We did it. :)
Ride Overview
Mileage: 17.5
Elevation: +748’/-810’
General Direction: Use residential roads to navigate through Ross, Corte Madera, and Mill Valley, at mile 7.9 roll onto the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path for 2.6 miles, join the bridgeway road to continue through Sausalito along the bay, before entering the bridge turn left at the Vista Point for a quick break, when ready re-enter the bridgeway, enter the bike path to the right of the entrance, and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, exit to the right following the bridge exit and zig-zag along the bike path to reach Crissy Field. Congratulations!
Points of Interest: Corte Madera Creek, San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay, Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge
Tales of the Trail
It was the last morning circle, also known as the time for our familiar and important, regimented yet fun tradition came to a motivational end. Favorite memories, they themselves being so many to choose from, were shared, and we had one final chant to hype us up for the day to come. It was really something seeing the side of the van say “Day 77 of 77” and we dedicated this ride to everyone facing the evil of cancer in any way. We rolled out to sunny skies and pleasantly quiet neighborhoods. A jaunt by our standards, this was the shortest ride distance-wise of the entire summer at only 17 miles. Cresting the top of a hill gave us our first peek at upper San Francisco Bay, and winding away through twisting residential roads and occasional bike paths brought us closer and closer to the water as we began to run out of land on the northern peninsula. We knew what was coming, and our excitement was building rapidly. A few miles on the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path nestled us right in line with the surface of the water as it reflected the sun’s rays, and what did we begin to see? Cyclists, hundreds of them, from speedy solo riders to massive groups, in all sorts of colors of kits with all sorts of bikes, made their way along this path with and against us. A final iteration of that same internal camaraderie we had felt in New York, Madison, Boulder, and now, a stone’s throw from San Francisco. A few final climbs along colorful seaside houses and hills full of greenery, and there it was. The northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, right there, right around the bend. Everything throughout this summer, throughout this year, everything we had done to prepare, everything we had seen and experienced, every laugh let out and tear shed, lead us right here to this mighty steel symbol of welcome dressed in its characteristic International Orange.
The last morning circle.
Sam M, Nina, Emily, Paul, and Adam (NP) near the start of the day.
Jaylen on the Mill Valley-Sausalito Path. In the distance is the San Francisco fog bank.
Riding along the bay just before the climb to the bridge, Sam M and Paul look out at the fog.
Before we could finish the ride in both senses of the word, we took a long pause at the northern bridge overlook to take our traditional and iconic team picture, give lots of hugs, celebrate, have one final reflective talk, and do one more chant as a team. A team of some of the most driven and incredible individuals that have shared triumph and tears, excitement and exhaustion, extreme concentration and extreme lack thereof (off the bike of course), and who have become a network of true friends, all atop the simple and powerful bicycle. It was an emotional time for all, but luckily for us it wasn’t quite over yet. While we could look on at the bridge, we could only see up until the suspension cables began to climb from the road surface. A true final test, the iconic San Francisco fog had draped the bridge in a blanket at least a half-mile tall; the finish line was completely out of sight. This in no way detracted from the experience of where we were and everything that had lead us here, and now it was time to roll out one last time, all sixteen of us together, the super-mega-group, and do what of twelve of the past sixteen I4K teams had done before us.
The official I4K 2023 Bridge Picture.
A small coast down the bridge overlook entryway and a few quick turns later, the 2023 Bike America Team was pedaling on the Golden Gate Bridge. And it was tough. We found ourselves among hundreds of cyclists heading both ways on the bike path and there was much to dodge on the right hand side. Meanwhile, the fog bank swept menacingly over the bridge from the Pacific’s maw, and covered the two signature towers enough to where we had to be nearly under them to see their tops. A foghorn at the other end of the bridge could be heard every 20 seconds or so, growing louder and adding to the ominous atmosphere the closer we got. We were completely enshrouded in this windy gray for the few minutes it took to cross this behemoth, and, almost on cue, the fog lifted right when we could start to hear cheers coming from both the other side of the bridge and at its exit point. The congestion was still absolutely wild as we finished making our way across and rolled onto the adjacent bike path. We continued zooming and zig-zagging all the way down toward our final, final destination: the West Bluff Picnic Area at Crissy Field.
The super-mega-group rolling out from the bridge overlook.
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and finishing their ride across the United States are Jonathan Boudreaux, Patrick Jamison, Jaylen Patel, Nina Rosas, Hanna Fei, Emily Gonzalez, Nabeel Hussain . . .
. . . Adam Wallach, Edward Guo, Jean Lin . . .
. . . Sam Rosner, Sam Michalak, Paul Leman . . .
. . . Kathryn Choate, Olivia Ross, and Jonathan Yuen.
From New York, New York . . .
. . . to San Francisco, California.
We were done. We were there. And what followed was one of the most special and unique celebrations any of us had ever seen, as we were greeted with massive applause and elation by our families, friends, supporters, partners, and a wide array of wonderful food, banners, and balloon-adorned picnic tables. Everyone couldn’t be more proud of what we have done to traverse this continent. And now that the trail is complete, so are the tales. :)
Some of our absolute greatest supporters (and most fervent photographers).
The end. :)
Addendum and Farewell
It’s now been some time since we crossed the bridge and finished the ride, and I wanted to write a few words before ending this account of an absolutely unforgettable summer. At the time of writing, we are already preparing for next year’s ride by bringing in and briefing our new board and beginning the selection process for the 2024 Bike America Team.
First, it has been an honor to serve as our journalist and I have appreciated all of the feedback I have been given. I hope that these journals serve as a thorough account for the team as we look back and for anyone who wants to learn more about our organization and what it’s like to do something like this.
It’s been incredibly difficult to use any amount of language to describe or sum up this experience as a whole (long sentence incoming). We have collectively and individually learned so much about ourselves and the world around us, made intangible memories, fostered lifelong friendships, developed a multifaceted love or hatred for road cycling, conquered our own internal doubts and demons, considerably upped our cardiovascular health (and made huge gains!), looked out for ourselves and each other, laughed a lot, cried a lot, and experienced the beauty and ugliness and everything in between (in our own opinions) of the continental United States in arguably the most visceral and detailed way possible while still being logistically able to complete a journey such as this. It was a unique journey in its own right too, as we completed it with a smaller than average team and from Champaign onward everyone on a bike was a first-time rider. Navigating the waters, or lack thereof, was more challenging in these ways as so much about the ride is incredibly delicate; we are at the mercy of everything we encounter on and off the road. I think Jaylen’s words ring very true here, “The ride across America was never about a single accomplishment, rather the cycle of endless refinement and continuous improvement.”
Still, we pushed on magnificently and, as Sam M. put it, crossed the bridge not only with each other, but with Laurel Racette and Mike Rotter who could not be with us physically but are every bit as much a part of this family. We also crossed with our supporters from our families cheering us on to those we have never met but did the same online. We also crossed with, and for, everyone we have impacted through our mission and entire purpose as an organization. We have all been deeply impacted by the deleterious effects of cancer on those we love, and have been deeply impacted by those we have met and interacted with on and off the ride who have shared their stories with us. Our mission is so central to what we do and we will continue to do all that we can to aid the efforts of scientists, caregivers, patients, and survivors, and to document the American cancer experience through the utterly unique and necessary Portraits Project. This ride that has been so significant to so many could not happen without the meticulous and dedicated work of the organization that is Illini 4000.
To the 2023 Board and Officers, on behalf of the 2023 Bike America Team, thank you for your ceaseless efforts in all that you have done in regard to fundraising, logistics, training, team meetings, marketing, and much more. You kept us right on track and chugging along prior to and during this ride and we appreciate you wholeheartedly.
To all of our individual and business donors, thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting our wonderful beneficiaries that carry out such amazing work, as well as for supporting all of the work that we do as a group of driven student-cyclists hoping to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. This year alone, thanks to all of you, we have raised over $80,000, and we are immensely proud of this feat.
To Kathryn, Hanna, Emily, Ed, Nabeel, Patty, Paul, Jean, Sam, Jaylen, Laurel, Nina, Sam, Olivia, Mike, Adam, and JY, thank you for being you and thank you for everything. :) <3
Tailwinds,
JB
