For some the day started early since the teammates were so excited to see the city. After a peaceful walk/bike around the city, the team assembled again at the Church of Saint Paul of the Apostle by 11 AM. At that time, the Father Gilbert introduced the team to the congregation. Divya gave a short speech about the organization, which was followed by a nice brunch provided by the church. Our team enjoyed the food as well as the company. We were also fortunate to have a chance to conduct several interviews for our Portraits Project. The team would like to extend our gratitude to the Church of Saint Paul of the Apostle for all of the arrangements they made, there could not have been a better welcome to the Big Apple!After a short break of sightseeing, the team said goodbye to the church and moved to the second stayover, Columbus Circle Hostel, where the team was surprised to find clean beds and showers. Later in the evening, the New York U of I Alumni Club invited the team to a performance by University of Illinois' a cappella group, the Other Guys, at a comedy club in the city. We shared a great time with the alumni, and also met a previous rider, Steve Odon, who is a cancer survivor. With the encouragement from the alumni, the team finished the long day with cheer and excitement for the long journey ahead.
First night in NYC!!
Hey hey! The benefits of having an iPhone let me tell ya I can write a post and post it when I have wifi woot woot! So the train ride was good. We all shared food, played catch phrase, and the pranks started. I must give props to Katie who started the stickering as I like to call it: put a sticker on someone without them noticing, more points if the person is Rufio or if it's directly on someones head (aka baldy aka Sean). Once the train arrived we had to wait for our bikes (cue mushu the camp Kesem counselor full of games). Once we got our bikes we had to rebuild them - I learned how to install and take off pedals (literally a pro now) and how to fix my stem/handlebars. The true challenge then arrived: the mile walk. Normally walking a mile sounds okay, could be fun, might be exercise but this mile was THE MILE WALK to me. Why? I had to wheel my bike, shlep my food bag (image a jewel brown paper bag full of food/stuff), my sleeping bag, my sleeping pad, and oh yes my 50-75 pound backpack (not exaggerating). This mile started to hurt after my shock wore off. Being in NYC was just so exciting and unbelievable that I had to have kels pinch me! Howevs the back and shoulders started to protest hardcore and a mile can seem like forever on feet. Sean aka baldy took my food bag and that eased it and jan took my bag when we were across the street so I could carry my bike down the steps. All I could think was "if only my brother Jono and my dad saw me now!" At the stay over we met as a team, found out chores, and chore buddy (mines Connor Yanz!!!) then were dismissed. We went to a fountain took some pics and headed to times square. On the way we picked up some famous NY style pizza sooooo good. Times square was a mob scene like always but still fun to be at. Now we're back at the stay over for bed time. Tomorrow I plan to get up maybe go to central park and then get back for a community brunch. But I don't want to give out any more spoilers so stay tuned!Sincerely,El
And so it begins!
Ladies and gents! The train and left the station and no worries I'm on it! Saying goodbye was kind of hard but my excitement far outweighs my worries at this point. Seeing everyone with all their bags brought me back to a complete team mentality. I truly felt like I was reuniting with family instead of friends and we haven't even arrived in New York! At the train station old riders and new riders intermingled and a strong sense of tradition, compassion, and love for this organization was as tangible as my heavy backpack. Brad and Ron helped me get my bike in a box and I literally felt like they were my older brothers. It was such an amazing feeling knowing that I was about to leave with great people and following the steps/pedals? of great people. Right now I'm on the train sitting with the one, the only, Katie Lindsay. Excellent train buddy so far I must say.Until next time,ElPs. Still on the train - now it's morning. I slept fairly okay: it was as if every two hours I had to wake up for a half hour. I should have pulled down my sleeping bag but I didn't til morning. The chair leans back and there is tons of leg room! When I got up this morning I faced the challenge of swallowing my MASSIVE vitamin. This thing smells so bad that I had to make everyone smell it. Yuck! Border control came around and that was kind of crazy. Anthony had a hard time but manny was a good advocator (what a good seat buddy). Pss. Now its noon and I'm up again! Katie left for a little so I spread out, had two sleeping bags, two train pillows -- it was glorious! Howevs I kinda missed her haha! I just added everyone's phone number to my phone and helped Lauren with her fear list (yup we have fears!). And now I'm going to eat some snacks!
May 21 First Day in NYC
After 20 hours on the train, our Illini 4000 2011 team finally arrived in New York City at 6:30 PM. After arriving at Penn Station the team assembled their bikes and walked to their first stayover with their super heavy backpacks and bikes. The walk was rough, but pretty enjoyable and eventually they met the support van at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle.Immediately after the arrival to the stayover, the team held their first meeting on the trip. At the meeting we learned who our chore partners would be, the teammate we'll be working with throughout the entire summer for our given daily chores. We were all very excited to be in New York, so the meeting did not last too long. After the meeting was dismissed the team hit the city with the advise from Father Gilbert. It was a great evening and a great experience in New York City.We appreciate the accommodations provided by the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle. After the long trip out east, the team was delighted to spread out and get comfortable.
And they're off! A couple of notes as we begin the ride.
Tonight's the night when it all begins. The team has already packed their bikes and started to make their way out east on Amtrak, and our support vehicle will be on it's way shortly, ready to meet them when they arrive in New York City.As we begin another summer, it is important to note some of the changes and features of the website. Certainly there will be more posts, usually daily updates from the team (depending on internet access/phone service) and hopefully weekly updates from all of the riders. If for some reason you miss some of these posts, you can find old postings in our News Archive. We have also increased the number of recent rider postings on the right hand column of the website, but if you'd like to see older postings, you can see them in the Rider Blog. The last point about team and rider posts, if you're technology minded, we have RSS feeds setup of all our front page news, rider blog posts, and both combined.You can also comment on our rider and team postings, however please note that the first time you comment, the comment will need to be approved by either the rider, or the site administrator. This process can take several days depending on internet access. Also keep in mind that using generic family relationships (such as "Dad", "Grandma", etc) as your Name can lead to confusion, especially if you comment on another rider's post. Please use either your full name, or add who you are related to in the Name field (i.e. "Robert's Dad"). Comments which do not meet these guidelines will not be approved.You may have also noticed that our Rider Spotlight section has been replaced with Send us Mail!. This feature provides the nearest Post Office to each of our Event Day stayover locations. By using the arrows above and below, you can scroll to the different Event Day locations and find the appropriate Post Office to send your letter or package. Please allow at least 3 days for delivery and let your rider know that they should expect to pick something up at the Post Office.Finally, in addition to making daily blog postings, the team also keeps a photo album which we hope to update on a daily basis as well. You can see this album, and others, by visiting our Photos and Videos section. Each ride also has the ability to create their own personal photo albums on their profile page, so encourage your ride to upload a few photos of their experiences.That's about all for now, but keep coming back as we make our way across the country this summer!~Erik VolkmanDirector of Information - Illini 4000 for Cancer
One hour...
One hour remaining until I leave, and it's about time I wrote a blog post. Before leaving, I'd like to thank everyone who's been so supportive of me and the Illini 4000. A special shoutout to my parents, whose tales of bike trips inspired me to take this one and who have been unimaginably supportive all the way through this year.I got my bike a few weeks ago, and haven't gotten that much riding done on it. The largest hill I've seen so far has been in Hinsdale, so the Appalachians are going to be really fun. A name for my bike doesn't occur to me yet- I'm waiting for that moment when bike and I become linked and I can feel its pain. Then the name will come to me. Regardless of any spiritual connection between us, we've ridden the Lakefront Trail, the Salt Lake trail, a few paths that are nameless to me, and a twenty-mile journey through the west side of Chicago, which I'm convinced has the most broken glass per square mile in the U.S.Now I can check "write blog post" off of the to-do list, leaving only "leave". I've packed my bag and duct taped all holes in my sleeping bag. A part of me wants to draw this packing process out, and another part just wants to leave right now. Who knows, maybe the world really will end tomorrow and we won't be riding after all.I do find it kind of funny that the rapture is supposed to start as soon as we arrive in New York (6 pm, according to Harold Camping. Our train pulls in to Penn Station at 6:30). It's not entirely untrue; for a lot of our friends and relatives, we'll be dropping off the face of the Earth for two months (excluding this blog, but who says the raptured can't blog?) We might not be ruled by demons for five months, but this summer will be very different than the usual fare.Now there's a half an hour left, and I'm ready to go. Bring it on, America.
Off to Union Station
Over this short ten day break since finals have been over I have been working ridiculous hours trying to make up for a whole summer without a job. In any spare time I was making trips to Plank Road Cyclery and many other stores trying to get last minute things. I also stopped by to see my 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Schubbe who found out about what I was doing this summer and had one of her students write an article for their quarterly paper.Packing for this is tough but the compression sack I got is very helpful to save space for snacks in my bag. I still can’t believe in a day I will be in New York. It seems like just yesterday I was still trying to remember everyone’s name playing basketball at the ARC. I remember my first ride on my bike with Anthony. We rode about ten miles and at that time was tough. Now that’s nothing.I was really glad I got a chance to see my friend Lisa for the first time since she had chemotherapy and I was glad to see her beautiful smile. Good news the tumor on her brain is shrinking! She is strong and I have no doubt she can fight through it.
Departure Day… T-minus four hours
WOW!... did you get that?... WOW! I have four hours until I am at union station with my team. HOLY DOG CHASING AFTER OUR BIKES! I legit cannot believe this day is finally here!!! The last three days have been jam packed full of packing and shopping and let me tell you – it kind of adds up. However, I will be a fashionista on this trip. I want to say a deep heart-felt thank you to my parents, Link, Arie, Emily, and Aunty Deb because they have all contributed to my biking apparel. While I am on the thank yous – a big, big, biggggg one goes out to Shelby Paige Blitz, without whom I would not be packed for this trip. Shelbs has helped me pack for any big trip/travel/journey and has the mental capabilities of dealing with my lack of skills when it comes to packing.Packing… yaaaaaaaa sooooooooo. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to pack it all in again and my book for the train is in there somewhere I think in the middle. Oye vey! However, not joking – 1/3 of my bag is food! The lesson I learned during packing was that stuff sacks are miracle workers: if you need to pack a ton, get one! They somehow perform magic and condense your clothes to 1/3 of the size? (Lots of 1/3s going on here hahaha.)Since my last blog a lot as happened (as per usual right? Life never stands still and I feel like mine is in speed play.) I graduated… weird to say because I am still in denial; the experience itself was wonderful and I have no serious complaints besides why did it have to happen?!!? Saying see you later to my roommates was what got the tears streaming like a river. Living with the three of them was the best living situation I have been in ever. Rachel, Carly, Sarah I will miss you more than you will ever know. I also moved back home (for three days of packing hehe) and was able to see some friends and family. In the next four hours I still got to go to the bike shop and have my bike looked at, buy snacks/meals for the train ride, check emails, do some work for Camp Kesem, eat lunch, and go to the bank. Nothing like the last minute right?!?I’m so excited to see everyone and just see that everyone is in the same boat as me (can I start saying same bike? Can we make that a saying?). What was really nice was that last night I talked to a few of the ladies on the team and we’re all facing about the same emotions. This ride is not only a physical challenge but a great mental one as well. I think I’m ready to start tackling those mountains because guess what? I AM A STRONG CLIMBER, I LOVE TO CLIMB! (Those of you who read the article recommended by Pi know what I’m talking about.)So ladies and gentlemen: here we go.I4K 2011 Summer Ride: Bring it because I’m pumped! (maybe my tires need some air but not me!)See ya on the train, in New York, or sometime soon!~ Ellie
Endings & Beginnings
As I sat in the same lecture hall I was in 4 years ago trying to embrace the end of my time at school, I can't help but feel like college isn't over yet. I have no sentiments or overwhelming emotions like some of my friends and graduates have had. In fact, to be honest, I was extremely bored during my graduation. And I am curious why this is happening, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. For me, college has never been about classes (sorry mom + dad). Don't get me wrong, studying happened often, but when I think back on college very few, if any, of the things I think about are affiliated with class.When I think about my college experience I think of my friends, how I met them and the times we were together, my trip to volunteer in New Orleans, the two years I played Club Baseball, how good it felt when I finally declared a major, the places I worked at in the Chambana area, my study abroad experience, and how much I have grown as a person throughout that time. And it is when I think about these things that I become nostalgic and truly feel sad to be leaving this part of my life. So, it is no wonder when I finally got my bicycle fully prepared for the trip today, that I have started to become emotional.The Illini 4000 symbolizes a lot for me. To a degree, it completely encapsulates what my college experience has been about. Not only was the Illini 4000 the first thing I heard about on campus, but it will also be the last thing I will ever do at the University of Illinois. And I wouldn't have it any other way.The people, purpose, my fellow riders, and everything about this organization are amazing and make me proud for deciding to be a part of it. That is why though it will be tough to end my career with this trip, I would not have it any other way.I am excited, nervous, anxious, and stressed, but I also don't mind this. Actually, I embrace this. Because for the next months I will be all of these feelings and more as I finish my college career with the Illini 4000 Bike America Team.At this time, I would also like to thank everyone who donated to me and this organization. Without you, I would never have come close to being able to experience everything I will in the next 3 months. Truly, thank you for your generosity.See you in New York!
Dear North America,
Dear North America,I am very excited to get to know you better!Love, Dory My grand adventure starts in one day and I cannot even fathom how I got this far…JK… I know it was the amazing support of all the people around me! Thanks to my family that encourage me to do everything, all the people who have joined me in the fight against cancer by donating, and to those people who contributed to my bike and gear. I am so THANKFUL.Pre-Ride Reflections:My bike- I really struggled while shopping for my bike. It was hard to know what I was looking for with so little experience under my belt. My team gave me great information and my parents were very patient to ride from town to town with me while shopping. In the end I basically closed my eyes and picked one. I LOVE MY BIKE. I ended up buying a Cannondale and my bike is so GOOD to me!Falls- My first few times on my bike were quite silly, I basically had to relearn how to ride. My mother held me up while I practiced clipping in and out of the pettles, but it was inevitable that over the next few rides I would take some healthy falls. I usually would just forget my feet were clipped, swerve into a ditch, and slowly fall into a cornfield. I quickly learned that my favorite curse word while falling is ****.Protection- I think dealing with the elements is going to be one of the biggest challenges this summer. I went on a very cold wet and windy daylong bike ride without gloves. After that my left hand tingled for several weeks. Now my had is pretty much back to its regular self, BUT the lesson I learned is that weather is not something to play with.Fundraising- I am so thankful that I have had the experience of fundraising for such an important cause. I have never had a strong concept of money, but now I better understand that money is not useful in a box under my bed. It is better to let it go out into the world and help make it a better place… thanks, fundraising!Top 5 things I’m looking forward to:5. One back pack of positions4. Sight seeing3. Making it to my family in San Francisco2. Being a nomad1. The great unknown (EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!)
My first blog!!!
Hello fellow I4K members and supporters, I apologize for getting on the blog so late but hey, better late than never. I have never really blogged before but I will try my best to blog as much as possible over the summer. We are one day away from our train ride to New York City and surprisingly, I am as calm as I have ever been. I was really nervous about three weeks ago when we had our last team meeting back in Urbana (that’s when we got our travel bags, team jerseys and so on). But over the last week, I haven’t really felt much because finals, packing, moving and doing last minute shopping have kept me really busy that I haven’t even gotten a chance to play around with my travel bag to see how much stuff I can fit in it.So far, Illini4000 has been an amazing experience. Every time I think about how much we have done and how far we have come as a team, in what seems like a very short time (it’s been about 8 months but time has been going by ridiculously fast) I can’t help it but say, “wow! Man, that’s crazy” every single time. I remember like it was yesterday applying for I4K last summer (10 months ago) and now I am three day away from riding 4500+ miles across the country. Even though I do not feel like I am ready (is it even possible to be "ready" for what is to come :D), all the training we have done all semester especially the Saturday rides we have been doing since spring break have been really helpful. The first training ride was a 37 mile ride and at the time, that was considered a “long ride” but, after doing the 50, 64, 77, 95 mile rides just to mention a few, 37 miles now is a “short ride.” Every Saturday we went riding, the weather was not friendly at all for the exception of one Saturday. I have to say, the winds were the most annoying part of the training ride. But on the bright side, I feel so much stronger and ready to take on whatever mother nature has instore for us.Before I end my first blog, I would like to thank all the individuals and businesses who have donated to Illini4000 through me, my teammates or to the organization in general to help us cross the $100,000 goal we set (we are well past that now). Without your support, all this wouldn’t have been possible. I would also like to thank the I4K board members for their amazing work in running this organization with passion, integrity, and holding us to such high standards has helped us achieve a lot over the past 8 months. Until my next blog from the road, I would like to say thank you and God bless :D and keep checking our website for more blogs!!!
Happy Birthday Mom!! I love you North Central Cyclery.
Yesterday I went to Champaign to pick up all of the things the team needs for the ride this summer. With the help of Conor, Eamon, and MairBear (Mary), this task was finished in a couple of hours and went really smoothly. I'm very grateful that you guys came to help, so thank you! After we were finished, I went to say goodbye to my sister, Anna, who works full-time at the U of I's study abroad office. She has been filled with anxiety about my departure. My dear sister, we will see each other soon once the team rides through Champaign!Yesterday was also my mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!Instead of having a day just for her, my mom was a real trooper and did some late-night official I4K errands with me once I returned from Champaign. During this time, I once again realized how much my mom supports me in every single thing I do. When I first decided I wanted to be a part of I4K, I knew she would approve because of the cause (both of her parents passed away from cancer), but I wasn't sure what she would think about the cross-country bike ride. Being the amazing mother she is, her response was something along the lines of, "I think you should definitely do it." She didn't tell me that riding your bike across the country is impossible, that I'm crazy for wanting to do something like this, or insanely worry about my safety. She believed in me from the start and I'm pretty sure she knew that I would want to do the ride again before I even knew. I am so fortunate to have my mom in my life and I will forever be grateful for the values and strength she has instilled in me. Thanks for being my number one mom, Kathy! ;) You know I love you.Today I went to North Central Cyclery to pick up my new Surly Cross Check. I have been smiling all day because I am so excited to sit on my Brooks and ride this bike across the USA with an amazing group of people. Check out their homepage to see pictures of it: http://www.northcentralcyclery.com/. A special thank you to Tobie at NCC, he's an amazing guy with a ton of bike knowledge. I have never had such a warm welcoming at a bike shop or experience such high-quality service. Post cards are coming your way.We are taking off on Friday for NYC! I feel very calm right now, which is freaking me out since I should probably feel more stressed and anxious?P.S. Just saw on the Facebook that Brad Topol is going to be Chicago's newest bike lane engineer. That is SO cool. Congrats!
Prepare for Launch
The past month has been a whirlwind and it is only just beginning. It’s hard for me to comprehend how close we are to departure as my mind has been focused on finals, graduation, and moving home from Urbana. I loved each and every moment I spent at the University of Illinois as an Advertising undergrad, and I’m sure I will miss it very much. Having such a great team to be a part of and an amazing trip to look forward to made graduation less sad that I had pictured it would be. All the excitement from this past weekend has done a great job at keeping my nerves about the trip at bay. I’m looking forward to having lots of time to think about what a great experience the past four years have been while on the road this summer. I almost forgot to mention, I got the best graduation gift, a coveted Brooks Saddle, which is sure to prove itself in the coming months.After packing and moving home an entire van full of my personal belongings, I can’t help but compare the small team issued backpack that we have been given for this summer. Now I am nitpicking each and every item that I will be bringing on the trip, laying them all out before carefully packing up my bag for Friday.This past week I went for a leisurely 14 mile bike ride with my Dad on a trail near our house. He kept asking me if he was slowing me down, to which I assured him he wasn’t. It was a great “training ride” for my Dad as a preparation for the family ride along in June! I also took my bike in to Richard’s Bike shop in Palos Heights where I purchased it to make sure everything is in top shape for departure. I was sure to pick up a few last minute essentials too, such as a spare tube for my saddle bag for when I get my first flat.On days when I get nervous or have any doubts about being prepared for the trip I think about all of the hard work that has gone into preparing for this summer. We as a team have been working towards our departure date for almost eight months now, sweating it out in the gym, building up our mileage on training rides, fundraising, and buying all of the essential gear. As a team we would not be where we are today without all the help, dedication, and advice we have gotten from the alumni I4K riders and especially the board of directors. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for all that you have done; you have set an amazing example for our team and I have learned so much!Well, I’m off to go on a ride, but be sure to look out for my next post, which will most likely be from the road!
Last days before the ride!!
With only 3 days before the ride is set to start, it finally sinks in. Im am starting to feel butterflies about this trip. There is rush of mixed emotions that I have when I think of what is to come. Only a few days ago I was feeling similar emotions about graduating, this feels just as good! I am very excited for I4K 2011 Team, and I cant wait to depart from NYC!I want to thank the I4K Board Members for all their work in preparing us for the 2011 Summer Ride. You guys did a great job! Thank you for you leadership, experience, dedication, and enthusiasm throughout all of our training. We wont let you all down!I wan to thank everyone that has supported the Illini 4000. It is your support and generosity that has made the Illini 4000 a success for 5 years running. With your help we have raised $116,945 for Summer 2011 for the American Cancer Society, and Camp Kesem!
Gravel and Hills, And Gravel Hills
Hello everyone!I haven't posted in a while due to the stress and insane time consumption that final exams have had on me. But now that I'm back in good ole' Lake County (847 whutup!), this epic journey can now take up my full concentration. On Saturday I dropped my bike off with the great people at M&M Cyclery in my hometown of Mundelein where they gave me a complementary tune up. I picked it up today while running some errands and I couldn't help myself, I just had to go for a ride.Since I didn't start until mid-afternoon and my mom insisted that I get back for dinner I couldn't go on too long of a ride, but I definitely made the most of it. I rode 30 miles to some of my favorite spots in Lake County. I first went to this abandoned and pretty secret private beach in Lake Bluff and then moved south past some of the largest houses I've ever seen to Lake Forest Public Beach. I don't know what it is but there is something about being by a body of water that is very calming and allows for a much easier and peaceful ride. I've only been to the Atlantic once and never the Pacific, so needless to say I am ecstatic at the opportunity.Because it was just going to be a short ride, I tried to push myself as hard as I could and tried to work with aspects of riding that I do not have that much experience, mostly hills and gravel. Instead of riding on the road which I normally would, I rode on the North Shore Bike Path which is entirely sand and gravel and believe me, it is a much harder ride compared to that of asphalt. I also tried to hit the very few hills that are around me as many times as I could to get more experience because the Appalachian Mountains are only about a week and a half away. All the while, I kept my speed well above where I would normally be on a longer ride and as a result finished the 30 mile trip with two breaks at the beaches in under two hours!Tomorrow I hope to ride from my house to Grant Park in Downtown Chicago. It's an 84 mile trip total but again the majority of the trip will be down Lake Michigan, which I know will be very motivating. Friday is coming so close! I cannot wait to kick off from NYC!Well time to have some spaghetti. That's all for now folks!
Almost Done Training
We are a week away and i have been training pretty hard. Not quite like that 100 mile day last weekend but am putting some miles on every day. I will be heading into the bike shop to get everything checked out before the ride starts. I am getting pretty excited for the trip but am a little nervous too . Hopefully we have the wind at our back for the first few days. That would be nice. But, if the ride is anything like our training rides we will be going into the gusting headwinds everyday.
Chicago Ride-Along and Picnic
The Illini 4000 will be hosting a charity Ride-Along the morning of June 11th and anyone who is able is invited to join the team in an easy 15 mile bike ride along the Chicago Lakefront and through the North Side. All of the funds raised through the event will go to support the Illini 4000 and the cancer charities that it donates to. Following the ride we will be having a cookout at Caldwell Woods where you will have an extra opportunity to socialize with the team and listen to their experiences as they bicycle across the country. If you plan on attending we require that you wear a helmet or you will not be allowed to ride with the team. Please follow the link below for extra information on the ride. If you have any questions regarding the ride or would like to volunteer at the cookout please contact event manager Brad Topol at illini4000alumni@gmail.comImportant Information for Participants/Transportation OptionsEvent Details:What: Illini 4000 Ride AlongTime: 9:30 am, June 11th, 2011Start: Cancer Survivors Garden, Millennium Park, ChicagoFinish: Caldwell Woods, Grove 3 (Unsheltered Picnic Area) - Milwaukee Ave & Devon Ave, ChicagoCost: $15 to rideLunch: $10 donation is appreciated if you plan on eating with the teamRoute: Illini 4000 Ride Along RouteCues: Illini 4000 Ride Along CuesPlease stay tuned for our registration form for the ride and picnic. Pre-registration is highly encouraged, but not required.
Chicago Departure and NYC Kickoff
With the summer trip fast approaching, we know that excitement is high for riders! Only a few weeks left to squeeze in last-minute training, pack bags, and the departure dates will be here soon enough. Family, friends and I4K alumni are welcome to see the team off from Chicago Union Station before their departure to NYC, as well as their kickoff from NYC Central Park. Here's an estimated schedule:The train to NYC will depart Union Station on Friday May 20, 2011•4:30 pm – Arrive at Union Station•5:30 pm – Released for dinner•8:00 pm – Return to Union Station•8:30 pm – Begin Boarding•9:25 pm – Departure•6:30 pm (May 21st) – Arrival at Penn StationThe team will spend two nights at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, located at 405 West 59th Street, New York, NY. On the morning of May 23, the team will leave the stayover and head to Central Park. The team will depart Central Park near the 108th Street and 8th Avenue around 7:30am and head toward Hillsborough, NJ!
Research Tour...and more!
Research TourLast week Tuesday, the Illini 4000 had the opportunity to speak with a researcher at the University of Illinois. Dr. Brendan Harley, a two-time cancer survivor, is currently receiving a grant from the American Cancer Society to conduct cancer-related research.After learning a bit more about Illini 4000, Dr. Harley spoke about his own cancer experience and its influence on his career decisions. Later, Dr. Harley gave an overview presentation about his current research project and gave us a peek inside his lab.Dr. Harley has led his research group in creating a new micro-environment which allows his team to test different factors on the growth, differentiation, and changes of HSC (Hematopoietic Stem Cell) from bone marrow. This new technique will open doors to testing a multitude of different factors on how cancer cells begin developing in the first place.We are thankful to Dr. Harley not only for taking time out of his day to speak with us, but for his passion to advance cancer treatments.Special thanks to Juli Richards, Regional Vice President to the ACS Illinois Division, for her assistance in setting up the visit and for providing refreshments.Benefit ShowOn Friday of last week, I4K hosted a benefit show at Caffe Paradiso, with performances by Arcade Across the Room, Zach May, and The Leadership. The sizeable crowd, including some I4K alumni, was also able to see a portion of the Portraits Project pieces that were on display in April during our event at the Independent Media Center in Urbana.Team OvernightThe 2011 team has been training diligently all year, increasing mileage with each new training ride. This past weekend, the team completed the largest distance to date as a group. On Saturday, the team faced brutal headwinds on their way out to Indiana hills, and then turned around to end at Kickapoo Park - a trip totaling 90 miles. The team got a taste of a real day on the road, complete with rest stops and a peanut butter & jelly lunch. After a night of camping, the team woke up and biked around 30 miles back to Urbana.CU Bike to Work DayTuesday, May 3 was Champaign-Urbana Bike to Work Day. People throughout the CU area were encouraged to bike to work or school to support sustainable transportation and biking. Bike stations were set up throughout CU and contained food maps, reflectors, t-shirts and other participant-swag. Members of the Illini 4000 took time out of their morning to volunteer at the Urbana Middle School/Urbana High School bike station.Please be sure to check our gallery in upcoming days for photos from these recent events!
Riding Bikes
On Friday, May 1st, the I4K hosted a benefit show at Caffe Paradiso. This was a lot of fun and a few alumni even came out to show. We had a few Portraits on display and I'm currently working on having the Portraits Project as the featured art there for a few weeks. Although everyone was having a good time at the show, riders were a bit worried about the weather for the weekend--our 120 mile camping trip. The weather for Saturday called for 30 MPH headwinds with 50 MPH gusts, along with a thunderstorm. Yikes!Saturday morning we hopped on our bikes for a 90 mile ride out to Indiana and back. There were definitely some headwinds and crosswinds. The weather was comparable to last year's "100 miles, up hill, into the wind" day in the Columbia River Gorge (wind surfing capital of the world). Unfortunately, there were no berries to pick on the side of the road this time! But it was still such a great day. I'm glad the team got to experience some major wind, it's definitely a learning experience. Having bad weather can make you feel all kinds of emotions throughout the day, but your team definitely gets you through it. For example, my group shared our life stories and we were fortunate enough to hear chapter one of Manny's memoir.Staying the night in a tent is always fun! Camping reminds me of my childhood because my family would always go on outdoor adventures. It didn't matter if we were camping somewhere only two hours away or a few states away from home, we just did it to be together and to enjoy the outdoors. Some of the last times my family (including my extended family) went camping together were when my grandpa was finishing up his final rounds of cancer treatment. He loved Door County, Wisconsin, so we always tried to plan weekend camping trips there.On Sunday morning, we woke up at 6AM to pack up the tents, eat breakfast, and start our 30 mile ride back to Champaign. This ride also included some headwinds and crosswinds, but they weren't nearly as bad as the ones we experienced on Saturday. It's funny to see how the team's attitude has changed about the length of each ride. At first, they couldn't imagine riding their bikes for 30 miles. But now, 30 miles is as Michell Eloy once said, "child's play!" My group encountered a ton of loose dogs on Sunday. They were harmless, but it's always makes me a bit nervous that I'll hit one of them or that they will bite my leg off. Once my group got back to Allen, we decided to go to Chipotle for lunch. Myself, Divya, Connor R, Greg B, and Pi learned that Gedion is a Chipotle BOSS. He taught us all his tricks on how to get the most food possible at Chipotle--order a burrito bowl, ask for extra everything (except meat) because it doesn't cost extra money, and ask for a tortilla on the side. If you do those things, you will enjoy your Chipotle experience even more. I don't know what it is about Chipotle, but their food is so good.This weekend also gave me my first practice run of purchasing food for the team. Myself and Sean Laude made a trip to Wal-Mart and bought nutritious, but low-cost, food for the team. Sean donated s'mores to the team, THANK YOU SEANIE! :)Last night we had our final team meeting! WE ARE SO CLOSE TO LEAVING! AHHHH. AHHHHH. The excitement keeps me up at night. I4K is all I think about. Can't wait to get back into the groove of riding bikes. All day. Every day. What a beautiful lifestyle all I4Kers are fortunate enough to experience.Update on my toenails with no nails - All is well. Still need to purchase bigger cycling shoes. This morning I stubbed one of them and it really hurt. Owie.Update on the breaking in of my Brooks - All is well. Still needs some more miles though. Regardless, it feels like heaven. Woop!P.S. - On Saturday I got my first flat on my back tire since Idaho. This flat in Idaho happened on the day of the yellow flowers and I ran over something that made a HUGE gash in my tire. Kevin Swanson gave me this super tough tire patch and it's still hanging in there, so thanks Kev! But I think I will have to cave and purchase new tires before I leave.