and I so greatly appreciate everything. I think the generosity has been amazing. I knew that people were going to be motivating and people were going to support me, but the scale and the quantity of people’s help and donations, even just people being nice, passing people on the road, getting some waves and some cheers, has been amazing. 

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

I have a newfound appreciation for peanut butter and jelly. I tolerated it, but I never really liked it. I think burning 6,000 calories a day has really awoken an appreciation for crunchy peanut butter jelly sandwiches.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 9: New day, new city! And also many bridges | Mt. Pleasant, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

The team was incredibly happy (and a little relieved) to enjoy a shorter 50 mile day — yes, we’re aware of how insane that sounds — riding into the historic city of Pittsburgh, PA. With quite a bit of soreness in our legs from yesterday, we crossed many of Pittsburgh’s 446 bridges, did a little climbing, and a lot of trail riding. We’re slowly but steadily getting adjusted to this new lifestyle, but have gotten quicker at our team routines and arrived before 1 p.m. This left us with time to explore the city, eat some great food, and even get some laundry in!

Ride Overview

Mileage: 51.1

Elevation: 2,582’

Points of Interest: Great Allegheny Passage, Monongohala River, McKee’s Point Trailhead, Youghiogheny River, Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area, Pittsburgh!

Quote of the day

“My car has more personality than some people I know.”

— Neal

Tales of the Trail

We had a glorious 5:40 a.m. wake-up this morning as opposed to our usual 4:40 a.m., as we went to bed an hour later last night knowing we had a much shorter day ahead. After a bit of morning push-up time for some team members to get caught up on their daily workout challenge, we set off for Pittsburgh looking forward to a little less climbing and a little more relaxation.

The push-up crew starts their day strong with a good upper body workout. The rest of the team watches with a mix of confusion and concern.

The ride started a little cruel with a good deal of elevation, which wore on our sore legs more than any of us wanted it to. The back-to-back aspect of the ride has stayed one of the most challenging things, as keeping ourselves energized can be difficult in day after day of heat. However, the closeness of our team has been incredibly helpful in pushing ourselves through. Reminding ourselves that we went through much worse yesterday, we powered through the rolling hills of Pennsylvania to hop on the Great Allegheny Passage, which we spent a good deal of the ride following.

We took two quick rest stops, and although we shoot more for convenience on these and less for scenery, one was underneath a bridge! Simple as it may sound, bridges are one of those wonders that we only realize we never see in Illinois once we leave. The bridges of the Pittsburgh area are gorgeous, and allow for some truly stunning views — and top tier selfies of course.

Maaike hits ‘em with the bridge selfie while riding with Izzy, Neal, and Logan.

We hit Pittsburgh quickly enough, ending the shorter ride on a particularly steep stretch of a cobblestone street. Our team is still finding their comfort level with difficult terrain — some of us choose to get off our bikes and walk when things look sketchy, while others enjoy barreling uphill as fast as we can like Tour de France riders. Again, the community we’ve developed within our team has made it easy for us to communicate about what conditions we’re comfortable riding in. No one is ever pressured to ride on roads in even slightly scary conditions; going the old-fashioned way and walking is always an option!

Olaf, Kev, Tommy, and Emma entering city limits with some flower finds.

Our stayover for the night is one of the most beautiful buildings we’ve ever seen (Riddhima would gladly make this her future house if she could). Formerly the mansion of an old oil baron, when the original owner of the building passed away he swore on his life for it to never be used by people of color or people within the Jewish religion. So, the building has now been turned into a Jewish Temple :) Our hosts threw a lovely community dinner for us, which we enjoyed after an afternoon of exploring bike shops, restaurants, and even an REI store in Pittsburgh.

Dinner on the lawn of our gorgeous stayover in Pittsburgh.

Maaike, Izzy, Emma, Anthony, and Kev preparing themselves for the camping they’ll be doing later this summer. In the air-conditioned camping section of the REI store, of course.

Recovery is the name of the game! Olivia and Riddhima practice some stayover stretches.

We look forward to a longer day tomorrow with roughly the same amount of climbing — which means it’s more spread out! Looking on the bright side here — and would like to thank you again for reading and sharing some very optimistic comments with us. They truly are what keep us pedaling day after day :)

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Izzy Perpich

How are you feeling today?

I’m pretty good, I’m pretty tired. I think I caught someone’s cold so I’m a little sniffly, but the trip’s been going good so far — I feel like there were some ups and downs in the beginning, but now it seems like we’re starting to iron out some of our issues. We’ve been getting to our stayovers a little earlier, which is nice. It’s nice to see the progress from Week 1. It’s been really cool so far.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

A silver Cannondale Optimo 4. It’s aluminum. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I wouldn’t really say that I was a cyclist and I honestly don’t think I’m a cyclist currently. Yes, I ride a bicycle and I do that motion, but I’ve never ridden like this before. Growing up, I rode a lot of bikes with my parents in Michigan and Chicago on the Lakefront Trail… I was a bike instructor my first job. I taught kids how to ride bikes when I was sixteen at a summer camp in Chicago. And, I’ve been biking as a form of transportation at U of I to get to classes… Not a ton of cycling. I am on the women's hockey team at U of I, which has definitely kept me conditioned for a ride like this, but I think that even playing hockey or those faster sprints don’t prepare you fully for the longevity of the rides that we do.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

All the trails. I really enjoyed exploring the one that was in Delaware, the one in the West coast of New York City... I feel like there’s been a variety of different trails that are similar in a lot of ways to the Lakefront Trail in Chicago, which I’ve really enjoyed since I was a kid. And, I really enjoyed the 300-mile span (I think?) of the Washington, DC to Pittsburgh C&O trail that we took just because it was right around the Potomac River — it was gorgeous, it was pretty flat, I felt like we were just flying by, and there were tons of other cyclists so we felt right in place. It was just a really nice ride that day. It was 100 miles, but it was good.

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

I have a lot of close family members that have had cancer. Obviously, it’s a very cancer centered ride, because that’s our main goal — to improve the lives of or help out the people that have these different experiences. During COVID, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was pretty early — my parents acted really chill about it — so I didn’t really know the severity of it, but he ended up having surgery and he’s been cancer-free. He’s also had different smaller skin cancers. So I would say I think of him a lot… it was an impactful life event that worried me. I remember when I found out, I literally went to the bathroom and cut all my hair off. That was my reaction… [cancer’s] been very prominent in my family, so I think of my family a lot when I’m doing the ride. I think, closest to me is my dad, even though it wasn’t a super severe bout of cancer, it still was present. He also was the one who initially found this RSO online, so I think of him because I found out about I4K through my dad and then he ended up having a diagnosis. 

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

I am super grateful for the support that my friends and family have given me. My parents are pretty endlessly supportive. My extended family on my father’s side are the kindest and sweetest, and I have so much gratitude and thankfulness for them because the cause touches them very personally too… obviously there’s financial limits, so it’s been really helpful that people have been willing to donate to the cause and are so unapologetically present and supportive. It’s really awesome. So, thank you!

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

Thank you for reading and taking the time to support our mission and this experience… feel free to reach out to us if you’d like to share your story with The Portraits Project. I’m excited to see my family and a few friends soon when we pass through Champaign and Chicago, so that will be a nice boost. But yeah, I’m really having a good time, this is a very unique experience.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 8: Okay, so maybe this is actually gonna be hard | Everett, PA to Mount Pleasant, PA

We have officially left the first week of the ride behind, yet it feels like we’ve been doing this for much longer. Our sleep schedules, bodies, diets, and mentalities are starting to adjust to a drastically new lifestyle as we continue heading West. Today marks our longest and biggest day of climbing yet, with nearly 7,000 feet of elevation in the relentless ups and downs of the Pennsylvania countryside. The ride was not without its challenges, but we’re glad to say that everyone made it through safely. 

ride overview

Mileage: 82.6

Elevation: 6,853’

Points of Interest: Mann’s Choice Grocery, Bentz Bicycle Sales & Services, Pioneer Park Campground, Forbes State Forest, Flight 93 National Memorial, Shanksville, Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands

quote of the day

“I wish I had a harmonica right now.”

— Kavin (while going up a hill)

tales of the trail

The team rolled out in groups chronologically assigned by birthday, and the landscape immediately threw us into a series of hilly fluctuations. Even from the van, one could feel the effort any vehicle — especially a human-powered one — might need to propel itself forward on climbs as steep as the ones completed today.

Nevertheless, many of us have noted that hills can falsely limit your sense of physical ability. As you approach the base of a new climb, you always doubt whether you can reach the top. Slowly but surely though, you do. Any rider, whether grudgingly or excitedly, will admit that hills have an unexpected way of making you a better rider. Making it over a tough climb is a form of reassurance — a sign that you can do much more than you think you can. Self-doubt feels almost silly in hindsight. 

The descents that followed each hill were equally intimidating, but some would interpret them as a thrilling reward at the top of each summit. These sections of the ride are also a lesson in the mental game of cycling, as the difference between falling and staying upright can be the simple belief that you can do it. Groups also learned important lessons for how to safely navigate the record speeds they were hitting.

Maaike, Neal, Michael, and Kavin get ready for a descent.

Claudia captures Logan, Kev, Jack, and Lucas…

…as well as Dylan, Joey, Emma, and Olivia rolling through the countryside.

At rest stops, we exchanged impressively big numbers from Ride with GPS elevation maps and Garmin watch activity monitors. We also narrated imaginary fights between inchworms and pillbugs, relished fresh fruit bountifully donated by past stayovers, and touched up the map art of the route on the side of the van. Overall, the team intended to take the day slow and have fun despite the physical challenge of the terrain.

Anthony dons an unconventional yet undeniably comfy outfit for his daily pullups.

Emma’s face says, “waste not, want not.”

Our final rest stop at Forbes State Forest.

Anthony and Tommy embrace Mother Nature with some flowers that Olaf picked.

The final rest stop was visibly tough. Some riders, having fixed mechanical issues from earlier in the day, were able to get back on the road, while others had to sit out for the last stretch. Crushing hills can feel amazing, but we’ve also learned we need to learn to listen to our bodies. Riders have been great about doing this, even when the outcome stands in the way of their personal hopes for the day.

Shoutout to Emma, Anthony, Kev, Tommy, and Kavin for calling restaurants to ask for food donations, the efforts of which got us copious amounts of wings and salad graciously donated from a local Applebee’s — an effective morale booster for any pack of hungry riders. 

We are now currently at the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands, our amazing stayover for the night. They have provided us with space and showers, which makes for a night well spent when you’re on the road with I4K. I write this in one of the gymnasiums, watching my teammates play basketball (thank you Neal for saving me from getting taken out by one). We’re about to get ice cream at Suzy’s Simply Delicious to end the night. In spite of the undoubtedly exhausting day they have overcome today, the team carries on in high spirits :)

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Joey Shepin

How are you feeling today?

Today was really tiring, because we had a lot of uphills and downhills, and even if you’re going down a hill, it’s still pretty stressful to watch out for things and make sure you’re not flipping out on the bike. I’m feeling pretty accomplished as well, because at the beginning of the day I felt pretty sore, and to go through the entire day without too much of a problem was really rewarding. 

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

I am riding a Cannondale Synapse, it is gray, and it’s so far been a great bike.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

In terms of biking, I did bike around campus for about two years, my freshman and sophomore years. I was pretty familiar with bikes, but I was definitely not what you would consider a serious biker. I was very casual, and when something broke, I would look at it and try to fix it, but I wasn’t doing tons of research about it, unlike some people on our team definitely do. Sports wise, I did work out, I did some running, some swimming. 

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

Coming out of New York City was very memorable. It was rainy, but it was memorable to me because it was really marking the beginning, and for me that was pretty significant to be rolling out of New York City because it was a moment that we’d been leading up to for so long, doing the team trainings, the fundraising, and so many logistics. To finally get going was so rewarding.

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

My grandfather is one of the people that I’m riding for. He struggled with skin cancer, and then his dad died when my grandfather was 12 years old. It was a really tough experience for him. And actually, back in the day, they didn’t let kids into hospitals. So when he was in the hospital, my grandfather couldn’t visit him, and so they would have to wait outside and look through the window. So for him it was a really traumatic experience. So my grandfather is one of the people I’m definitely riding for, yeah.

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

[My family has] been very supportive, from when I brought up the idea they were very supportive and all throughout the process…and my friends think it’s really cool too, they’re reading the journals, and following along. So to them I would say, I really appreciate all the support from everybody following along and watching, because it is easy to sort of just tune out and keep going on with your life, but to keep checking in on what some group of kids are doing in some part of the country at any given time…I think it’s really cool for us to know that people are actually watching us and following along. 

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

It’s been a ton of fun riding with everybody, and it’s really been an incredible experience so far. I’m so excited to see where the summer takes us.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 7: We're not in the Midwest anymore... | Hagerstown, MD to Everett, PA

Mountains? We got ‘em! As we celebrated our first official week of riding together, the team rode a little over 70 miles back into Pennsylvania. We saw breathtaking sights from the Appalachian mountains, although that does indeed mean what you’ve probably already inferred — yes, we did have to climb them. Or in some cases, go under them! As our teammate Logan wisely said, “you can’t go around it, you can’t go under it… gotta go over or through it.”

ride overview

Mileage: 70.9

Elevation: 4,603’

Points of Interest: The Mason Dixon Line, returning to Pennsylvania, the Whistle Stop Deli & Market, Burnt Cabins Grist Mill & Campground, Cowans Gap State Park

quote of the day

“My bike is making a weird noise.”

— Tommy (immediately after putting his disc brake wheel on backwards)

tales of the trail

The I4K team had a somewhat interesting night, as around 10:30 p.m. (only an hour and a half after bedtime), they all woke up to an accidentally triggered motion sensor (except for Claudia, who magically slept through EVERYTHING and is still convinced this is all an elaborate lie we’re telling her). The security glitch combined with a whirlwind first week of cycling has the team further convinced that we will never experience a completely normal day this summer. 

The team fuel up on a plentiful breakfast generously donated by the Trinity Lutheran Church.

We rolled out of Hagerstown, MD around 7:00 a.m. for a mountainous day in Northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. Things started out relatively flat (we should’ve known it wouldn’t last for long), as we made our way to Mason Dixon Road, a portion of the Mason-Dixon line which separates the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. We officially re-entered Pennsylvania, which we’ll be cycling through for the next three days. We unanimously agreed that the wheat fields are much prettier than our home cornfields, and enjoyed the view while trying not to think about the implication of the looming mountains in the distance.

Emma, Kev, Olivia, and Neal commemorate their rolling into Maryland.

A favorite aspect of these full day rides is encountering assorted local cafes and shops along the route. A highlight of today was a quick stop we made at the Whistle Stop Deli & Market, a newly opened business in the small town of Mercersburg, PA. We enjoyed drinks and sandwiches, a much needed restroom stop, and chatted with the store owner about the impact of cancer on their tight-knit community. Hearing people’s stories is forever at the center of our journey with Illini 4000, and it’s been amazing to get to know so many unique people in just one week.

Despite our frequent references to the climbs as though they’re some sort of horror movie villain, various members of our team do really enjoy them. The Appalachian mountains have brought beautiful views to our eyes, and quite a bit of wear to our legs. We’re all very excited for our new insanely large leg muscles to grow in (hopefully before we get to the rockies out west). The growing pains are here and severe, and a few of our riders are already experiencing a bit of unpleasant knee pain, keeping them off the route for sections at a time. However, as we get to know our bikes and bodies better, we’re learning how to take care of ourselves and conquer the obstacles ahead of us as a team.

Olaf, Claudia, Anthony, Kavin, and Tommy show off their hand-drawn “tattoos.” Olaf has a peace sign, Claudia an outline of her impressive bruise, Anthony a smiley face and a sad face, Tommy a heart — and Kavin is just happy to be there.

Maaike and Olaf ensure that the fashionable looks never stop.

Emma and Kev briefly consider abandoning their bicycles for this adorable train.

Making our way through Cowans Gap State Park, we mainly found passes between the mountains to travel along, but eventually we had no other choice than to go — through them? An abandoned Pennsylvanian highway has been fashioned into a couple of tunnels running through the mountains, which we enjoyed exploring with our bike lights (they also made for a very unique location to get a flat tire). 

Through a phone flashlight and pure determination, Joey, Logan, Dylan, and Maaike fix a flat in a pitch dark tunnel. Maaike would like to note the amazing shadow puppets she contributed to this endeavor.

A couple of the hardest climbs we’ve encountered as a team rounded off the end of the ride, bringing both length and steepness in force to tire out our legs in time for a delicious dinner at Everett United Methodist Church in our destination of Everett, PA. An enormous thank you to the Everett community and the church for sharing a delicious meal with us and allowing us to share our mission with them. As we continue on this ride, we are endlessly wowed by the amount of love and support we have been shown from the communities we encounter. We’re all able to forget about the pain in our legs a bit when we’re eating an amazing  meal with beautiful people.

The welcome sign that Everett United Methodist Church made for us :)

cyclist’s corner

Today’s rider: Olaf Schwink

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling good today. The ride was long in climbs, but the time that it took felt shorter than other days. I think that we kept a good pace even though there were a lot of climbs. Physically, I was really exhausted today and my knee started hurting, but I figured out a way to pedal that felt better and I killed it. We made it through.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

A 2024 bright red Trek Domane AL4.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

My biking experience was just commuting. I’ve biked since I was a little kid, but just short rides — nothing too extreme. My longest before the ride was 50 miles for a boy scouts merit badge. Other than communing, I haven’t done any hardcore cycling in the last few years. I’ve always done things that were athletic, just not a lot of organized sports. But, I stay active — I hike, and one of my biggest things for a while has been skating. I started on longboard and I moved on to inline skates.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

I was surprised at how fast our team grew to be friends. We’ve only been riding bikes together for seven days but it already feels like we’re kind of a tightknit unit. I also feel like everyone is a really valuable part of that unit.

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

I don’t think there’s a specific person. I feel like I’m doing it for a lot of different reasons. Part of it is to test myself and my resilience. My sister has done this ride two times now, and she encouraged me a lot. I saw the way that it changed her when she went on her first ride. When she finished it, I think that she was more thoughtful — not that she wasn’t thoughtful before, just that she had a different view on others. Then her second ride, it did the same thing. I really wanted to have an experience that would allow me to talk to people from a lot of different places and learn about the differences between them.

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

I’m gonna make it. Just like how today there were lots of hills to climb, on this ride there are gonna be a lot of challenges to overcome. The thing is, after the hills come the descents — they’re really fun, and when you hit the curve at the bottom, you get to lean in super hard. In the same way, the challenges that we face on this journey lead to really close relationships and really awesome times and experiences that I could never have in any other thing in my life.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

My cat… I always wanna talk about my cat. I miss her a lot.

(Apologies for any bad photo quality — our Wi-Fi access has been a bit inconsistent lately!)

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 5 & 6: Resting and riding | Washington, DC to Hagerstown, MD

In the interest of saving our sleep schedules and, well, actually resting, Maaike and I have made the decision to combine journal entries for rest days and the day after into one. Yesterday, the team had a much-needed break in Washington, D.C., and then traveled nearly 100 miles from there to Hagerstown, MD today. We got to know the natural beauty of Maryland and its surrounding states intimately, biking on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal trail for a majority of the ride away from car traffic and immersed in its greenery.

Ride overview

Mileage: 91.3 (+7-12 miles for certain riders)

Elevation: 1,993’

Points of Interest: National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Great Falls Park, US Bicycle Route 50, Antietam National Battlefield, Harper’s Ferry, Beans in the Belfry Cafe, Brunswick Riverside Park, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Potomac River, Trinity Lutheran Church

quote of the day

“I think we should not bike today and instead learn how to tango.”

— Olivia

tales of the trail

Washington, D.C. saw the team splitting off and visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, conducting another Portrait, and getting a personal tour of the Capitol Building from a former I4K rider in the area (shoutout to Cari of the 2019 team for the amazing tour!!). We were warmly welcomed by our range of stayovers and generously supported by them in more ways than we could have imagined. They provided everything from the luxury of a load of laundry in the washer and dryer to copious amounts of delicious homemade food. We are sincerely grateful to them for taking the time out of their lives to host the team.

Olaf captures an elevator 0.5 at the Capitol Building.

The next morning, the team congregated at one of these six stayovers to officially roll out for a new day of riding. The logistics of this required some to wake up as early as 4:00am to make it to the meeting point on time and others to bike an extra seven or more miles to the start of the day’s ride. However, we took it in stride and everyone was eventually en route.

We know we mostly ride road bikes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the luxury of a separated park trail. This took the form of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, which we followed for a little over 60 of the miles we did today. Apart from the lack of monotonous stop signs that typically slow us down and the undoubtedly gorgeous views that sped by us, we were also pleasantly surprised by the bustling bicycle culture on the trail. Not a single few miles went by without us encountering another cyclist, whether they were clad in sleek lycra and whizzed by us, or dressed in practical bikepacking clothes and adorned their bicycle with full panniers. We were sure to chirp a few “morning”’s or “have a nice day”’s at passersby as we made our way through this new hub of activity. 

Riddhima, Kev, Neal, and Anthony take a picture at Great Falls Park. They met a UIUC graduate right after this!

Two groups combine for a lovely photo on the trail.

Stops were made to step into the quaint Beans in the Belfry Cafe in Brunswick, MD, or observe the intersection of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia from a particularly breathtaking lookout. We also previewed one of our upcoming team activities, white water rafting, on the rivers that ran by us.

Jack, Emma, Olivia, and Dylan take a selfie at said lookout. Peep the people floating in the background!

All good things must come to an end, though, as we eventually headed back out onto the roads and approached our stayover for the night, Trinity Lutheran Church, amidst a landscape of farmland and small town America. 

I write this from one of many ornate rooms in the stayover, who also provided us with an extensive menu for dinner tonight – dessert included, much to the delight of the team. We are full and content in more ways than just concerning our stomachs, and amazed at the vivid kindness of the people we encounter during this ride. It revitalizes us as we rest in anticipation of the thousands of feet of climbing ahead in the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania.

Pictures can’t capture how good the food was, but we try nonetheless.

cyclist’s corner

Today’s rider: Emma Darbro

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling very tired, but I think this was my favorite riding day so far. And it was a surprise riding day, I technically wasn’t supposed to ride today because of the van logistics, but Lucas thankfully gave me an out. It was a really fun surprise after the chaos of this morning to have beautiful weather, a beautiful trail, there were a lot of friendly people on the trail. I also didn’t know Maryland looked like this, so it’s a good surprise. I’m feeling so well loved by this church and our team…I think today was a turn in a good direction. Something chaotic has hallmarked every day, and today everything was great — aside from the century.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

I don’t know what year she was made, but she’s an AL 2 Domane Trek from the gear program — shoutout to the gear program! [The gear program was] very utilized on this year’s team…50% off gear came in clutch. She’s a rental, she’s done me so well, no issues whatsoever. Her name is “Flicka” after my favorite childhood movie. It takes me back, I like it. She’s outfitted with everything from the gear program — shoutout to Ellie Beck for making sure all of us had something safe, comfortable, and fit for I4K to ride. She’s the queen of gear program — every time I get on that bike I’m like, “thank you Ellie.”

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Emphasis on little to no biking experience. Heavy emphasis on that. When I first told my parents [about I4K], they assumed it was with my beater, 10-year-old Schwinn that I got when I was in the eighth grade. I was like “guys, I’m gonna do it the proper way.” But before I ran a marathon, I was like “oh, I should bike a marathon.” It took me so long. I was only 26 miles — I say “only,” but for me 26 was a lot, and now we cook 26 miles in like, two hours. So I biked a marathon in 2020, and then I ran two marathons in 2020 and 2022. The venn-diagrams between endurance sports and crazy things really aligned quite well. I’ve never done a team sport really, in like a traditional sense, it was mostly just running. I’m glad that it’s not just me out there, it makes me feel like everything’s a little more accomplishable  — especially since I still don’t really know how to change a flat.

What has been your favorite part of the ride so far?

Visiting the Capitol was such a highlight of yesterday. It feels like we switched a lot of our route this year to really make it to D.C., we did the nosedive through Maryland and then we’re going back up today, so D.C. was like, the spot. I think we did D.C. really well, with all the Smithsonians, the Capitol tour from the I4K alum was amazing — seeing the House of Representatives Gallery was like my Superbowl. I always appreciate, and especially in an election year, to be able to see it from the other side…there’s real people doing real jobs in that building, it’s not just a tourist attraction. 

Is there a specific reason or person you’re doing this ride for?

The first person I ever lost in my conscious life was to cancer. I was 16, and I was going through a huge transition period in my life — switching schools, going to boarding school. And before I left, a couple months before he passed, he was like “Emma, the most important thing is that you do what you love, and that you follow your heart.” And I was like “um, that’s great, I’m trying to pack for boarding school right now.” It was so out of the blue. A couple of months later he was gone, and well now I really have to do that. I was like “I need to do something crazy; let’s run a marathon.” And then four years later, I was like “let’s do something crazier, let’s do the thing that he always wanted me to do,” and follow my heart regardless of what anyone else thought. When you tell people you’re going to bike across the country, they’re like, “you’re crazy.” My grandpa thought that this craziness was just my reality. 

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

So much support has been poured out. I know they read these journals, so I want them to know I love them endlessly and miss them tremendously. It wouldn’t have been possible without them. In the same way that one person can’t bike across the country — we need 18 of them, and each of them is instrumental — I wouldn’t have even been able to this ride without all of my village. My parents and my sisters, all my friends, my partner, and just all my little circles venn-diagramming together to make this possible. They’re great. So much love.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

The journals and social media are what inspired me to do this. Every time I’m like “oh this is really hard,” or maybe I’d rather sleep in past 5a.m., realizing that the grand adventure is not about the destination. It’s about the growth and the change that you see in yourself and the people around you, and the hope that is reinstored in humanity throughout the process. Also I LOVE MY TEAM!!!

Day 4: Climbing to the Capitol | Aberdeen, MD to Washington, D.C.

The road to Washington D.C. was long and steep, but made arriving at so many iconic national symbols all the more rewarding in the end. Day 4 brought the most climbing the team has seen so far in a single ride, with nearly 5,000 total feet of elevation. The ride was a constant rhythm of ups and downs, bringing new challenges of fast descents and populated roads. The beautiful weather made for a gorgeous trip to our nation’s capital.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 86.5

Elevation: 4,895’

Points of Interest: University of Maryland, Howard University, the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument

Quote(s) of the day:

“Izzy, I want someone as dedicated to me as you are to your lip balm application.”

— Riddhima

Tales of the Trail

The I4K team woke up Thursday morning with a slightly daunting task ahead of them: bike just under 90 miles, climb nearly 5,000 feet, don’t get lost in city traffic, and make it to their total of six different stayover locations for the night in one piece. Easy enough, right? 

We rolled out at 6:00 a.m. to amazing weather, with some riders even wearing jackets for the slightly chilly morning air. The rolling hills of Maryland came under our wheels almost immediately, and it was an early challenge to take these inclines slowly and controlled in order to save energy for the rest of the day. The mental focus of the morning was critical; always watching traffic, watching the road to avoid any stray obstacles, pacing and keeping formation with teammates, and knowing when to shift gears were only a few of the things constantly at the front of our minds. While the physical aspect of such a long ride is taxing, the mental efforts are equally draining. Nevertheless, the team kept high energy through the first rest stop.

We try to be sneaky with candid pictures, but there’s always someone who catches the camera — and it’s usually Anthony.

The beautiful views of the Maryland countryside were a welcome reward for the lengthy climbs of the day. Many of us have already placed Maryland as one of our top states of the ride so far — few were fans of the rough street conditions for cycling in New Jersey and New York. The nature within the past couple of days has been absolutely beautiful, and while we’re all excited to return to the flat ground of the Midwest, few of us are missing the never-ending views of cornfields.

Logan helps Izzy fill up a water bottle. Hydrate or diedrate!!!

Did I mention that there were some hills on this route? Though they’re undoubtedly nothing compared to some mountains we might see out West, as the day proceeded the uphills wore more and more on the legs. The toll of cycling for four days in a row has started to hit, as the team isn’t really used to riding for so many consecutive days yet. However, we’re managing the climbs well, primarily with good attitudes and energy held throughout the day. We’re also experimenting with different tactics of making the climbs easier by passing the time! Many teammates have taken to singing during the uphills — Olivia’s group was serenaded with several hits from Taylor Swift’s discography, including the ten minute version of her single “All Too Well.”

Olaf, Anthony, Dylan, and Logan attack one of the biggest climbs of the day.

The hills also bring an interesting pacing challenge for groups, as our riders will often catch up with one another along the route. Ride groups consist of 3-5 riders (randomized every morning) and are meant to stay a few minutes apart from one another in order to not merge and create the chaos of a “mega group.” Riding in smaller groups is safer, primarily for ease of communication and staying in formation. Groups communicated very well with one another today as we’re all still finding our pacing on the climbs, with some pulling off to give others space or allowing others to pass them for safer travels in city traffic.

No sheep were spotted at this sheep crossing. Disappointment was felt across the team, but we pushed on.

The endless build up (literally) wasn’t for nothing, as the team converged on their destination of Washington D.C. slightly later than expected, clocking in over 12 hours of riding for the day. While rolling through D.C. was somewhat tedious with high traffic and stop signs every block, the views of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Capitol Building were all well worth it in the end. 

The Washington Monument, captured by Kavin

We closed out the day by packing the van with all of our gear and bikes to drop off at our assortment of stayovers for tonight — shoutout to the various UIUC alumni in the D.C. area who are graciously hosting us for not one but two nights as we enjoy a rest day in the city tomorrow. Our legs are extremely excited for this, as we’re hoping to do some sightseeing and stay away from our bikes for 24 hours before taking them up for another week until we get our next break in Columbus, Ohio. 

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Olivia Ross

How are you feeling today?

I feel good. I feel tired. I’ve been awake for a while now…so, I think I’m ready to watch an episode of Ted Lasso and be at peace. That’s how I’m feeling.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding?

Good question! It’s a Giant Avail 2013. Her name is Sally.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Before I did [the ride] last summer, I was not very athletic, and I kind of joined this thinking that it would get me into it, and it did! It forced me to work out a little bit more, which was good. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up doing it again! So yeah, I think it’s been good, the running keeps me active. I guess I did dance. 

Is there anyone you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

Last year I did the ride in honor of my grandparents, who died of cancer. That was really meaningful and really special, and I definitely felt them with me every single day. So I’m continuing to do that. But, I also want to do it for every single person that we met who was a survivor last year, that shared their story with us. It was really meaningful, and a lot of them I also think about every day too. 

Is there anything you want to say to the people who are cheering you on during this ride?

Thank you! I appreciate it. I feel like I’ve had a lot of teammates reach out to me from last summer, and cheer me on, which has meant a lot. It’s been keeping me going the last few days, just like knowing that they’re there to support me and look out for me has been really nice.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

The team is great. Love the energy of this year, and it’s been so nice to not only feel welcomed by the team, but to know that you’re all so welcoming to each other is really nice to have.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K Dictionary)

Day 3: What goes up, must come down! | Philadelphia, PA to Aberdeen, MD.

It’s Day 3 of the ride, which marks the longest amount of time that the team has consecutively biked together. While we may still not have things perfectly down, a certain collective eagerness and determination fuel our efforts. Today’s route passed through three states — from Pennsylvania, through the upper tip of Delaware, and into Maryland. We experienced continuous highways, winding and narrow mixed-use trails, and plenty of rolling elevation. 

Lucas defies gravity in order to demonstrate just how excited he is to be in Delaware.

Another bridge done and dusted!

Ride Overview

Mileage: 77

Elevation: 2,957’

Points of Interest: Bellevue State Park, an adorable street market, Entering Delaware and Maryland, Thomas J. Hatem bridge

Quote(s) of the Day:

(Again, our teammates should be stand-up comedians. We couldn’t pick just one.)

“Construction isn’t real, it’s literally a construct.” - Claudia

“That was a lot for 11am.” - Anthony

“Tommy, your kickstand scares me.” - Riddhima

“Every part of that bike scares me.” - Tommy

“Necesito snack.” - Izzy

Tales of the Trail

Since the team is still a bit behind schedule on packing up and getting ready at the beginning of each day, Olivia (one of our Ride Leaders) informed us yesterday that we would be waking up at 4:40 a.m. this morning. Despite Kev’s best efforts with “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus on blast, spirits were somewhat low given the long day of riding before us and the tiring one that prefaced it. 

Nevertheless, things looked up the moment we rolled out. We branched out onto wider, smoother roads with fewer traffic lights than yesterday’s urban streets of Philadelphia, enabling us to make quick progress over the first 15 or so miles. The route also took us in and out of park trails, which threw some tight and quick descents at the team that we handled without much difficulty. 

At the second rest stop, we celebrated Tommy’s 21st birthday with a surprise card signed by the team, some cookies, and a slice of cake (props to Claudia and Dylan for orchestrating that from the van!) We also exchanged ride anecdotes — one group met a Senator from Delaware and another stopped at a delicious lemonade stand in a small street market.

One of our more picturesque parking lot rest stops.

Happy birthday Tommy :)

The team dedicated today’s ride to Andrew McDonough, whose story is the root of the B+ Foundation (one of our beneficiaries). We found out that he’s from Wilmington, Delaware —  a town that we passed today — the ride seems to be filled with heartwarming coincidences like these, and we look forward to many more. 

From there, we tackled a series of repetitively tough rolling climbs and descents. The uneven terrain of the East coast becomes more apparent to our Midwest-accustomed riders with each day, but we welcome it as an opportunity to warm up for the longer ascents of the West. 

Olivia, Riddhima, Claudia, and Emma catch up at a rest stop.

Quads burning, we rolled into our third rest stop high off of our sense of accomplishment at having gotten through that particularly difficult bit of the ride. Unfortunately, the Thomas J. Hatem bridge that would kick off the final section of the climb was undergoing some construction, which meant the van had to shuttle groups across it and drop them off at the bottom of our steepest climb yet. 

The team did an admirable job of working around this. Dylan and Claudia once again led the commendable charge, coordinating the packing and navigation of SAV to be as efficient and safe as possible for everyone.

The chaos eventually subsided, and groups gradually made their way up to our stayover, Hartford County, MD’s Fellowship for Christian Athletes Headquarters. Under the grey cover of impending rain, the efforts of our climbing were rewarded by swift descents and adorable cows grazing in the surrounding greenery. 

Olaf takes a moment to capture the beauty of the vehicles that are getting us across the nation, as well as the scenery that accompanies us as they do so.

We may sound like a broken record, but today was a long day in many unexpected ways. We are learning so much about the physical, mental, and social aspects of biking across the country. One thing we can say for sure is that the end of every day is an incredibly rewarding source of improvement, whether in the personal or team sense. As the team journalists, we also want to acknowledge and appreciate the lovely comments we’ve been getting — we love reading them and they motivate us to keep writing at the end of days like these :)

A handful of riders have challenged themselves to additional physical commitments on top of cycling — see Anthony doing one pushup for every mile of the day (he is also doing the same with pullups — don’t worry, we don’t understand either).

Maaike would like to note that Riddhima sustained some minor injuries today and still powered through journaling like a trooper. She’s a little concerned and extremely impressed.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Dylan Hendrixson

How are you feeling today?

I’m doing good, I drove the van today. It’s a rest day [for me], so the legs are still sore, but it was a good day.

What model of bike are you riding?

It’s a Cannondale Synapse, I don’t know much more than that. I was trying to get the orange and blue, so I have the orange and blue there, the water bottles, the shoes. I tried to get the whole getup. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Outside of this, on my own I was running, but I had injured my foot before this. Before that, I was running half marathons. But outside of that, I’ve biked a lot. At least since middle school, like consistently to get to class, and then all the way through now. I like biking, that’s really why I did this.

What’s been the most memorable part of the ride for you so far?

New York was really cool, because I drove the van up, so it was like, “oh, we’re gonna get there, we’re gonna get there,” it took so long. Getting there was really cool. But I think yesterday in particular, we biked past the “Rocky” steps. We got off, we ran up. It was a lot of fun. I thought that was nice, just like, “oh, we’re here!” We can just take a little time to have some fun. Because obviously it’s long days, it’s a lot of work. But it’s nice to be like, ok, we can actually still have fun. It’s still a fun thing. 

*Riders over the age of 21 take turns driving the team’s support van, which includes all of our gear. Today was Dylan’s day to drive.*

You were the van driver today. What was that experience like for you?

One would think it’s the easy part, right? You’re not biking. It’s kind of hard, because you’re doing a lot of the chores that no one else can do, because everyone else is riding. Early in the morning, I got the PB & J stuff…there’s a lot of like, people get flats, people fall…I’d be very flexible, because there certain things where like, we said we were doing this but then things just had to change. But I think we picked some good spots, at least the first two stops were really good. It was really helpful to have Claudia, I don’t think I could have done it without her. It’s good that we looped her in, because it is really annoying that she couldn’t [ride], but being a part of the team and helping out really takes her mind off of that.

Do you find yourself looking forward to your days driving the van?

I would say personally I’d prefer to be on the bike. There’s lots to think about, and that’s kind of why I’m here. But it is a nice break, so I guess I kind of do look forward to the break part. 

Is there anyone specific that you’re doing this ride for, or a reason why you’re riding?

I think the main reason I’m riding, which is probably different from everyone else — I did have a middle school teacher I rode with for a summer camp, we’d bike the city and stuff, mostly day trips during the week. He biked across the country, and I was like, that doesn’t seem possible. You hear like, someone’s done an ultramarathon, and you’re like, oh my gosh. Everyone says that thing is hard, but you’re doing something an order of magnitude harder, it’s wild. So I always thought that would obviously be cool to do. My freshman year [at UIUC] I heard about it, but I missed the sign-up, so I’ve always been waiting to do it. I’m kind of doing it more for the challenge of it. That’s my personal motivation.

Is there anything you want to say to the people out there who are cheering you on during this ride?

My takeaway so far is staying flexible. My takeaway from this has really been more of a team working aspect than the riding.

Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?

I’m really hoping there’ll be less accidents going forward. I guess maybe trying to straighten those things out would be big. Because those things really slow us down, but also you don’t want anyone to get hurt. 

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K Dictionary)

Day 2: From suburban to urban | Princeton, NJ to Philadelphia, PA

After an incredibly exciting and eventful first day, we were somewhat relieved to hear that Day 2 would be a slightly shorter ride — but not at all less interesting. Venturing to our third state in three days, there was no shortage of beautiful scenery that abruptly turned into the city sights of Philadelphia. Getting thrown into city riding has been no easy task, sometimes feeling like a very chaotic round of Mario Kart (banana peels and everything!) but top tier communication with each other on the road has served us well.

We are slowly but surely getting faster at morning wake-up.

Ride overview

Mileage: 49.6

Elevation: 735’

Points of Interest: Princeton University, Rutgers University, the George Washington Bridge, the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Quote of the day

““Water! Mud! Grass! This is like Mad Libs!””

— Neal

Tales of the trail

The team got to rise at the somewhat more humane hour of 5:40 a.m. in Princeton. Every morning, we start our day with a bowl of oatmeal, and some riders have already started experimenting with different seasoning combinations to add some flavor to their morning. Today included several options, mostly derived from Chipotle leftovers from the previous night: chicken, corn, and bean oatmeal were some of the variations. Everybody’s so creative!

We rolled out at our usual 7:00 a.m., equipped with our Zoleo devices, which allow us to communicate with one another over text on remote sections of the trip when we do not have cell service. The first stretch of the trip was where this was most needed, as we rode again along the beautiful and somewhat remote Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. This 20ish-mile stretch was accompanied by sightings of turtles, beavers, blue herons, and plenty of geese that took the liberty of hissing and honking at the team (cycling across the country truly isn’t for the faint of heart). This portion of the journey was also where we crossed the Delaware river into Pennsylvania, which held a truly spectacular view enjoyed by everyone — except possibly Joey and his fear of heights.

Michael’s group rolling over the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

A few geese parents stare down a certain bright orange and blue threat in the background.

Emma, Izzy, Jack, and Olaf stop for a picture in a tunnel on the trail.

We met up for our first rest stop at a park just after entering the Pennsylvania section of today’s ride. The more artistically inclined members of the team have officially begun to decorate SAV for this year’s ride using washable markers on the van’s windows. SAV now showcases the day of the ride we’re currently on, who we are dedicating our ride to that day, our mission statement, and links for passersby to learn more about I4K and the Portraits Project.

We continued into Pennsylvania, rolling through a chain of towns using winding main roads. Those of us who are Illinois natives truly never realized how flat the Midwest was until we started cycling in a completely different place. These aren’t the biggest hills we’ll encounter on our ride by a long shot, but it’s certainly been a wake-up call to be riding a bit more vertically than usual. However, the immense satisfaction you feel reaching the top of a climb is something you really can’t find anywhere else. 

Before we knew it, a “welcome to Philadelphia” sign was up ahead and we were rolling through the suburbs of the state’s largest city. One unexpected part of this ride has been seeing the complete range of the United States. Being outside of the Midwest hasn’t just been different in terms of biking terrain, but the socioeconomic terrain as well. Biking through the country completely unfiltered is a unique way of experiencing it raw, without any outside influences.

Our second and final rest stop for the shorter day took place just inside of Philadelphia, where we refilled on snacks and compared chocolate milk brands from the nearby gas station (Cream-O-Land won, according to Olaf and Riddhima). Anthony, our van driver for the day, completed a map of the United States by hand for the side of the van, including fun doodles to accompany some of the states we’ll be visiting this summer. 

Anthony adding “van artist” to his list of unique skills (see the Day 1 journal to learn about his other one!)

The final stretch of the ride took plenty of time as we rode through city traffic. Philadelphia — or at least the portion we cruised through — blessed us with many bike lanes to keep us out of the busy streets. Navigating these was still a challenge, as there was an abundance of road obstacles to avoid which required top-tier communication between riders. The chemistry of our team has undoubtedly contributed to our weirdly quick ability to cooperate with each other so well (see today’s Cyclist’s Corner for Claudia’s thoughts on this as well!).

Emma, Kev, Jack, and Lucas re-live “Rocky” in the distance.

Michael, Maaike, and Neal take one of Philadelphia’s many bike lanes.

Kavin, Olaf, Joey, and Tommy in front of the Philadelphia skyline (note the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art behind them!)

Logan, Olivia, Claudia, and Riddhima take a classic I4K welcome sign picture, Philadelphia version.

We are now resting at our lovely stayover for the night, Calvary United Methodist Church. Our hosts have generously supplied us with plenty of space to relax, store our gear, and even a kitchen to prepare our elaborate meals (such as the PB & Js we devoured upon arrival). Our dinner was donated tonight by Anthony, his older sister, and her boyfriend, who spent the evening cooking for us out of kindness. A big thank you as usual to every single person who is helping us on our way this summer, our journey truly would not be possible without you. Having a safe space to stay and delicious food to eat is a huge motivating factor throughout the day, we can’t lie.

A look at our gorgeous stayover for the night.

cyclist’s corner

Today’s rider: Claudia Madsen
How are you feeling today?

I’ve been better. Most of my day was really, really great. I was with a really awesome group. We got a lot of time on bike trails today, so a lot of time away from traffic which was really nice. And then I got in a little bit of a scuffle — a little bit of a crash. It was not my fault, but my teammates have been very supportive. So right now I am feeling grateful, I would say. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I’m really liking how quickly the team is meshing. That’s something I was nervous about — not that we wouldn’t mesh, but just how long it would take to really click. I feel like everyone is all in, which is awesome. It’s really cool to see all the things we’re seeing. The George Washington Bridge was so cool yesterday, and we’ve seen a lot of animals that we don’t already see at home. 

What model of bike are you riding?

A Giant Contend 4, I think? It might be a 3. She’s ruby red and I love it so far. And I have tubeless tires, and so far so good — no flats. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Ze-ro. I’m not a cyclist. I knew how to ride a bike, I used to ride to school sometimes which was a mile from my house (whenever I missed the bus). One of the questions I asked at an information meeting I went to before I applied to this is, “how much experience do you need,” and they said that they had someone recently who did not know how to ride a bike before joining I4K. So after hearing that I was like, “okay, they can do it. I can too.” 

Is there anyone that you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

I’m not really riding for anyone — my mom has two really close friends who have had cancer recently who I am thinking about a lot during this time. I don’t know if either of them would necessarily want me to dedicate the ride to them, but they are in my mind. Mostly, I’m riding for me in a lot of ways too.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened?

Probably the intersection where I crashed was the most memorable. I was clipped by another biker who was not part of I4K. It was an accident, but the part I hoped to walk away with is when my team stopped to take pictures of turtles — so, trying to hold those sort of in equal regard. 

Is there anything you want to say to the people out there who are cheering you on during this ride?

I love you! You rule! A lot of people have been sending me really nice notes the last few days and it’s really keeping a smile on my face. So, thank you. 

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K Dictionary)

Day 1: Don’t rain on my bicycle parade | NYC, NY to Princeton, NJ

Day 1 — where to begin? Today was the epitome of all things I4K — the team experienced torrential downpours, a grand total of NINE flat tires, a maze of a route that twisted and turned through major urban areas, and more. On the flip side of the chaos and unpredictability, though, was our unrelenting support of one another. That may sound cheesy, but every mechanical mishap or wrong turn was met with an unwavering sense of patience, determination and camaraderie from everyone on the team.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 84

Elevation: 2,282’

Points of Interest: Princeton University, Rutgers University, the George Washington Bridge, the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail

Quote of the Day

(Our teammates are so unendingly funny that we couldn’t bear to pick just one.)

“One flat was cute, two is annoying.” - Dylan

“SAV is short for ‘savior’ at this point.” - Neal

“It was between dropping the granola bar and dropping the bike, and for some reason I chose the bike.” - Emma

Tales of the Trail

The team woke up at the unholy yet necessary hour of 4:40 a.m. in order to ride to Strawberry Fields at Central Park on time for our meeting with Carlie Gallagher, a program manager at the B+ Foundation. As a representative of another one of our beneficiaries, Carlie grounded our mission with stories of the children whose cancer treatment our fundraising efforts go toward. After, the team circled around the iconic “imagine”  circle to take a group photo, as per I4K Day 1 tradition. Anthony even got some cool drone shots of us (we are constantly in awe of the randomly impressive skills our teammates possess).

The team at Strawberry Fields bright and early to learn more about the Be Positive Foundation.

It seemed the weather was kind enough to wait and let us have our picture-perfect photoshoot, as it immediately began raining when the first teams rolled out into New York City. Nevertheless, we charged on, aided by the relative calm of the city streets at such an early hour in the morning.

Kavin, Claudia, and Anthony geared up for a rainy ride through the city.

The team’s traversal of the George Washington Bridge marked us crossing over into our first new state — New Jersey, the Garden State! From there, the state was determined to give us a taste of anything and everything that a cross-country bicycle ride can throw at its participants. In addition to the trials detailed in the introduction, we navigated narrow debris-ridden sidewalks of busy highways, industrial backroads lined by FedEx shipment centers and construction equipment, and, of course, the unique challenge of Newark traffic. As mentioned before, our teamwork never faltered in the face of this unfamiliarity. Groups would wait for the ones after them to point out glass on the road, or give them the run-down on how to make it across a particularly tricky intersection. One never felt alone in tackling the roadblocks of the ride.

Dylan, Neal, and Emma fixing flat two of the day! Hopping on one of the Citi Bikes in the back was briefly considered.

Eventually, we made our way to some quieter roads, zooming down an especially steep descent and got to experience views of the NYC skyline from a seaside path. Our first rest stop was comfortably located in the expansive and empty parking lot of a Chart House restaurant, where the team was glad to air out their drenched socks and cleats under the watch of a thankfully emerging sun. Claudia reminded us all to apply sunscreen, Logan passed around his homemade beef jerky (as we said, the randomly impressive skills never stop), and Lucas (our van driver for the day) supplied us with everything from Welch’s fruit snacks to Chamois Butt’r — it was a welcome and complete system.

Olivia, Tommy, and Kavin chilling at the first rest stop as other teams recovered from Flatsapalooza.

Claudia maintains her reputation as queen of the 0.5 photos.

With dryer weather on the horizon, the team shed their jackets (for now) and continued on through a range of environments. 

Our next rest stop was at the first of many gas stations we will frequent on the ride, where we unfortunately found out that we had misplaced our mechanical box at a previous stayover. Nevertheless, the team mechanics and those in the van were able to put together a makeshift version of the box later in the day. 

From there, we embarked on what became the longest continuous stretch of the ride, cycling through the rolling hills of New Jersey suburbia with a pleasant amount of paved park roads sprinkled throughout. The increasingly lush greenery of our surroundings indicated we were getting closer to the narrow forested roads that led to our stayover in Princeton. Many stops were made to rectify mechanical issues, and SAV came to each group’s rescue when called — thank you Lucas, our beloved ride leader, for being our superhero.

The final stretch of the ride provided us with a much-welcome solace from car traffic in the form of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, a 77-mile-long pathway hugged by the Delaware River on one side and a beautiful assortment of flora and fauna on the other. We then climbed a few brief hills to arrive at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, our generous stayover host for the night. Soaking from the second bout of heavy rain, the team was incredibly thankful to be welcomed by its doors.

Deer spotting!

Of course, we have to lend a moment to the food. After a morning of iconic I4K oatmeal and a lunch of PB & Js, we were beyond grateful to receive a food donation for dinner from Riddhima’s parents, who had Chipotle catered for the entire group. Additionally, former I4K rider Jonathan Yuen brought snacks to the stayover for everyone to enjoy. A huge thank you to these two for providing an amazing end to an exhausting, but incredibly rewarding day.

Our first day of the 2024 ride was undoubtedly demanding, from the mileage to the various unexpected incidents the team experienced. However, there is no beating the mutual feeling of accomplishment that we all feel today for having gotten through it together. Onwards to the rest of the summer!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Anthony DiRico

How are you feeling today?

Day One! I’m doing really well. I think as a whole, we’re in high spirits today. I’m doing really good. I get to drive the van tomorrow, which is kind of exciting because if I’m super sore for tomorrow, I’ll have a day off. I had a lot of fun with my group today.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

Almost at the end of the ride today, it was probably mile 80 or so, we were biking on gravel, which wasn’t bad at all, it was nice gravel. But we came to this clearing, and we were biking along a lake the whole time, a body of water. And we decided to stop and throw stones. So we all found a couple of really good rocks to skip, and we just had a skipping competition. And it was really really fun.

My other part that I want to highlight is that I was able to bring the drone and get some really cool drone shots of us biking through New York City with all the skyscrapers in the background. Keep your ears posted for when that video comes out at the end of the summer.

What model of bike are you riding?

I am riding a Specialized Diverge, it is a white bike that I bought in Chicago, and it is treating me really well so far. No flat tires as of yet!

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Not a ton of bike training. I biked from Chicago to Champaign, kind of off a whim, I just wanted to try and do it. It took two days, it’s not like we did it all in one day. I did that on a fixed gear bike, it was just this kind of cheap bike that I had lying around, and it was only after I joined I4K that I started learning more about bikes — I still don’t know a lot — and actually buying a nice bike and learning when to shift and stuff like that.

As far as my athletic background goes, I was on the boxing team at U of I, and they train a lot. Some of the coaches ask you to practice like six days a week, so I was definitely in pretty good cardio shape. But in my opinion, I feel like biking, since you’re doing it all day, is very different, and the training has to be very specialized compared to other types of cardio that won’t last as long. Boxing is like six minutes compared to what we did for like 12 hours today.

Is there anyone that you’re doing this ride for, or any specific person you think of when you’re on the ride?

My Aunt Barbara passed away a few years ago from cancer. I hope her family knows that I am dedicating this ride to her. But more generally, all of the stories and portraits that we’ve heard of people who have passed away from cancer or people that are in remission, for their sakes hopefully we’re able to donate to them and to let them know that we’re here as a support system.

Is there anything you want to say to the people out there who are cheering you on during this ride?

I have very supportive friends and family who are following along the journey, so thank you guys for being there, and thank you for believing in me, and yeah I know I’m crazy. Hopefully I’ll see you all at the finish line.

Is there anything we didn’t talk about that you’d like to share with us?

Earlier today, I said that this was a growing day. I do hope every day will be a growing day over the summer, but going through the day we just had, I think we all have become stronger people. I also just really want to say that, even after only spending a few days with [the team], you’re making me feel like I have a lot of love to give. Everyone here is very willing to open their hearts and share their love with other people, and it’s making me kind of do the same. So thank you guys for that.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day 0: Learning about our mission and the East coast | Damon Runyon and Exploring NYC.

Day 0 saw the team’s second rest day together in New York City, which was well spent with a visit to one of our beneficiaries, plenty of sightseeing, and a good amount of relaxation before a big day on Monday. With most of our activities being pretty similar to yesterday’s, we’ll keep this journal fairly brief so we can get to sleep before and early start to the 2024 ride tomorrow morning.

Quote of the Day

“I think I might be the first member of I4K to whip on the Brooklyn Bridge! *enthusiastically whips* ”

— Maaike

After getting a rare chance to sleep in a bit, the I4K team braved the New York City Subway this morning to enjoy breakfast and an informative meeting with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, one of our beneficiaries. The team met with Damon Runyon president Yung Lie, as well as two scientists currently conducting research for the foundation. It was incredible to have the opportunity to see the real impact our fundraising work is making, and to share our reasons for riding with the Damon Runyon crew. We hugely appreciate Damon Runyon for not only providing us with a filling breakfast, but taking the time to meet with us personally. Feel free to read more about their mission online at https://www.damonrunyon.org.

Afterwards, the team was once again set free to explore the city before our big departure tomorrow morning. We made excellent use of our time, splitting into groups and visiting everywhere from the Brooklyn Bridge to Staten Island (I4K x boats collaboration!!!).

We’re beyond excited to FINALLY leave on the 2024 ride across America tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. We’ll be rolling out from Central Park after meeting with another one of our beneficiaries, the Be Positive Foundation. We can’t wait to update you tomorrow on the aftermath of our first official day of the ride!

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day -1: From airport security to learning the ways of New York City traffic! Chicago to New York.

At long last, we’re happy to announce that the 2024 Bike America Team is fully assembled and well on their way to beginning a truly amazing adventure from New York to San Francisco. In our first somewhat-official day of the 2024 ride, we have all safely arrived at our first stayover in New York City, explored some highlights of the area, and chowed down on some stellar eats.

Ride overview

Mileage: 725 (by plane).

Elevation: a cruising altitude of approximately 35,000 feet.

Points of Interest: Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, the Washington Square Arch, and discovering how New York traffic works!

Presenting our 2024 addition to the daily Ride Overview, the Quote of the Day:

Quote of the day

“This is the yippiest of yippees!”

— Izzy

Day -1 started bright and early for the I4K gang with a call time of 4:30 a.m. at Midway Airport in Chicago. Arriving fairly on time (with some stragglers caught red-handed on our freshly active TikTok account — be sure to give us a follow!), we’re glad to report that we made it through airport security with few issues (pesky multitools can make for a pain and a couple of stripped down backpacks). While 13 members of the team took the 6:40 a.m. flight, 3 others flew in from alternative spots across the country. Dylan and Michael drove through the day Friday and Saturday morning to bring the trusty I4K van — this year named “SAV” for “Super Awesome Van” :D — containing everyone’s bikes, sleeping gear, and other necessary snacks and equipment for the ride.

After landing at LaGuardia airport, the team bussed to our first stayover, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in North Harlem. Unpacking the 18 bicycles in the van proved to be a piece of cake with the full power of the completely assembled team. 

13/18ths of the 2024 team managed to get to Midway Airport in one piece!

Heading to the stayover…

Re-assembling our bikes at the stayover!

After getting everyone’s transportation for the summer set up and sorted, the team was turned loose on the town for the afternoon, and we used our time well! With a shocking amount of energy considering the early start, we split into small groups to explore the ins and outs of NYC.

Claudia, Olivia, and Kev chose to stop by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view the largest art museum in the country. The group saw many cool sights including a dress recently worn by Anya Taylor Joy, which Olivia would like to note “made her entire day.”

Tommy and Kavin explored the city and found quite possibly all of the coolest eats NYC has to offer. These included mind-blowing bagel sandwiches and “coffee-sodas,” which they enjoyed alongside a visit to the National History Museum.

A Roosevelt poem that Kavin captured

Neal, Logan, Jack, and Dylan took the time to go on a nice ride through the city, venturing through all of the different sights of NYC for about 22.6 miles — although Logan swears it was more.

(From left to right) Logan, Jack, Neal, and Dylan in front of Times Square, one of the many iconic NYC landmarks they rode through.

Riddhima, Joey, Anthony, Maaike, Emma, Izzy, Lucas, and Olaf went for a ride around Central Park and stopped by the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well to get some pictures by the building’s historic steps. The group was greeted by two “I-L-Ls” while riding through the park, which brings the team’s total up to three after hearing another on the plane this morning.

Even rest days have their issues — the team pulled off for a quick minute in Central Park to fix a stuck chain.

Michael spent his day in a beautiful fashion as he visited both the Lego and the Nintendo stores on Fifth Avenue. You’re never too old to have a good time.

The team reunited for dinner with the absolutely wonderful staff of Saint Mary’s, who prepared a barbecue for us to enjoy alongside cookies and drinks — a huge thanks to them for preparing options for our two vegan team members to enjoy as well. We’re so excited to be staying with the church as they celebrate 200 years together, in a beautiful building over 100 years old (another fun fact: Elizabeth Hamilton — American socialite and philanthropist, as well as Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s wife — was a pew holder at this very church in the late 18th century). An enormous thank you to the staff of Saint Mary’s for such a wonderful meal, and the perfect start to our journey. We’ll stay with them again tomorrow night as we prepare for the official start of our trip on Monday morning.

As we wrap up this journal, we’re settling into our first official night together on this trip as a complete team. The day has held countless beautiful moments already, from reuniting with one another to meeting some of the kindest hosts we could have hoped for. Having so many amazing memories in just one day is leaving us with huge excitement for what’s to come. 

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary.)

Day -6: Welcome to the 2024 Ride Journals!

Hello and welcome to the official Illini 4000 website blog of the 2024 Bike America Team! Our names are Maaike Niekerk (my-kuh nee-kirk) and Riddhima Patllollu (redeem-ah putt-low-loo,) and we will be your journalists for the summer. We are beyond excited to have the opportunity to document this incredible journey for friends and families to read along with, as well as for the riders themselves to look back on.

We’ve enabled comments this year, so feel free to share anything from words of encouragement to questions about the ride below — we’d love to hear from you in real time. Given that this is the first instance in I4K history where the team has two journalists instead of one, we look forward to figuring out a shared writing routine as the ride progresses.

If you’ve read last year’s journals, you’ll know that we’re delighted to continue 2023 team journalist Jonathan Boudreaux’s traditions — expect with every post a brief Ride Overview, a detailed Tales of the Trail section, and a sit-down with each rider in Cyclist’s Corner. We of course won’t forget to include a multitude of pictures and the handy I4K Dictionary to define any unfamiliar terms for our readers.

As we spend this week preparing for the ride, feel free to take in the mission of I4K. Here on our website, you can read up on The Portraits Project, learn about the work of our beneficiaries, familiarize yourself with the team’s rider profiles, and more. Head over to our Instagram (@illini4000) and give it a follow for more daily updates. The fight against cancer never stops and is the heart of our organization, so donations are welcome at any point from now to during the ride, and beyond.

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We want to begin with a short preview of what to expect in each post.

First, the mother of all Ride Overviews — a rough look at the total mileage and elevation we’ll be covering as a team this summer. During the ride, this section will only concern numbers relevant to that day’s riding.

Ride Overview

Mileage: ~4,913

Elevation: +194,699’ (The equivalent of climbing Mount Everest almost seven times. Whoa!)

Covering the Points of Interest for the entire ride in one post would make for an exhaustive (and long) read, so head over the “Route” section of the website for more details on that.

TALES of the Trail

Here are some pictures from our training rides for a taste of what you can expect in the Tales of the Trail section!

Our first training ride to Homer Lake (we promise we're taking this very seriously.)

A classic I4K group circle from a not-so-classic angle.

Emma, Lucas, Jack, and Joey spot a beautiful sunset during a training ride.

A (cramped) version of our future van setup.

Group picture at Kickapoo State Park during the team's first 90-mile ride!

Once again, we are very serious individuals.

Fixing the first of many flats :,)

Having a lie down at Allerton Park and Retreat Center — note Dylan practicing his celebratory "bike over the head" pose and the famous Sun Singer statue behind him.

I4K Fundraising Director Peter making sure to stay hydrated on his strenuous job as team car driver (all jokes aside, thank you for driving the team car that day Peter!)

Mentally preparing for some bonus gravel after an unexpected bit of construction re-directed our route.

Kev and Tommy roll through the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve.

Claudia bonds with a horse! Many horse stops were made on our training rides.

Kev, Kavin, Maaike, and Tommy showcase a full and complete stop — safety first!

Doing laps at Kickapoo State Park.

An equal parts energetic (see Logan) and relaxed (see Anthony, Joey, and Neal) group circle at a rest stop.

Riddhima, Olaf, and Maaike sport some extremely cool cycling shades — Olivia hits 'em with the tough guy pose.

Thank you Jessica, our Marketing Director, for driving the team car during many of our team trainings!

Emma, Izzy, Riddhima, and Claudia fuel up at a practice stayover at Maaike's house — thank you to Maaike's family for hosting us :)

This boat don't float (feat. Maaike and Joey).

Lucas, our Information Director and Ride Leader for the first half of the ride, shows that you can never be too safe, whether on land or water.

Thank you to I4K President Zona for driving the team car that day!

Channeling the energy of the Sun Singer before embarking on the rest of a 70-mile training ride.

Lucas, Olaf, Claudia, and Izzy show off the 2024 team jerseys :)

Cyclist’s Corner (TEAM EDITION)

With a little under a week before the big ride, it’s safe to say that everyone is in a near-constant state of excitement and anticipation, especially with regards to the diversity of places we’ll be seeing. In the Cyclist’s Corner, we’ll usually be asking one rider a couple of questions, but we’ll sometimes change it up with poll-style team editions like this one.

What destination on the ride are you looking forward to the most?

• Crater Lake National Park, OR – Logan, Maaike, Olaf

• Eugene, OR – Izzy, Neal

• Grand Teton National Park, WY – Anthony, Dylan, Jack

• Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA – Claudia, Riddhima

• Mount Rainier National Park, WA – Emma, Olivia

• Reedsburg, WI – Michael

• San Francisco, CA – Kev

• Washington, DC – Joey, Lucas

• Yellowstone, WY - Tommy

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When you’re about to embark on an adventure as grand as this one, there are things you do in preparation that make you realize with sheer awe, “oh my goodness, I’m about to bike across the country.” Writing this introductory post was one of those moments, and has only fueled our eagerness as I4K journalists.

So, we hope you enjoyed the preview, and make sure to come back for the real deal every day starting May 25th. We can’t wait.

The Dictionary of I4K

(Thank you to 2023 team journalist Jonathan Boudreaux for writing the bulk (if not all) of the definitions below!)

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Bike lights: front (white) and rear (red, flashing) mounted lights. Illuminate road conditions and signal presence to vehicles. Typically battery powered or USB rechargeable. Required for I4K.

Bonus gravel: an unexpected bit of gravel that the team bravely conquers during the ride. Similar to an additional level in a video game.

Callouts: verbal cues spoken and repeated by all riders in a group. Describe hazards, passing vehicles, directional cues, and more.

Car back: a callout; indicates a vehicle behind the group in occupied lane or lane next to the shoulder. “Truck” or other vehicle type may replace “car,” and other directions are used to indicate vehicle position (“car up,” “car right”).

Century: a single ride with a duration of 100 miles.

Clear in the rear: a callout; indicates no vehicles behind the group. Sometimes followed by a yell of “Cleeeeean wipe!”

Crosswind: wind from the direction facing the sides of the rider. Can be anywhere between negligible and difficult to ride in.

Dynamic chores: necessary day-to-day tasks that rotate among selected riders. There are many, and include packing the van, cooking breakfast, policing stayovers, PB&J prep, and (perhaps the most necessary) waking up the team.

The Exec Board: the epic and amazing team of humans without whom I4K could never happen. This includes positions such as President, Vice President, Logistics Director, Social Director (new), Information Director, DEI Director, Fundraising Director, Portraits Director, Marketing Director, and Treasurer. They each handle all of the differing aspects of the organization and collaborate with each other and the Bike America Team throughout the year leading up to the ride.

Fallen in: Used to describe riding in a pace line or straight line. Typically used on two-lane roads and to allow cars to pass. Associated with callouts “Fall in!” and “Falling in!”, to which the group condenses into a pace line and follows directly behind first position.

Gapping: a callout; indicates a gap has formed between riders. The rider(s) in front close the gap by slowing the pace.

The Gear Program: a collection of donated and reused cycling materials (including bikes, apparel, and accessories) that aid riders with being able to participate in the ride stress-free with reduced cost.

G Pho: slang for the shared Google Photos album, where the 2024 team uploads their pictures from the day.

Girl group: name denoting a ride group comprised of all amazing and epic women.

Headwind: wind from the direction facing the front of the rider. Hardest wind condition to ride in.

I4K: I-four-K, short for Illini 4000.

I4K holidays: special occasions throughout the ride meant to help keep spirits high. Includes Valentine’s Day, I4Christmas in July, I4K Prom, and others. 

@i4kones: an Instagram account showcasing the delicious ice cream eaten across the country by the I4K team. Started in 2024 by rider Anthony Dirico. Give us a follow!

@i4kows: an Instagram account showcasing the I4K team with cows we meet along the route. Started in 2021 by rider Camden Cortes. Go follow if you haven’t already!

I4Kristmas: one of the I4K holidays. Traditionally celebrated on July 25th and involves a Secret Santa-like gift exchange consisting of one small bought gift and one side-of-the-road gift. Christmas music and decor is optional but encouraged.

I4K Prom: also known as prom. An I4K holiday traditionally celebrated close to the end of the ride. Involves typical prom traditions including proposals and pictures with an I4K twist. Thematic or ridiculous attire is encouraged. Rider superlative awards are also given at this event.

Jersey: the top or shirt element of biking gear. Very lightweight and moisture-wicking with a zipper in the center. The orange and blue I4K jerseys are designed by the board and made by Primal, and are part of the worn riding gear on each day of the ride.

Morning circle: A daily ride ritual that is used to discuss the route, any relevant items of business, and give riders a chance to offer ride dedications.

NRLAD: short for National Ride Leader Appreciation Day. An I4K holiday celebrating the ride leader(s) and all they have done for the team. Each team chooses how and when to celebrate this occasion.

Oatmeal: the I4K breakfast of champions.

Passing: a callout; indicates a vehicle passing on the left. “Passing right” used if vehicle passing on the right.

PB&J: everything you need to eat for a good ride. 

PB&J box: the box that holds our bread, peanut butter, and jelly specifically for PB&Js during our lunch stops. Also holds serving utensils and sometimes other food. Maintained by its own dynamic chore role.

The Portraits Project: A video interview compilation of people who have experienced cancer in any way, shape, or form, directly or indirectly. A truly American profile of the ways in which cancer can impact the lives of so many. Anyone met on the ride itself or outside of it may be interviewed and their stories added to the ever-growing Project. It is one of, if not the primary task of the ride in regard to our mission. To read more about the Portraits Project, please visit its own dedicated tab on the website menu. The current Portraits Director for I4k is Emily Gonzalez, and the Portraits Coordinator for the ride itself is Emma Darbro.

Pulling off: a callout; indicates moving off the road and stopping at the next safe place to do so.

Rail trail: a common form of multi-use or bike-specific trail. Often converted from discontinued railroad tracks and paved over. Make up a small but noticeable percentage of I4K routes and found nationwide.

Rest day: a day of rest and no riding. Riders are free to explore the area or stay at the stayover (and likely catch up on some much needed zzz’s).

Rest stop: a predetermined stopping place during a ride day. The van there and available with nutrition, sunscreen, and anything else one may need. Typically 15-20 minutes. The second of these is usually a lunch stop and lasts closer to 30 minutes.

Rider contract: a set of rules and regulations that riders are expected to follow as an I4K rider and teammate. Signed upon offer of a place on the team.

Rider groups: organized groups of 3-5 riders that bike together for the duration of the route that day. The main format of riding for I4K. Spaced out approximately two minutes from each other to start. Simultaneously provides easy communication between riders and the most visibility for drivers. 

Ride with GPS: a mobile app that uses GPS signal to track position, mileage, speed, etc. Our routes are created and accessible in the app, and verbal navigation cues guide us through each route.

Rolling: a callout; indicates moving from a stop. Combined with directions to indicate turns (rolling left, rolling right)

Rolling through: a callout; indicates rolling through an intersection without stopping or slowing. Used at green lights and sometimes substituted with “ROLL TIDE.”

Rollout: term used for the start of each day’s ride. Not to be confused with rolling out, or the physical use of rollers on one’s legs to massage the associated muscles.

Sag (v.): short for Supply And Gear, riding in the van and assisting the driver with finding rest stops, navigation, packing and repacking, music choice, calling for donations, and many other things. Also a time to sleep or chat.

SAV: the name for the van of the 2024 team. Stands for “Super Awesome Van” and alternatively an abbreviation of “savior” as it rescues stranded riders. Naming credits to Olaf and Claudia.

Shuttle (v.): transport rider groups to various points on the route including rest stops and stayovers. May be due to a variety of reasons including severe weather and bike problems.

Slack: a business-oriented messaging app that is I4K’s primary mode of electronic communication. Common phrases include “It’s in the Slack,” “Check Slack,” and more.

Slowing: a callout; indicates coasting, braking, or otherwise reducing speed.

Stayover: a location along our route where we can rest, explore the surrounding area, repair our bikes, and ultimately spend the night. Each is organized ahead of time, and usually include churches, schools, community centers, and even a few campgrounds.

Stopping: a callout; indicates coming to a stop.

Stop up: a callout; indicates that a stop sign or red light is ahead, prepare to stop. Followed by “slowing,” then “stopping.”

Take/taking the lane: a callout; indicates fully occupying the current lane or moving to a separate lane after doing so (“taking the left lane”). Accomplished by organizing the group from a pace line to a triangle, square, or set of five as appears on a die. Done so on four lane roads, before turns and stops, and as a means to be more visible to drivers in situations where passing is not safe. Call is “take the lane,” response is “taking the lane.”

The van: our home away from home, the perfect space to store our personal gear, team gear, and take a good nap. Stops at rest stops to provide nutrition and water and follows the team as we bike.

UIUC: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, home of the Fighting Illini, and our host university. Most of our team attends or has recently graduated from UIUC.

Van drivers: anyone with a license drives the team van on a rotating schedule. They find rest stops, pick up supplies and donations, and keep in contact with each rider group.

Van up: a callout; the van is parked ahead, indicates a rest stop. A favorite among riders.

Watch left/middle/right: a callout; used to point out obstructions or hazards with accompanying hand signals. The name of the object in question may be used instead of “watch” or as a separate callout (“watch hole left,” “debris right”)

Zoleo: a satellite relay device that can be used to contact the van or other groups if cellular service is unavailable. Can also be used to send SOS signals to emergency services. Compact and handy, one goes with each group and one stays in the van.