Day 34: To dodge the rain, follow the train. York to Kearney

Nebraska added a new ingredient to the mix of beautiful weather on this ride: towering thunderclouds over wide open country. The adrenaline began to course as the risk of torrential rain and lightning loomed just to the north. As one of Nebraska’s main artery routes, our bikes, cars, and trains shared the path of the Lincoln Highway from Grand Island to Kearney. Tomorrow will take us deep into the Great Plains toward the small town of McCook.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 82.7

Elevation: +1111’/-567’

General Direction: Proceed north from the stayover and turn left onto U.S. 34, continue until mile 45.6, turn left onto U.S. 30 (Lincoln Highway), pass through Alda, Wood River, Shelton, Gibbon, and into Kearney, turn right at mile 81.5, zig zag through the neighborhood to reach the stayover.

Points of Interest: Platte River, Wood River, Lincoln Highway, Union Pacific Nebraska Main Line

Tales of the Trail

More morning storms made for a soggy departure onto U.S. 34., and fields, plants, and occasional towns continued to pass us by. It was a pretty easy day navigation-wise as the route was mainly comprised of two U.S. highways. Nearing the halfway point was the turn onto the Lincoln Highway which runs, get this, from New York to San Francisco! It was special to be able to ride on this road on the route, and combined with the massive cloud cover and near-constant Union Pacific freight train traffic in both directions, made for a uniquely thrilling ride experience. We saw at least fifteen trains over the course of our time on the highway, only gradually outpacing our ride groups and usually multiple miles long. In addition, we have passed one of a few “halfway” points for the ride: as the crow flies, we are now closer to San Francisco than New York City!

We arrived into Kearney in the early afternoon, and after a quick stop at the utterly cute and multifaceted Java Junction, we biked into our stayover of First Lutheran Church. Following another delicious pasta dinner, the team opted to get a fair bit of sleep before another century the following day.

Love Island watch party at the church!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Kathryn Choate

How are you today? I’m doing well! We had a little bit of rain today, but I had fun with my group out-biking a thunderstorm. Despite me also getting a flat, it was a fun ride!

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? I really enjoyed the fundraisers we did as a team because it was really cool to see how much strangers would want to donate to our cause, and it was also really wonderful to bond as a team through things like canning and concessions. I also did a Facebook fundraiser and was surprised lovely way by the response I got, both for people I know and don’t know as well.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? I would say the cause. The people in my life that I’m riding for, I definitely think about them when the going gets tough. Also, the people along the way; I have been lucky enough to be a part of several of the Portraits we have done and have been really inspired by their stories and the positive attitudes they’ve had, so I also keep them in my thoughts while I bike.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I always wear arm sleeves every single day as well as a headband, and I always carry knee compression sleeves. I’ve only used them a couple of times but I keep them there just in case! Also, the amount of sunscreen I put on should definitely count as an accessory, along with the bugs and dirt that stick to me throughout the day!

What’s your rest stop routine? It’s very dependent on how badly I have to pee. Bathroom is usually pretty high on the priority list but sometimes at the rest stop I need an energy bar, and no matter what I always finish up by putting on fifteen gallons of sunscreen.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? I would say Wyoming. I had a beautiful vacation with my family there a couple years ago, and we visited Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, so I am excited to go again with the team. Last time, I celebrated my birthday at Yellowstone and for the ride I will be celebrating it in the Grand Tetons!

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

A warm welcome(?) into Kearney as glass shards gave both Jonathans one flat each.

Day 33: Maize and Marbles. Lincoln to York

We’ve begun our trek into the thick of Nebraska, still pre-Great Plains, but virtually all rural until Boulder. Though we had a late start due to weather, today was quick and straightforward, and we had a pleasant stay in the town of York. Tomorrow is a long day at a bit above 80 miles, followed by a century.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 54.0

Elevation: +1374’/-936’

General Direction: Navigate north through Lincoln to the intersection of U.S. 34 and Fletcher Ave and turn left, remain on U.S. 34 until reaching York, turn left on Delaware Ave. at mile 51.1 and navigate through town to the stayover.

Points of Interest: Seward County Courthouse, downtown York

Patrick, Laurel, and Hanna, our three Gies College of Business representatives on the team (and a very safe dinosaur).

Tales of the Trail

A blessing in disguise came in the form of thunder booms at 4:40 AM as a series of isolated thunderstorms passed over Lincoln and delayed rollout by three and a half hours. No complaints from the team who got to sleep in until 8 AM! The weather cleared up, only leaving behind some lofty and sparse clouds throughout the day, as we made our way out of Lincoln and onto the star-of-the-show road of U.S. 34. With a wide shoulder and minimal traffic as we rode further from the capitol, it was a simple and effective route. The ride itself was also very enjoyable, and one of the team’s overall favorite days in terms of this. We had tailwinds the whole way and pretty minimal elevation. The corn was plentiful and made for natural open beauty, which tied in with the manmade aspects of distant freight trains and irrigation sprinklers spraying the fields. At our second rest stop, we met Scott, a kind man who’s mom has dealt with breast cancer. He offered us many kind words of luck and a donation. We also got to see our first giant plastic dinosaur at the Sinclair station we stopped at!

Scott with the team at our Sinclair stop. If you ever see this, we wish you well and thank you for your support! :)

Pretty much the view for the whole day. . .

Nabeel ready to check out.

We arrived into York with time to spare for showers, dinner, and a few activities. Our hosts at Immanuel Lutheran Church introduced us to runzas, a local Midwestern adaptation of the German bierock which is cabbage and beef completely encased in bread, and man were they good! We took showers at the local community center, and explored Lee’s Legendary Marbles and Collectibles, otherwise known as the largest known collection of marbles on the planet! It was nothing short of incredible, and riders gained many a spherical souvenir. After dinner, a few of us also went to a local grocery store to stock up on root beers, including Mike’s personal favorite: O-So Butterscotch. We are looking forward to our longer days in Nebraska; tomorrow will take us to the town of Kearney.

Marbles acquired.

The collection is truly massive, note the jars on the ceiling perimeter.

Enjoying some ROOT beer before lights out.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Paul Leman

How are you today? I’m doing great. We had a nice, short ride today along with tailwinds, which made for a really good day.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Seeing the generosity of the people I ask, specifically family. Their willingness to give to our cause as a whole was really touching.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? First is thinking about all the people who have battled or are currently battling cancer; all the pain and fatigue and discomfort they go through on a daily basis makes my own pain and discomfort bearable. This is also the trip of a lifetime, and I will remember the good times compared to the bad, so I know that in the end pushing through the tough parts will be worth it.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I would say my sun sleeves. I have three pairs: one black, one dark gray, and one light gray.

What’s your rest stop routine? It depends on whether it’s a gas station or roadside rest stop. If it’s a gas station, I immediately go inside and look for breakfast pizza. After that, I look for any other tasty snacks in the van and then fill my water bottles, then if I have to use the restroom I’ll do that last, right before we leave.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? The Grand Tetons. Last summer, I went on a trip to the Wind River Range which is a couple hours south of the Tetons. It was some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen, so I am excited to see more of Wyoming in that form.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Patty, Squirrel, and Dino.

~Dictionary of I4K~

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.

Jon’s new record of eight bags, will he top it tomorrow?

Days 31 & 32: Eastern Traverse and Valentine's. Omaha to Lincoln + Rest Day

A large right-angle path took us between Nebraska’s two most populated cities, and the destination gave us a bit of respite before our westward journey to Colorado over the coming week. Riders are feeling aches, pains, tiredness, pretty much all of the above, but we continue to hold together and push through each day. As we begin to near the halfway point of the summer, Colorado is locked in our sights.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 65.7

Elevation: +3036’/-3043’

General Direction: Proceed west then south from the stayover, cross U.S. 6 using Regency Parkway, turn right on Pacific, then left on S 105th, navigate through the residential area to reach 108th, cross over I-80 and turn left at mile 8.0 on Giles Road, continue west and cross I-80 again to reach Route 50 at 11.3 and turn south, continue south for 25.7 miles crossing I-80 a third time, the Platte River, and Louisville, turn right at mile 37 and continue on U.S. 34 for 23.6 miles crossing Eagle and into east Lincoln, turn right onto N 66th St. and left on Vine St. toward downtown, turn left on 16th, right on R St., and left on 12th to reach the church.

Points of Interest: Platte River and Platte River Valley, University of Nebraska (Lincoln), downtown Lincoln

Tales of the Trail

The sun crept into the sky as we pedaled on a few busy roads and were passed by a myriad of cars and trucks, not quite our usual 7 AM ride conditions. Things began to clear up as we passed south of the Omaha metro area and over the Platte River, the depth of which doesn’t exceed fifteen feet. From there, it was a matter of taking the shoulder of two two-lane roads that arced between cornfields with many dual-trailer dump trucks passing every so often. The day gave us a slight tailwind on the westbound portion as well as another rest stop with a dog! Rolling into Lincoln brought us next to the University of Nebraska, and the gold capitol dome loomed in the distance as we approached downtown. We are staying at St. Paul United Methodist Church in the heart of the city for today and tomorrow as we rest and recuperate for our long haul through the corn.

Olivia with a very happy dog. :)

Post-ride watermelon and ice cream!

The Rest Day

Being close to downtown gave the team a lot to do with their time. Also, our first I4K holiday is here: Valentine’s Day! We were split into pairs and went on “dates”, where we were able to hang out one-on-one and get to know a certain teammate better. Being in Lincoln was fantastic for this as there was so much to do. “Couples” did activities such as exploring the Capitol, firing off a few rounds at a shooting range, checking out a train yard, going to a trampoline park, a history museum, an ice cream parlor (of course!), and much more! This made for a very enjoyable day spent getting to know our teammates better and having some fun while doing it.

Hanna and Paul locked on target. They went to the range and checked out a freight yard just west of downtown.

Sam meet sabertooth. Sam and Laurel explored a local natural history museum.

Jaylen and Jean went out for BBQ and had a grand time at the trampoline park.

Nabeel and Jonathan went to the capitol, got tacos, and had a photoshoot. Sunscreen makes for a good filter.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Nabeel Hussain

How are you today? I’m doing pretty good, it was a great day! We had a rest day and were celebrating I4K Valentine’s. I had you as my valentine JB, and we had a great time at the Capitol Building. It was very fascinating inside as well as the view from the observation deck, and full of interesting art. We also took the tour which was very cool. We then went to City Hall and took some pictures and I had some of the best ice cream I’ve had so far on the ride at the place near Haymarket.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? I would say one of the earlier days when we were getting used to fundraising methods. Especially concessions; I remember the first time I did concessions and it was on Dad’s Weekend. I don’t remember who we were playing and didn’t even know what concessions were before then, but it ended up being very fun. I was on fryer duty (Frymaster Nabeel!) that day and it was a frenzy, I was in control of two of them constantly making chicken and fries. But, it was a very nice experience as it felt like the first time we actually bonded as a team and got to know each other a little bit beyond the team meetings.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? The cause. We are doing this to raise funds for cancer research, a disease that is still not completely curable after decades of research. I also think of the presence of cancer within my family, and especially think of my grandfather with whom I was very close. So, when I am feeling sore, my legs are hurting, etc., I remember that I am doing this for him. At the end of the day, I feel like biking across the country is just one part, and its going to be so cool, but we’re doing this for a cause, and remaining true to that cause is what keeps me motivated.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? The purple arm sleeves that Maya gave to me. I don’t necessarily wear them but I wrap them around my handlebars and twirl them above my head when the van passes my group. I don’t have any of those high-tech accessories, I am definitely more of a basic guy when it comes to that.

What’s your rest stop routine? It depends on the day. Generally on easier days, I try to hurry as much as possible and get basic nutrition and apply sunscreen when needed. On the harder days, I sit down for the first few minutes, take a breather, and make sure I have energy for the additional miles. I fill up my water bottles, get some electrolytes in, and hang with my teammates and crack some jokes. I’ve only had PB&Js about three times total on the ride, I would say that’s the least uniform part of my routine.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? Probably Yellowstone. I have only been to two national parks, one of which is the St. Louis Arch and the other being Cuyahoga in Ohio which we passed through earlier on the ride. I think Yellowstone will be the most beautiful of the parks, and I am looking forward to the camping days. Thinking about making a fire, hanging out with the team, and just having a fun time.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Sam R with the capitol. At 398 feet in height, it is the second tallest in the nation. Sam and Kathryn went to the capitol observation deck and got ice cream together.

Western view from said observation deck. The capitol also sports beautiful and intricate architecture, mosaics, carvings, paintings, and murals. The freight yard in the background is the one Hanna and Paul explored. :)

An airborne Jean.

~Dictionary of I4K~

I4K Holidays: Special occasions throughout the ride meant to help keep spirits high. Includes Valentine’s Day, I4Christmas in July, I4K Prom, and others. Three riders, Olivia, Kathryn, and Laurel, also celebrate their birthday during this year’s ride.

Kathryn embodies her inner ‘husker.

Day 30: Mid-Midwest. Atlantic to Omaha, NE

Today marks the end of our push westward through Iowa and our entrance into our ninth state: the Cornhusker State of Nebraska. We start at Nebraska’s largest city and somewhat exponentially decrease in population the farther we pedal west. It will be a challenging week, but there will be plenty of laughs and joy brought to many along the way.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 64.3

Elevation: +3649’/-3685’

General Direction: Ride west from the stayover and turn onto westbound U.S. Highway 6, follow its turning path until mile 46.1, turn onto southwest McPherson Ave. and follow into Council Bluffs, navigate through its downtown, surrounding neighborhoods and over the bridge to cross the Missouri River, when in Omaha, navigate to Farnam Street and ride on it 1st to 50th Street, turn left on 50th, then right on Howard, turn onto the trail through Elmwood Park to find the northbound Keystone Bike Trail, turn left onto Blondo and make a final climb for the stayover.

Points of Interest: Historic Highway 6 + White Pole route, downtown Council Bluffs, Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Missouri River, downtown Omaha, Elmwood Park, Keystone Bike Trail

Tales of the Trail

Another cloudless day has come and gone for the Bike America Team as we conclude our tour of Iowa. The first twenty miles gave us plenty of rolling hills and sunrise shadows of our bikes, and our first rest stop at Destination Coffee and Cuisine in Oakland was quite a memorable one. We decided to make this our “lunch” stop and sit down for some breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and lively conversation. While there, we were graciously given an entire box of shirts and tank tops, enough for everyone to have another piece of clothing for time off the bike! We talked to all of the patrons in the shop about our mission, shared some stories, and took pictures. We also took a Portrait of Eric, the owner of the shop who drove in and told us his story.

MY cows!

The next twenty-plus miles were, you guessed it, more rolling hills! We even caught our first glimpse of some terraced fields as we clung to U.S. 6 and its constant yet greatly differing peaks and valleys. The wind was a little bothersome, but nothing compared to yesterday. The scenery then gradually shifted to urban as we approached Omaha’s Iowa counterpart of Council Bluffs. A good bit of problem solving encompassed these last fifteen miles as we navigated confusing trail paths, detoured around stopped trains, routed through road construction, and basically got an entire tour of Omaha from 1st to 90th street. Fun fact: The College World Series was occurring in Omaha when we got there. :) Quite a brain melting day out in the sun in multiple respects, but after one final climb (which is becoming a trend surprisingly) we made it to our stayover.

Making wrestler-cyclist a career path since ‘23.

Laurel smiles with downtown in the background. A bit of Charles Schwab Field, location of the College World Series, is visible on the right.

Crossing the Missouri.

We are staying the night at All Saints Epscopal Church just a few miles west of downtown. We made our classic pasta and lentils with some donated hot dogs and other goodies from the church. Another fun addition for the night: beds! We are in a dorm-style facility for retreats, so our kitchen space, showers, main room, and dorm rooms are in one convenient location. Tomorrow brings Nebraska’s capital of Lincoln, the second largest city in the state and only a 65-mile bike ride from Omaha.

A pretty sick handstand by Jon in front of the stopped train.

Sous-chef Jaylen.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jonathan Yuen, Assistant Ride Leader

How are you today? Doing pretty good. Today was a pretty good day and it feels surreal to have entered our ninth state. After the wind yesterday, I was kind of expecting an easier day, but of course nothing goes completely to plan. The last ten miles were hard because we could see downtown Omaha from a distance and in the back of my mind I knew there were ten more miles after we passed through it. I’m glad for the time we had at the first rest stop and for making another portrait while there, and I am also very glad that I could finish the ride for my dad’s birthday today.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Honestly, any fundraising event that involved the team, including concessions (I remember once all I did was scoop popcorn for three hours, and these were always chaotic), canning nights, the potluck, etc. Having the team working together in those settings was really great, and while we don’t usually make a whole lot of donations, it’s a great opportunity to get to know the team and work together. Reaching out to businesses also builds your confidence and gives you a lot of experience for future fundraising, so I have really enjoyed that too.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? Over the past three years, I’ve seen my dad’s fight with late stage lung cancer, and especially within the last month with helping my dad on hospice care, I’ve come to better understand that cancer patients don’t have a chance to sag. They don’t have the choice in the morning to be like “you know what, I don’t want cancer anymore, I don’t want to fight”. So for us to be on the bikes and having the van as a backup plan puts things into perspective. Thinking about my dad’s struggle, how much my mom has cared for him the past three years, how exhausting both mentally and physically it was to help him with hospice care for just twenty or so days out of that period all get me going at the beginning and throughout the day. It also helps me to know that I am fulfilling my piece in the fight against cancer by doing this. It helps to know that I’ve done all of the rides day to day before, and even when my body hurts, pushing through is what keeps me on the bike.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I keep special things in my wallet including a photo of my dad, a guitar pick my friend gave me (even though I don’t play with a pick), a card that Olivia gave me with an affirming message, Hanna’s cow sticker, and Maya’s painted Polaroid of the American Heartbreak album by Zach Bryan. For the last of these, I paid a dollar at the Lafayette festival to get a baseball card sleeve. That ended up being a good investment because the next day into Rockville it was pouring rain! I also wear custom I4K sun sleeves which are very fun.

What’s your rest stop routine? It’s relatively simple. I try to do whatever I need to do immediately so I don’t forget: filling bottles, eating a snack, using the bathroom, etc. before I relax. Probably five minutes before we’re expected to leave, I put on sunscreen. Sometimes, I seek out a gas station breakfast sandwich or a chai if we are stopped at a coffee shop.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? There’s a lot. I think the one that comes to mind first is Colorado. I’ve never been there, but from what I’ve heard its absolutely gorgeous, so I hope it lives up to expectations. The Rockies will be cool too. There will be hard climbs, but they will be so rewarding. I’m also excited for Wyoming when we hit the Tetons and Yellowstone on back to back days. Yellowstone was a place my parents wanted to visit so I think that it will be a very special moment when we reach it. I love nature and will enjoy our nights camping as well.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I’m doing this ride for my dad, for my mom, and for anyone in my extended family, unfortunately a lot of people, who have had to suffer through their fight with cancer. I mentioned this in my bio, but I feel like I was pretty naïve when my mom had her second bout with breast cancer; luckily it wasn’t life threatening. I was initially a part of the 2020 team and wanted to dedicate that ride to her, and unfortunately in March, 2020, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. I then knew I wanted to join this team and do the ride in 2023 to honor and support him in his fight. Unfortunately, he passed in May and isn’t able to see me do this, but I am still doing it for him and I know how proud of me he would be. I am doing this for the two most important people in my life. They have supported each other through the years and I can only imagine what that is like to experience from their perspective.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Five stars. :)

Day 29: Headwind. Des Moines to Atlantic

More than ever, today dug at the core of what this ride is about. We ride our bicycles as a form of solidarity toward those who have to live with cancer every day, and all of the exertion and time that is dedicated to doing this. Of course, we are not able to encompass that exertion and time to its full level, but this form of exercise and its longevity hour to hour, day to day, and throughout the entire summer is a thought-provoking and supportive juxtaposition. We also ride for those with cancer who can’t — those who want to feel free or even just more free and would possibly love to do something like this.

Sam R works on his bike at the lunch stop.

Today, we encountered our first major headwinds (we can’t stress enough how lucky we were for this factor leading up to now) and the constant stream and subsequent managing of a wobbly bike made for a grueling yet rewarding ride. We also talked to a lot of people at our rest stops who were interested in what we are doing, and made four new Portraits at our stayover in Atlantic.

Challenging constantly, but worth every second; we are all stronger because of today.

Restauranteur Patrick Jamison.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 81.5

Elevation: +2921’/-2672’

General Direction: Proceed west from the stayover onto the Clive Greenbelt Trail, remain on this as it transitions to the Raccoon River Trail until mile 20.5, turn right onto Old Highway 6 and follow it until it intersects with I-80, turn right onto Route 925 (White Pole Rd.) and ride through Adair, Anita, Wiota, and finally, Atlantic until turning left to reach the YMCA.

Points of Interest: Clive Greenbelt Trail, Raccoon River Trail, Jesse James Historical Site, Lake Anita State Park, Historic White Pole Byway

Tales of the Trail

We could already feel the wind on our faces as we stepped out of the doors of Grace United Methodist. One morning circle later, we were off. Our day began on a bike trail curling through Des Moines and westward, and a portion of this leading to the rest stop gave us a nice tree tunnel to shield us from the wind. One special moment from this was the emergence of a rare super mega group, where the whole team in their rider groups rides in a line. As we left the town of Adel a few miles out of Des Moines, the real ride began. The wind whipped at our faces and bikes constantly for the next 60 miles at a 25 mph average with gusts up to 40. Depending on our direction of travel, it came as a direct headwind, demoralizing for many a cyclist in general, or the more dangerous crosswind which teases the balance as well as slows the pace.

The super mega group from front to back.

Western Iowa’s beautiful country scenery still unfolded as we fought the onslaught of wind, and the tops of corn crops became a bobbing ocean with plenty of windy cows in between. With a good few hills to spare, it made for a very difficult ride day. One group even diverted away from a gravel road as part of a reroute adding a few more miles and making it that much more difficult. For our lunch stop, we ate in Stuart, IA and got to meet Bob Cook, the town’s historian. He was very excited about our cause and took down our information to post an article on the town’s website! Stuart is a part of the White Pole Byway, a road with characteristic white-painted phone poles, a way to provide tourists a direct and scenic route through Iowa in the early 1900s.

Riders talking with Bob Cook near the end of our lunch stop.

The Sams and the Jonathans take on the final miles.

Having been slowed by the wind, we arrived in Atlantic at close to dinnertime and to a top-tier stayover. The YMCA in town has showers, laundry, provided walking tacos for dinner, the whole nine yards. Tomorrow, we begin our transition from cornfields to (Great) plains as we enter Nebraska and its largest city: Omaha.

Stayover shenanigans.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jaylen Patel

How are you today? I’m doing great today. Today’s route was definitely one of the more difficult ones of the journey. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions on the ride today, but my team and group got me through it, and I’m excited to spend the night again with my teammates and continue day by day.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Before the ride, most of my fundraising came from friends and family, which has given me a lot of appreciation and gratitude for the reasons I am riding and who I am riding for. I even created a T-shirt dedicated to those I am riding for which I am planning to wear on the final day of the ride. Honestly, my most impactful fundraising experience has been on the ride. For those that don’t know, each night our stayover host may graciously offer a meal donation or access to showers and laundry, but for a good handful of nights, these are things we need to find when entering a new place (often a few hours in advance). Often, I’ve found myself in the role of finding these, and I think a big part of fundraising for me is conversing with stayover hosts and local people we meet along the way and relaying the message we share. If they are touched by what we are doing, they may provide a donation. I like to take a picture with them (consensually) whether they lend a listening ear or donate, just to serve as a reminder of who we have in our corner.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? I think of my grandparents, I think of my teammates, and I think of our mission of inspiration. It’s very easy at any point to give up or fall into a sort of lost hole, but its consistently important to remind yourself of all you have achieved and set out to achieve. Today for example, there were probably 100 times that I wanted to quit. If you take it mile by mile, day by day, and spend time with the team and friends, suddenly you’ve traveled a very far distance. I really enjoy I4K because it builds consistency, helps you assume responsibility even when no one is looking, and when you are on the bike, helps you to explore how capable you are and how much you can push yourself before giving in to immediate gratification, for example.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I am usually the only guy who is fully covered on the ride, so I guess I would say my breathable base layer of a long-sleeve SPF shirt and SPF long Johns. Goes a long way to help protect my skin from some crazy tan lines.

What’s your rest stop routine? Take a few moments to relax and calm my head and muscles. Usually, we stop every 20 miles, so even if it’s a long day, I like to break up the ride by number of 20-mile segments. I use those moments to visualize how much we have already accomplished for the day. I am a big believer in healthy nutrition (before ultimately grabbing a cookie) and water at the rest stops (a whole bottle). I’ll apply a little bit of sunscreen and refill bottles before heading out, and by this time someone is already announcing that our 15 minutes are up (a good thing that keeps us consistent).

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? For the remaining states, aside from Colorado and California, this will be my first time trekking through the beautiful northwest scenery, so I am very excited to explore this new part of the country with a very different point of view than I would have as a tourist in these cities. I am very excited for back to back national parks in Wyoming.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

:0

Day 27 & 28: Moines in the Middle. Marshalltown to Des Moines + Rest Day

Days 27 and 28 find the Illini 4000 Bike America Team at Iowa’s center: within its capital and crown jewel of Des Moines. Similar to Madison in many ways, Des Moines has proved itself a welcome city for a rest day before our stretch covering western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Plenty of delicious ice cream too. :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 66.4

Elevation: +2260’/-2297’

General Direction: Ride north then turn left onto U.S. 30 Bus., take the adjacent bike trail and follow this road as well as Route 330, at mile 15.1 turn right onto E63 through Rhoades, turn right at Collins, then right onto 320th Street, turn left at Maxwell onto Route 210, at mile 42.4 turn right onto U.S. 69 to enter Ankeny, take trails and major roads south and west to weave through Johnston, and the neighborhoods of Beaverdale and Drake to reach the stayover.

Points of Interest: Rhoades Post Office Tank, Hendrickson Marsh, Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, Skunk River, crossing with I-35, Des Moines River

Sam M, Paul, Nina, and Edward with a flamingo friend.

Tales of the Trail

This was a strong riding day for our team. At only (only???) 66 miles compared to our recent rides with 15-25 more, it felt very manageable to zip along the trails and road shoulders, and to finish the day in the early afternoon. A very newly paved bike trail flung us through most of the first 15 miles, and the majority of the remainder kept us to our usual highway shoulders or to taking the lane on country roads. While much of the scenery was, well, corn, the valleys and shallow hills made for some splendid views, and there wasn't nearly as much climbing to work with compared with the past three days. All in all a great route.

Jon, Kathryn, Sam R, Jean, and Hanna make their way into the outskirts of Des Moines.

Our hosts at Grace United Methodist Church have made us feel welcome and secure, and the rest of the day was quite enjoyable for the team. First, we drove to Grays Lake, located just southwest of downtown, to jump into it on behalf of our alumni and a fundraising effort organized by our fundraising director Lucas Dion. We had a blast in the lake and secured showers immediately after thanks to Drake University’s Rec Center. From there, we traveled back to the church for some down time and dinner, followed by ice cream at Black Cat, known for its interesting yet tasty original flavors and for ice cream nuggets (complete with sauces)!

Who tank’d it better?

The Rest Day

This rest day was definitely a needed one for the team as we full steam ahead toward the Great Plains, followed by plenty of mountains. We started our day, after a long night of sleep, with cleaning our van and a trip to Friedrich’s Coffee for some breakfast. From there, riders went about their rest days relaxing at the church, exploring downtown which was hosting the Des Moines Arts Festival, seeing a movie at Varsity Cinema, and, after a donated pizza dinner from Felix and Oscar’s, one group made a final stop at Snookies Malt Shop. Tomorrow whisks us into the largest town between Omaha and Des Moines: Atlantic, IA.

Jonathan with a cool sculpture on Drake’s campus.

Jaylen and Jean with Black Cat’s famed ice cream nuggets.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Sam Michalak

How are you today? Im doing well, today was a good rest day and it was nice to be off the bike for a change.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Seeing how willing my friends and family were to support something that meant a lot to me and something that means a lot to them, just the overall eagerness to help.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? For me, it’s remembering who I am doing this ride for and thinking about what they have gone through, and remembering that the ride is bigger than me.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I would go with my sunglasses. I know that everyone liked to joke when I bought them but I like them and they bring a good vibe to the group when I throw them on.

What’s your rest stop routine? At rest stops I try to fill my bottles early and put them in a shady spot. I then try to quickly grab a snack and go on my phone just to take my mind off of the road for a little bit.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? Anything west of Boulder, that will be all new to me. I am really excited for the mountains both in Colorado and California, and am also excited to see what type of challenge it will be for both myself and the team.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Quite the license plate find approaching Des Moines.

~Dictionary of I4K~

Take/Taking the Lane: 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”.

*slurp*

Day 26: Adversary. Cedar Rapids to Marshalltown

There is plenty to be cautious and aware of in I4K. Road conditions, climbing, general fatigue and health, nutrition, hydration, weather, and with this, heat can make or break a ride on a whim. Despite all of this, we still continue the push, and have been making individual and team gains in terms of lowering the time that we spend on the bike, and what we do with that time. What feels “fast” on the bike is very limited compared to what one may experience in a car. On a flat surface, 10 mph generally feels somewhat average and can be a good sustained pace to be at, while a 20 mph average in these conditions is pretty fast. There is no agenda of pacing or average quota we must meet, it all depends on each group and each rider’s current health and individual strengths. We have been gradually increasing this average pace as we become more efficient, stronger, and get used to the longevity of the rides themselves.

Hanna and Laurel in Cyclists of the Corn.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 81.3

Elevation: +3564’/-3355’

General Direction: Use country roads to ride west from Cedar Rapids, turn south and pass through Toledo and Tama miles 53-56, turn west on E49 and make a square under Marshalltown for the final miles (starting at 67.0) to avoid gravel roads, arrive at the stayover via northbound Route 14.

Points of Interest: Iowa River

Fish Fry Tonite.

Tales of the Trail

The mid-June heat continues to settle on us as we continue our westward push through Iowa. Most of our ride today was due west through plenty of cornfields and passed by rural housing and farms. The next largest town we passed through didn’t house more than a few thousand people, and the vast majority of the route was very remote, a bit of a sample of the remoteness we will experience in rural Wyoming and Idaho. Casey’s continues to be a big, red beacon for a quick PB&J or Taos Bake. A fair amount of climbing populated this route, and it became more concentrated the closer we got to Marshalltown, adding to the difficulty.

Adam, Jaylen, Paul, and Sam R (photo credit Sam M).

We are staying at New Hope Christian Church. We were provided some much-needed showers and a wonderful spaghetti, chicken, and salad dinner just in time to go to the movies. Our host Don organized everything for us here, and his wife owns the local movie theater and allowed us to view a free screening! We watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and it was madly incredible! It was a fun and unique way to spend the evening, whether watching the movie or sleeping a bit in the theater.

Sam M and Nina prepped for Spider-Man.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Adam Wallach

How are you today? I’m doing well. Today was one of the best days of I4K for me so far. There wasn’t a moment on the bike ride where I wasn’t having a good time. My group was talking and we zoomed down some descents which was fun. Our stayover also provided dinner and we got to see a movie which was really fun. Overall a great day.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? Asking friends and family for donations. I’m very grateful to everyone who donated. Over 50% of the amount came from their generosity, and even neighbors I wouldn’t usually see were happy to help.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? What gets me on the bike every day is that I can start the ride and see how I feel, and if I really don’t feel good I can sag. For staying on the bike, I would say recently I’ve been thinking of our cause more, and especially about my uncle who passed from cancer. I just want to see it through and things that bother me in the moment are things I push through.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? I enjoy wearing my calf sleeves for three reasons. One is that I don’t have to apply sunscreen in that region which saves some time at stops, second I think it looks cool, and third it is very slightly more aerodynamic.

What’s your rest stop routine? I use the bathroom, eat a lot of food quickly, then sunscreen, fill bottles, and stuff food in my back pockets. Then, I am ready to roll.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? Colorado and California. There’s a lot of mountains and climbing and descending. It’ll be cool to experience that and to see how confident I’ll be on those descents. I haven’t been to either state and I’m super excited for the views too.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Another happy dog on our ride today! :)

Day 25: Sunbaked Solstice. Dubuque to Cedar Rapids

Riding through the bobbing fields of Iowa today was essentially filling in a mirror image. We exited from downtown Dubuque on a four-lane highway and arrived in downtown Cedar Rapids using another of these highways, with each segment of these lasting about five miles on each end. The towns we passed through even line up along this mirror pattern, with two at 20 and 67 and two at 29 and 58 (total mileage was 87). The midpoint was the town of Monticello, where we stopped for lunch and coffee and were able to talk to some patrons about our organization. More and more we get to do this, and we love seeing the reactions of people we meet when they hear about this massive ride.

Today, one group even made another portrait all because of where they took a break from the heat after an arduous climb. Brian shared his story of his diagnosis, treatment, and very recent remission (100 days) from leukemia. It was a very touching and emotional moment, and at the same time just one of the many coincidences and series of events that happen that allow us to document the American cancer experience.

Adam and Paul ready to roll.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 87.2

Elevation: +3934’/-3772’

General Direction: Proceed west out of downtown Dubuque, ride a brief segment on U.S. 20 and take Old Highway Road to the town of Farley at mile 20, go southwest to Worthington and ride south on 310th Ave to enter Monticello at mile 42, turn west onto E16 and south onto X31, continue through Anamosa and southwest until the turn at Martelle at 67.4, from here ride near due west toward Cedar Rapids, and pass through downtown via 3rd Ave to reach the stayover.

Points of Interest: Cancer Survivor Park, Maquoketa River, Riverside Cemetery (final resting place of painter Grant Wood), Wasipinicon State Park, downtown Cedar Rapids

Tales of the Trail

The bikes, still dusty from the gravel the day before but ready to roll, were donned by their riders as they battled a 15% grade hill at mile 0.7 (thank you Mississippi River Valley). A few climbs on some suburban highway stretches later, and suddenly the telltale fields and occasional red barns opened up before us. Our first rest stop had the huge bonus of two very friendly and very soft dogs. We continued through pleasant and very scenic cornfields and fought some headwinds on our southbound stretches until reaching Monticello, our lunch stop. By then, the heat was reaching its most intense and continued to pound as we worked our way through about five construction zones in a row. The last westward stretch gave us a straight shot to Cedar Rapids and wrapped up a challenging but in many ways simply beautiful ride.

Our time in Cedar Rapids may have been short, but it was fruitful. We are staying at the Central Church of Christ, took showers at the local pool, and got to do ALL of our laundry at a local laundromat, with quarters generously provided by our hosts. We also got a donation of ten pizzas from Sag Wagon, a bike-themed pub, and had some epic team bonding as we enjoyed our pizza outside of said laundromat. More Iowa awaits as we head toward Marshalltown, followed by Des Moines.

Patty brings the pie.

Laurel with the tried and true Sag Wagon pizza.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jean Lin

How are you today? I didn’t ride today because of a fall yesterday as well as the heat. I feel bad about sagging too much, but it is very intense.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? At first, I sold keychains and stickers, in order to do that, I had to teach myself how to produce them. Normally, we learn how to do this during sophomore year, but I had to learn for this year for fundraising. It felt like a good accomplishment.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? I don’t want to leave my team alone, or sometimes I feel as though the van is packed and I don’t want to be a burden. The feeling is complex.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? Long pants and sun sleeves!

What’s your rest stop routine? I eat first, then water and sunscreen.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? National parks and riding on the mountains where the weather will hopefully be better. They are beautiful and it will be a very special experience. I hope to one day visit all of the national parks in the US.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Pothole up (note Paul on the left for scale).

Masters at work.

More dog pics. :)

Day 24: The Second Century I.4.K. Madison to Dubuque, IA

I4K is now west of the Mississippi. Let’s get it.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 99.7 (+0.3)

Elevation: +4402’/-4695’

General Direction: Turn due south and proceed west on the Military Ridge State Trail until mile 38.2, turn left, then right onto Section Line Road, turn left in Dodgeville at mile 43.5 and use the trails that hug U.S. 151 to reach the town of Mineral Point, use south and west country roads to reach Belmont and continue working in this trend, cross briefly into Illinois on Route 35 at 95.5, descend to bridge level and cross the Mississippi River into Iowa, ride north through downtown Dubuque for almost a mile to reach the stayover.

Points of Interest: Military Ridge State Trail, Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area, Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area, downtown Mineral Point, Pecatonica River, Mississippi River, downtown Dubuque

Tales of the Trail

A century is no small feat for any cyclist, and our team has a few handful of these or longer during this summer. We essentially crossed Wisconsin’s western half, and after a brief re-entrance into the northwestern point of Illinois (the only time this happens on the ride!), we arrived into the Hawkeye State of Iowa. The eighth state on our journey, we will ride due west across it for nearly a week.

The day began with a very long but scenic, and at points just gorgeous, gravel trail. We had to be careful not to slip on patches of loose gravel, and of course had to be aware of others on the trail, but luckily traffic was pretty light. The highest elevation on this route, the Military Ridge State Trail offered views on both sides of rolling Wisconsin fields and thick forests. It was a bit of a magical experience at points. The rest of the route was mainly on roads, with tons of rolling hills throughout and almost ravine-like dips in the middle of some of them. They were definitely as imposing as those in Pennsylvania, but we powered through them. We stopped for lunch at Café 43 in Mineral Point, and even trucked our PB&J box into the restaurant itself for a nice, air-conditioned rest stop.

The route continued through plenty of rolling farmland, and the views of distant hills were beautiful. Another stop at a farm with some friendly cows gave some time for a quick nap, and by then the mid-80s high had set in. During this sort of heat, we go through our bottles completely before each rest stop, so its important to refill them and stay hydrated at all times. Toward the end of the route, even the tar on the road began bubbling and snapping under our tires as we rode over. The end of this long journey gave us a brief and somewhat surreal stop in Illinois, before our final crossing over the Mississippi to enter Dubuque. It was a heartfelt and hype moment for all, and does well to represent our crossing into the vastness of the American West.

We are staying at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, home of an intimately and naturally lit sanctuary with the fifth largest collection of Tiffany glass windows in the United States. We arrived late in the afternoon due to the great distance, and were met with showers and a wonderful spaghetti and lentil dinner by our own team chef Hanna Fei. Tomorrow is mid-80s for both temperature and mileage, and will take us to one of the largest cities in Iowa: Cedar Rapids.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Laurel Racette

How are you today? I’m doing pretty swell. I’m happy, I’m excited, I’m in a good mood, I’m living life, I’m in Iowa.

You’ve fundraised thousands of dollars for our cause. What has been the most impactful fundraising experience you’ve had? I talked to an energy bar company, and didn’t end up getting a donation due to logistical reasons, they received my email and asked to have a meeting with me and I was a bit nervous because it was my first time representing Illini 4000 as an organization by myself and I wanted to lead off on a good foot. The people I talked to just wanted to learn as much about I4K as they could and wanted to do everything to support our cause they could. The first thing I heard from a woman on the zoom call was that she was a survivor of childhood cancer and that cancer runs in her family and a man on the call was her cousin and he watched his family suffer with their battles with cancer. As the call progressed he ended up crying at one point while discussing it. That experience changed my perspective on fundraising, at first I was nervous to meet the requirements for the team, but the experience of talking to them showed me the impact of I4K for the first time.

What keeps you going when it gets difficult to put in all of those miles or even to get on the bike? It’s still something that I struggle with. But when I’m having a really hard day, I think about the people I’ve met doing portraits and their experience to juxtapose what I’m doing on the bike with all that they had to go through. It helps remind myself that this ride isn’t just about biking, it’s about helping people who have or have had cancer. I think the biggest things that get me through in the moment are my teammates cheering me on. It is hard to get back on the bike sometimes but all I have to do is keep pedaling until I can’t.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform? No.

What’s your rest stop routine? I wish I had one. Most of the time it goes something like bathroom, food, sunscreen, water bottles as my group starts to roll.

In the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most? Idaho, I want to see the mountains so bad.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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.

Days 22 & 23: A True Midwestern Haven. Lake Geneva to Madison + Rest Day

The West lies before us as we turn toward the mighty Mississippi River and Iowa’s eastern border. Madison has been a real treat, and the weather has only added to this. Affectionately known as the Cycling Capital of the Midwest, and officially known as the capital of Wisconsin, Madison is a cozy and bustling town sandwiched between two lakes with a lot to offer.

The bike friendliness here is a prime example of how to effectively integrate bikes into an urban space, with over 200 miles of trails, many bike shops available just off of these trails, clear bike lanes, rentable E-bikes, and even streets in downtown restricted to bicycle and bus traffic alone. U-W Madison’s presence as well as that of many growing companies and loads of unique small businesses gives it a lot of personalty and liveliness. Totally worth the rest day, and it was definitely one well spent.

Looking over Lake Mendota.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 88.2

Elevation: +2918’/-2911’

General Direction: For the first 36.5 miles, proceed north through Lake Geneva, Elkhorn, Palmyra, and Rome via country roads, turn west on County Road Y until mile 46 and turn left onto U.S. 18, ride through Jefferson and exit onto north County Road N at mile 68, turn left through Cottage Grove toward Madison, at mile 77.6 turn onto the Capital City Trail and ride it through downtown Madison, exit onto the Southwest Commuter Path and take residential streets north at mile 86.8 to the stayover.

Points of Interest: Geneva Lake, Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife Area, downtown Madison.

Tales of the Trail

The first few miles almost don’t feel real. Ask any rider to recall the first 20 miles and there usually isn’t that much to report because it all passes, seemingly, very quickly. Most don’t begin to converse until a little later in the ride, as these first miles take place from approximately 6:00 - 7:30 AM. Even so, we enjoyed beautiful early morning views of Geneva Lake and plenty of sun-kissed fields arcing into hills. We meandered through scenic forests, towns, and, of course, dairy farms for the first 46 miles.

Yaks!

Surprisingly, we still biked this.

The following stretch after our rest stop in Jefferson was a bit more stressful as it took place on U.S. 12-18, a busy road with a shoulder in pretty much only the technical sense. Finally reaching outer Madison after some uphills and more busy roads, the trail at mile 78 was very welcoming. The trails were lively with cyclists and walkers, including the final running portions of a half-ironman triathlon, and it was so beautiful to see the charming storefronts and look out over Lake Monona (the southern one). We rolled into our stayover a bit gassed but ready for some recovery time.

We have been staying at Covenant Presbyterian Church just west of downtown. The church community has come together to donate quite a variety of food for us, and we could not be more grateful. Efforts like these are ones we take very much to heart and they demonstrate the human capacity to help one another at this community scale.

Can’t go wrong with some Chipotle.

Hard at work adjusting the route for Day 24.

The Rest Day

Madison was a very neat place to explore and enjoy. A few riders spent time with friends and family in the area, while others split into groups and walked around. We checked out Lake Mendota (the northern one), the Chazen Art Museum, Camp Randall Stadium, the State Capital Building, and lots of shops and epic food finds. The evening gave us a scrumptious meal provided by the church community, a fun little haircut for Nabeel, a short ride into town for Paul and Patrick, and anticipation of another century for everyone. A great day and one we won’t soon forget.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Emily Gonzalez

How are you today? I am good! I am feeling good!

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I am riding a gray Cannondale Topstone 3.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? I think its pretty cool how we were all thrown into a group together and didn’t really know anything about each other. Now, I am learning so much about my teammates that I would have never known otherwise. For example, the other day I learned that all the women in Laurel’s family are left-handed. Its really cool to have that time to bond and make friendships and learn so much about each other.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Absolutely none. I bought my bike and I could not remember how to ride it at first.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I am riding for two main reasons. One is for my godfather who passed away nearly three years ago from brain cancer. I also have two sisters who are in healthcare, a CNA and nurse at children’s hospitals. Both of them mainly work with cancer patients and hearing about their experiences at work and what they do for the kids and families is very inspirational. I don’t want to go into healthcare as a career, but I feel that this is the way I can best support what they do and mirror that.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? I didn’t ride today, but yesterday I rode. The most memorable part of that day for me was riding with Max, an I4K alum. He shared a couple things about his experience on the ride and it was just fun to be able to bike with someone who had done the ride already.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Hello, thank you, and love you!

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Fresh cut pt. 1.

Fresh cut pt. 2.

Day 21: Trailing to the Northern Exit. River Forest to Lake Geneva, WI

Trails bring a sort of joy to cycling. You can be surrounded by prairie or forest or rivers or really any natural environment, and it is always changing. It’s nice to not have to worry about cars and to be able to wave at so many people getting their own outdoor time in for the day. For our team, our orange jerseys definitely turn heads and this helps to pique curiousity when we’re on the bike and start meaningful conversations when we’re off it. Toward the end of our route today, we entered our seventh(!) state: Wisconsin, the Badger State.

Edit: Apologies for the late entry, no wifi and poor cell service again, as well as a looong ride day. I will be back on schedule tomorrow to fill you in on today (Day 22) and the rest day in Madison! :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 79.1

Elevation: +1734’/-1426’

General Direction: Pedal south and weave through residential River Forest until reaching the Illinois Prairie Path near Concordia Cemetery, take it west to 11.3, divert to the Great Western Trail, and pick up the IPP Elgin Branch via a slight right at 22.8, this trail becomes the northbound Fox River Trail at mile 32 (Poplar Creek), this trail becomes the northbound Prairie Trail at mile 43.5, with a few small deviations continue on this trail until mile 68.4, turn left onto U.S. 12 and cross into Wisconsin at 69.6, take a frontage road and County Highway B to County Highway H and follow it for 5.5 miles to South Street, take this road west to the stayover lot.

Points of Interest: Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail, Fox River Trail, Prairie Trail, Fox River, downtown Elgin, Dundee, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Strene’s Fen Nature Preserve, Glacial Park Conservation Area

Tales of the Trail

The Becks made us an amazing breakfast to begin a quick morning of getting packed and ready after our relaxing rest day. A ferocious watermelon eating contest hosted by I4K alum and past president Marie Hubbard (2019, 2022) kicked off our morning before we departed. We were joined on our ride by a few guests as well. I4K alums Rahul Ramkumar (2021) and Max Potvin (2022) rode with us until our first stop at mile 16. Also, my friend and UIUC/Oberlin alum Maxwell Schultz joined for the entire duration and finished his longest ride yet!

Today’s route reaped one of the rarest and most rewarding parts of road cycling: a route that increases in elevation but feels like descending for most of it. Situated among four bike trails for the vast majority, it was a very pleasant ride, save for the mountain biking-esque section near Algonquin (still really fun though) and the thousands of bumps we went over. The trails made it easy to cut between and through the central and western suburbs, and at one point gave us beautiful views of the Fox River on our left. We’ve seen many deer on this ride too, but none as close as the handful who stopped next to the trail at various points to watch us fly by. There was prairie grass and festivals, downtowns and pockets of trees, and everything in between. Even the bit in Wisconsin toward the end gave us plenty of leverage on the descents. An exhausting day for sure, but very, very enjoyable.

Tonight, we are staying at Lake Geneva Bible Chapel. Adam’s family provided us with a delicious and filling pasta dinner, and we spent time taking hose showers and cleaning our bikes from all the dust they kicked up on the gravel portions. We are excited to reach Madison, a town known for its cycling culture, and have another rest day to follow.

Thank you for an epic ride today Max! :)

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Sam Michalak

How are you today? I’m doing well! Today was a tiring but really fun day.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I am riding a white 2022 Trek Domane AL3.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? My favorite aspect has been meeting people all over the country whether that be through portraits or at stayovers. It’s really cool to meet people with both shared and different experiences from us, and there has been so much kindness and overall support in helping us to fight cancer.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? When COVID started, me and one of my high school friends since our sophomore year made a loose goal to bike 1000 miles during the three months of summer. We did casual 20-30 mile rides, nothing like what we do today, and it is interesting that we have already surpassed that goal on this ride.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? On the ride as a whole, I am riding for my grandfather and grandmother who both had long fights with cancer, both of which I watched firsthand. I want to make a difference and do this for them. I am also riding for my mother who is currently dealing with the annoyances of skin cancer.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? Today, we spent a lot of time on the Illinois Prairie Path. Mile marker 0 on this path is in downtown Wheaton, which is my hometown. I have spent many hours on this path, whether for transportation to school or simply rides with friends. So, it meant a lot to me to be on my home turf today.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I would like to say thank you for believing in me, thank you for continuing to believe in me, and I can’t wait to see you all soon.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

We love and miss you Mr. Rotter.

Days 19 & 20: Corn Stalks and Skyscrapers. Kankakee to River Forest + Rest Day (Chicago)

Our ride out of Kankakee brought us to the country’s third largest city and its army of suburbs. The transition from cornfields to neighborhoods and downtowns meant a change in our approach to cycling effectively, with a lot more stopping, downshifting, and awareness as we darted through the maze of urban life. A lively welcome by our hosts and a very fun rest day with some in downtown Chicago and some spending time with their families put the team in high spirits. The alumni gathering at the end of Day 20 brought together riders from the past handful of I4K teams and was a time of laughter and fellowship for all. I4K’s true gateway to the west (as one former rider put it, the real ride doesn't start until after Chicago), tomorrow’s route takes us out of Illinois via its northern border.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 75.0

Elevation: +1031’/-1077’

General Direction: Proceed west, slightly north of Bourbonnais, turn north, then west on 9000 N Road, north on 5000 W Road, east on Wilmington Road, north on U.S. 52 and Cedar Road, then west on Schweizer Road, after a brief segment on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail turn north onto Rowell Ave to enter Joliet, navigate north on Collins Street to pass through Lockport, at mile 46 turn north onto the Centennial Trail, turn off at mile 58.2 and navigate north and east through La Grange, Brookfield, North Riverside, Forest Park, and River Forest to the stayover.

Points of Interest: Wauponsee Glacial Trail, Old Joliet Prison, Centennial Trail, Des Plaines River, Zoo Woods, Frank Lloyd Wright houses including his home and studio

Tales of the Trail

“Bad idea.” - a Kankakee County sheriff on a megaphone driving by all of our groups biking fallen in and doing nothing of note

Moving away from Kankakee gave us plenty of flats with a soft blue sky as the sun rose in a muted orange. Today was the first day we were allowed to ride with music. A couple of groups implemented this which added a lot of enjoyment to the route (Note: we use speakers only, no headphones, and the volume cannot be loud enough to drown out callouts). A gravel-y and bumpy, yet pretty bike trail brought us to the edge of Joliet where we made turn after turn through neighborhoods and dealt with a fair bit of traffic on the main roads.

Nearing mile 50 took us on the beautiful Centennial Trail which runs along the Des Plaines River, a beautiful multi-use trail that took us closer to the heart of the suburbs. Lots and lots of stop signs routed us through the main streets and neighborhoods in each ‘burb, bringing us closer and closer to River Forest. Passing freight trains gave riding groups some good rest time in the heat. At last, a cheering crowd of families and supporters and a large sign that said WELCOME TO RF! ILLINI 4000! greeted us at the end of our route.

Those not staying with family or friends in the area stayed with Steve and Katrina Beck, two very cool people and the parents of our Logistics Director Ellie Beck. We took a powerful portrait of their daughter, Georgi, who developed tumors in both eyes when she was young and had to have one of her eyes removed. An amazing dinner, some fiddling around on various instruments, and a long sleep concluded the day.

Kirby has stolen our hearts, as well as all of the sticks in the surrounding area.

The Rest Day

Chicago was waiting, and bikes, buses, and trains were ready to take us there. Paul, Patrick, and both Sams opted to ride to the Bean and along Lake Michigan, before making a long and enjoyable stop at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hanna, Jean, Nabeel, and both Jonathans took the L to the loop and explored the city, had some fantastic food, and met up with friends. Still more members of the team had some fun and important family time at home.

Sams’ Club rides for the Bean.

In the evening, the Becks hosted a gathering of I4K alumni. Stories were swapped, memories were shared, and plenty of quotes made for a lot of laughs. As the team regathers, we will really miss this one, but are hyped for Wisconsin.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Patrick Jamison, Ride Leader

How are you today? I am doing great, it was an awesome day and I really enjoyed the trails we were on until the last 15 miles with all of the traffic. Also, a man at the grocery store we stopped at paid for orange juice for me, Paul, and Jaylen. We also did a very powerful portrait of Ellie’s sister Georgi. Overall, it was a very great day.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A purple 2019 Trek Emonda ALR 5. (Fun fact: all Trek bike names are anagrams of each other.)

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? All the random stuff that happens during the day. I think it’s really great because you can meet so many interesting people in the different places we go in this way. I really like the random things that happen at rest stops when we stand around existing as a team or when we find stuff on the side of the road. These make up so many of the stories we will tell each other and laugh about later.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I did not know how to ride a bike before I4K.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I am riding for my grandmother. She has been a role model throughout my life and I really respect everything that she has gone through. I am also riding for my best friend’s mother who passed last year. Her family is very sweet and it’s difficult to witness everything they have gone through as well. I am mainly riding for these two and keep them both in my mind every day.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? There weren’t many downhill sections yesterday, and we had some laughs when we stared down at a few objects somewhere around mile 30…

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I’ve had a lot of people support me over the four years I’ve been in I4K, and I want to say thank you to everyone. Whenever I talk about everything we are doing, they get just as excited as I do and it’s wonderful. Thank you for helping me get to where I am actually riding three and a half years after the start of the pandemic.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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!”

Honk…

shoo…

Day 18: Agrarian Sea. Champaign to Kankakee

Being in Illinois brings along with it a sense of belonging to absolutely nothing. Surrounded by our familiar cornfields, silos, creeks, railroad tracks, and power lines, the fun(?) never seems to end. This ride was physical as well as mental, with plenty of Casey’s to spare. :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 83.2

Elevation: +860’/-909’

General Direction: Proceed east on Green Street and take Broadway, Kerr, and Brownfield to leave Champaign, turn left onto High Cross Road, then onto U.S. 45 at mile 11.3, remain on this road until mile 69, passing through Rantoul, Paxton, Loda, Buckley, Onarga, Gilman, Ashkum, Clifton, and Chebanse, take a southwest approach to the Kankakee area and proceed north through downtown Kankakee on Schuyler Ave., turn east to cross I-57, then north to reach the stayover on the northeastern side of town.

Points of Interest: UIUC, various historic sites in towns, downtown Kankakee, Kankakee River

Tales of the Trail

We began our day by converging at the Alma Mater statue for our team photo. After a brief but meaningful morning circle, we rolled out onto Green Street. Leaving Champaign was just as surreal as arriving; a few roads and places we had ridden on in training rides or otherwise visited stuck out to us as everything began to fade from view behind us. it is truly hard to believe that our stop in Champaign was just that, a stop on the ride, when everything around felt so familiar. Nevertheless, we biked on!

Today we were joined by two special guests. For the first 20 miles, we were joined by our departing ride leader Mike Rotter. He got to ride his own bike as mine is now fixed (!) and having him there and knowing he was about to send us out into the west was hard. He even found a license plate as is custom for the stretch up to Rantoul! We will miss you Mike, and we thank you for everything you have done for this team and both of your other ones. Our ride leader is now President Patrick Jamison, joined by assistant ride leaders Nina Rosas and Jonathan Yuen. We also got to ride for the entire duration with I4K Fundraising Director, 2022 alum, and certified baddie Lucas Dion. Alpha group forever!

Truly an Alpha group.

Most of the ride was a long road, with an interesting view of the sun to our right instead of to the rear as we continued north. Two of our three rest stops were Casey’s, a common site in small midwestern towns, and for us a site for sore eyes (or sore quads?). It was that much more challenging to stay fully engaged mentally as the scenery, though technically changing, was very similar and not as appealing as places like Pennsylvania. Riding into Kankakee felt like a bit of a relief in this sense, and we arrived at our stayover in the mid-afternoon.

We are staying at Adventure Commons, a church and multi-sport facility all rolled into one. Families of the church prepared us a wonderful taco night, and we spent some time playing foosball, pool, air hockey, and mini golf while we were there. The local YMCA also let us shower at their facility and we are very thankful! Chicago is in sight, and many with family in the area are looking forward to seeing them, as well as creating Portraits, napping, and exploring a bit of the city.

An interesting turn on the route took us to a gate of a chemical plant. The gate closed as soon as we rolled up.

Some intense foosball before dinner.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jean Lin

How are you today? I am pretty tired but I’m glad that I finished the whole ride today.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I am riding a Liv Avail AR 3. It is pink and gray.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Having fun and creating funny moments with the team. Sometimes you want to give up but your teammates encourage you to ride. It has also been nice to try a lot of different foods and meet a lot of different people from this country. A lot of our stayover hosts are very cool too!

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I did some cycling but not on a road bike, and my longest ride before I4K was 20 miles or so. I have been riding for about six years but did less over time as I grew up.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? Seeing the familiarity of the roads as we were leaving campus. A lot of memories of riding these roads during training rides came back to me in those moments.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I want to keep riding and my teammates have definitely inspired me to do so. I feel that having the equipment and athletic experience that I do has also really helped me in being a part of the team, and I want to make them proud.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Sleepy time in the van.

How I’m feeling about my bike being fixed. :)

Our lovely and now clean van with an intense (and hard to photograph) setting sun in the background.

Days 16 & 17: Home. Rockville to Champaign, IL + Rest Day

Sixteen days and 1000 miles later, we have crossed into our sixth state of Illinois, the Land of Lincoln. In addition to these milestones, we have arrived at the home of I4K: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

It was here sixteen years ago where Illini 4000 was founded by Jon Schlesinger and Anish Thakkar while they lived in Allen Hall. The first ride had eighteen members, the same as our team prior to leaving Champaign. An idea spawned to provide a unique means of combining fundraising, outreach, cancer awareness, and athletics, Illini 4000 has only grown. It has produced hundreds of alumni, funded millions of dollars toward valuable cancer research and patient support services, and created countless connections between teams and the people they meet prior to and during the ride. Riding into Champaign is a treasured tradition, as well as a vitally important reminder of the past.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 77.2

Elevation: +1315’/-1290’

General Direction: Ride northwest on winding country roads and meet westbound U.S. 36 at Montezuma, cross the border into Illinois at mile 17.9, stay on until mile 32.3, turn north on 900 N and proceed north, moving west to 600 N through the town of Sidell, turn west, then north at mile 52.7, pass through Homer and by Homer Lake, follow Homer Lake Rd. and turn onto Windsor Road past Salt Fork, stop at Meadowbrook Park at mile 73.5, and ride with fellow riders north on Race Street, with zig zags to Green Street, follow the Bardeen and North Quad to the Beckman Institute.

Points of Interest: Wabash River, Homer Lake, Meadowbrook Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tales of the Trail

The day began with a wonderful breakfast made by our hosts and an early morning departure from Rockville. Ten miles of hilly roads riddled with potholes put us into our riding mindset as our callouts rang out through the chilly air. After merging onto U.S. 36, we passed a pretty, mint green bridge over the Wabash River, saw bald eagles less than 50 feet overhead, and crossed into Illinois on its eastern border. Of course, the photo op with the state sign was completely necessary.

The flat Illinois cornfields brought with them a sturdy wind from the northwest, which meant headwinds or crosswinds for all of the ride. The miles continued to pass until we reached our final rest stop at Homer Lake. We ate our PB&Js and finished our journey into Champaign from the east. The sights began to look more and more familiar: the same Homer Lake Road that we had ridden on during training, Windsor Road and its intersection at High Cross where the first two groups merged into one large group, and finally Meadowbrook Park. The surreality of being here after setting tires down in New York City is absolutely unmatched.

For the final four miles, we rode with a few family members and I4K alumni through Urbana toward the Beckman Institute: home to the Cancer Center at Illinois. This facility houses cutting-edge cancer research and educational programs and is one of our four beneficiaries for this year. We were provided a round of applause as we rolled in as an entire team to the steps of Beckman. A generous outdoor reception gave riders a chance to meet CCIL staff and family, and thus began our rest day in Champaign.

The Rest Day

The team spent the day at their own leisure with laundry, showers, and sleep galore. Many met with friends and loved ones on campus, and a few riders brought their bikes to Neutral Cycle for repairs (thank you Ruchen for all you did today!). Tomorrow we turn north toward the Chicago area, which we will reach in two days of riding, and this refreshing stay in Champaign has restored our energy as we continue.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Kathryn Choate

How are you today? I am doing great! I’m really excited to be back in Champaign and we got to see Randy this morning and yesterday, so it started out good too! There were plenty of headwinds but I definitely tried to keep a positive mindset throughout. It feels so surreal to be back here after these two weeks of cycling. We’ve had a lot of growth and have come back different people. Combined with having just ridden 1000 miles, it was a powerful moment for everything we’ve been riding for.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? Jaylen and I have twin bikes, mine is just slightly smaller. It is a navy blue Trek Domane AL2 and it is also from the gear program.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? The team. The people on this trip are incredible. Every day we get to ride with different people and there’s always an aspect of that day’s ride that’s challenging. Being there with each other and encouraging each other helps us accomplish these challenges. I feel that we are bonding very well and these are people I can be vulnerable with as well as have fun with.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Not a lot! I’d say more than some but a lot less than others. I came onto the team knowing how to ride a bike but hadn’t ridden a road bike. During the pandemic, I took many rides into the cornfields to clear my mind, and at that point I thought that riding twenty miles was a long distance for a ride. It has really changed my perception of distance as well as my own personal capabilities.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? We dedicate the ride to someone every day. I kept the person we dedicated the ride to, someone who meant a lot to one of my teammates, in my thoughts today. I also have many friends and family friends who have dealt with cancer; I am riding for them for the duration of the ride. One memorable person I am riding for is my family friend Scott. His impact on my life is hard to put into words, and I think of him especially on the hard days.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? We were biking down Windsor Street after being in cornfields all day with headwinds and crosswinds, and suddenly it felt like we were in Champaign-Urbana. When this happened, another group behind us caught up to us and we rode as a mega-group. It felt so surreal to be back and we’ve all come back as different people. It is amazing to be here biking together for this cause on these streets, and that was just beautiful.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you for all of the support. It’s definitely meant a lot to me to be able to reach out to people who make me smile and that has really helped to get me through the hardest days.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

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

Day 15: Randy and the Rain. Lafayette to Rockville

Another eventful day occurred as we passed into our final stop in Indiana: Rockville. Our diabolically incredible ride leader Mike Rotter had his last(?) official ride with our team today and we will be very sad to see him go. Champaign is within sight! We can’t wait to roll in to where it all started! :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 61.8

Elevation: +1926’/-1886’

General Direction: Ride southwest from Lafayette and due south on country roads, pass through towns of New Richmond, Crawfordsville, and take State Road 47 to Waveland at mile 45.5, navigate in a zig zag pattern to eventually merge onto U.S. 36 into Rockville.

Points of Interest: Cows!!!

Tales of the Trail

We began today’s ride with open fields and an overcast sky as the team rode south toward the larger town of Crawfordsville. Sprinkles turned into heavy droplets for what became the first rain of the entire ride, and it was definitely intense. Miles 25-61 made for a bunch of soaked cyclists and bikes, but we pushed through all the way to the end. Extra care was taken on the wet roads, especially on descents, and our groups became parades of bike lights.

The end of the rain-soaked route came to one of our most treasured stayover locations: Rockville, Indiana. For all but one of the past sixteen years of rides, Randy Randall and the First United Methodist Church have hosted I4K. “Hosted” is an understatement. Randy, along with many members of the congregation, prepared a massive and very tasty dinner, arranged showers and beds from members of the community, and donated a heap of snacks to our team in the form of make-your-own two-gallon goodie bags! The tradition of Rockville and First United Methodist immediately preceding Champaign is a truly special part of the ride. I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking from here.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Mike Rotter, Ride Leader

How are you today? I am doing great today. It’s nice to be in Rockville, a place I have been a lot of times and to be with people I have talked to over the course of my rides. It is also bittersweet as this is probably my last ride day with Illini 4000.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A black Felt FR40, the same as I used for my first two rides, named “Black Betty”.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? I would say it’s been a fun challenge to try and get all of the ride leader tasks done in 16 days before sending the team off for the rest of the ride, and, it’s been nice to see the team grow so quickly.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Before my first ride in 2018, I had never biked more than 10 miles at once. In preparation for this ride, I barely did any riding and just kind of trusted that my legs still had it in them. My first ride that I had done before this summer was 50 miles which was my longest in over a year.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? Today, we rode for Angela, the nurse that took out Emily’s stitches yesterday and who shared her story. In general for this summer’s ride, I am doing it for anyone who feels like they are dealing with cancer on their own, and I hope that for those people, seeing us biking is a sign that they are not alone and that we are supporting them.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? I think the most memorable moment was right at the end: pulling up and seeing this church. It is one that I have been to at least five or six times and recognizing it and knowing we are here is powerful.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? If my parents are reading this then I love you guys and I will see you soon! :)

Bonus Question 1: As our ride leader from NYC to Champaign, as well as being both a rider and ride leader in the past, how was this ride for you? This ride has been really different because I’ve felt like the wise old sage that others are coming to for advice and to lead them. It’s been a little different being in the van for a lot of it, and it’s also been really nice to see that the organization is still going strong and there’s a lot of people on the team that really want to be here. I felt better equipped to be a leader this time.

Bonus Question 2: How does it feel to have the most I4K miles out of anyone? It does feel nice to have put in a lot of work physically and mentally into this organization and there is a sense of pride of having ridden so many miles and surpassing Marie as well.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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.

Day 14: Life is a Highway. Logansport to Lafayette

How does a ragtag volunteer bike team in need of a shower somehow defeat a global superpower?

39 miles is a pretty small piece in the puzzle of the I4K ride, but each and every one of them counts. It is actually very rare to have the entire team ride together. One person is needed to drive the van, and riders may choose to sag for any reason, whether it be for prominent problems with the bike, medical reasons, or simply just needing a break. Excepting when it simply isn’t safe to do so, there are tires on the ground for every mile of the continent we cover.

Our mission is human, it deals with an absolutely terrible malady experienced by people, is leg-powered, and puts the gains in research as well of the experiences of those who have dealt with cancer above all else. I may be writing this to sound like a grand adventure, which it is, but losing sight of the human aspects of the ride and why we are here is detrimental to its purpose. Exhaustion, aches, frustration, homesickness, and all of the other aspects that tend to get looked over or tucked away are all human. Embracing them and working on them helps to better us as individuals and as a team as we push through each day.

Okay, blurb over, but remembering that we are all human is always important, both in this ride and in life.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 39.3

Elevation: +988’/-977’

General Direction: Ride south and merge onto the shoulder of westbound U.S. 24-35 (Hoosier Heartland Highway), stay on for 25 miles, make two rights and a left to meet Old Indiana 25 at mile 28.1, continue and proceed due south through Lafayette residential areas to reach the stayover.

Tales of the Trail

One of our smallest rides during the whole summer, enough that we got to sleep in an extra hour, this route took us west on a full-fledged highway for a good chunk of it. We take these and other crowded roads very seriously and communication between riders is always key. We experienced a bit of wind as the sun crept into a near cloudless sky, and took in the fields, freight trains, and the throng of nearby cars. With one brief rest stop halfway through, and some hills in the second half due to the river valley, we arrived at our stayover at around 10:30 AM! A quick ride day in and of itself, even for a shorter distance overall. We are definitely improving in our pacing and habits on the bike.

With nearly the entire day left, there was a lot of time to explore Lafayette and all it had to offer. Riders attended a local tavern to watch the Champions League Final match, others went to a few places around downtown including Sweet Revolution Bake Shop, McCord Candies, Main Street Books, and even took up some scootering on the Wabash River Bridge. A few others also walked around Purdue’s campus and caught up with some friends from the area. After dinner, many attended a local music festival called Mosey Down Main Street and had an absolute blast before lights out. It was a great day with lots of laughs and in many ways a nice break from the miles on the bike.

We are staying at the Church of the Brethren. They have been nothing short of amazing hosts. Pastor Steve Crain coordinated with our team, Ann Cripe organized a truly epic spread for lunch, dinner (with deviled eggs!), and breakfast, and Tom Brown assisted us with laundry and showers at a local middle school. Other parishioners volunteered to help make our meals and we talked with them about all sorts of things. We will definitely miss all of them and are thankful for all they have done. Tomorrow is our last stop in Indiana, a little town called Rockville, and an entirely necessary stayover. I’ll tell you a little more about why that is in tomorrow's entry. :)

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Edward Guo

How are you today? I’m doing great! It was nice to start the day a little bit later, and with an extra bit of sleep (or lack thereof). It was also nice that we had a short ride today, got into the stayover quickly, and were able to enjoy the food that was graciously provided to us as well as explore town.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I’m riding a 2020 Diamondback Haanjo 5 with a deep purple gloss. It is a gravel bike and has served me well so far.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? I’d say the views, specifically going through western New Jersey and all throughout Pennsylvania. Even though going up the climbs is hard, it is extremely rewarding to see the view at the top of each hill. A specific one of these I really enjoyed was the first of the three large climbs on Day 3. We climbed out of the valley entirely and seeing where we biked from was so great and really shows how far we have come as a group.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I’ve been biking throughout my entire life, mainly as a form of commuting. I remember back when during the summer before third grade my mom encouraged me to bike to summer camp every morning because she was busy. That was the catalyst that got me into biking. I get a sense of freedom through biking, it is faster than walking and you don’t have to be reliant on others for transportation. The beginning of COVID was when I started to take biking to another level, both for recreation and transportation; there just wasn’t a lot to do otherwise. My friends and I biked outside a lot as a way to meet up during this time and I have continued to bike ever since.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? For me it was the first 25 miles. We were on a state highway which was cool in and of itself. I’ve driven on these sorts of highways for years so it felt really surreal to be biking on one. It was challenging to see the constant long stretch ahead and the time was so much longer between sections compared to in a car. It was really impactful in that sense.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Everything that you’ve said to give me support whether through liking my story posts or giving me words of encouragement has been very helpful in getting me through these tough and long days, especially in Pennsylvania. To those of you I may see in the next few days in Champaign and Chicago, I definitely look forward to meeting up with you all and sharing all that has come of this so far. Lastly, check out the website and please consider, if able, to donate to our cause that is the fight against cancer.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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.

Day 13: Crossing the Crossroads. Fort Wayne to Logansport

Some days on I4K give us a lot to see and do. Others allow us to make their own fun given a lack of outside interest. This was an example of the second type of day: a long 78-mile route that mainly consisted of navigating west from place to place surrounded by fields and small patches of forest. Indiana is definitely a “bumpy” state, both in terms of the road quality itself as well as the hills that aren’t quite there yet but still require a climbing mindset on the bike. The team is now in Logansport, just a few miles west of U.S. 31, the northern “spoke” road that leads to Indianapolis. We have two more stops in Indiana before reaching Champaign-Urbana: Lafayette and Rockville.

The i4kows content keeps rolling in.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 78.2

Elevation: +1987’/-2156’

General Direction: Proceed southwest through residential areas of western Fort Wayne, follow U.S. 24 on frontage roads to the town of Huntington (mile 21), take country roads WSW and west for the remainder, passing through towns of Andrews, Wabash, and Logansport, turn left on 3rd Street to cross the Wabash River to the stayover.

Points of Interest: Wabash City Courthouse and Lincoln Monument, Wabash River

Tales of the Trail

Deer, peacocks, cats, cows, horses, alpacas, dogs, vultures. All in one day and plenty of each. Being able to see so many animals and be in the same environment as all of the wildlife is definitely part of what makes cycling so cool. Today’s route was very rural and gave the team the chance to talk, sing, and just watch the fields go by (when not looking for potholes of course). The heat was definitely a considerable factor, but that didn't stop us from riding through Indiana’s agriculturally dense middle.

Plenty of flats to go around.

Tonight we are staying at the Church of Christ at Logansport. The team enjoyed a donated meal from La Fiesta (thanks again Jaylen!), showered at the local YMCA, and enjoyed some reallyyy good ice cream from Wally and Olly’s. Tomorrow will be easier on the mileage as we enter Lafayette, tucked right next to our long time rival school: Purdue.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Laurel Racette

How are you today? I’m feeling good! There’s not that many feelings to have after biking 78 miles, but I’m definitely feeling accomplished.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A dark blue 2019 Felt VR60. I bought it from a past rider.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? My teammates. Their energy gives me energy and without their support and sympathy, I couldn’t have gotten this far. It’s a group where you can be vulnerable and entirely yourself at the same time.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Not much. I used to bike around the neighborhood with my neighbors and would occasionally join my dad for a ten-mile ride. Other than that, except for spin bikes, I started biking during our spring training.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? My hometown is downwind of a medical sterilizing plant that has been releasing ethylene oxide (EtO), a carcinogen, for decades and this has caused many in the area to develop rare forms of cancer. I am also doing the ride for my dad.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? At mile marker 42, I got my eighth flat of the ride. What was memorable about it is that now I am a pro at fixing flats, but this time the valve got stuck in the pump and we had to free it which just added to the frustration and the process.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you for your support! It means a lot and I love the words of encouragement you send me, so keep them coming!

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

A fun little stop for a few groups and the van: a garage sale complete with a happy cat! :)

Olivia with said happy cat. :)

The rare Indiana peacock.

Day 12: The First Century I.4.K. Maumee to Fort Wayne, IN

Today was a milestone for both the ride and many of the riders. We have entered our fifth state: Indiana, the Crossroads of America. In doing this, many riders have now completed their first century! It was a proud day with good weather and flat roads that let our team shine. In addition, the fun we had during the ride really helped to minimize the imposing distance as we begin to turn southwest toward UIUC.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 99.2 (+0.8)

Elevation: +1584’/-1420’

General Direction: Roll southwest from Maumee, follow the Maumee River on old U.S. 24 (Route 424) until mile 47, turn south through Defiance and west onto connecting roads following the river, cross the Indiana border at mile 74.2, and continue WSW into Fort Wayne.

Points of Interest: Maumee River, North Turkeyfoot State Park, various riverside metroparks, downtown Defiance, downtown Fort Wayne

Tales of the Trail

Today was smooth sailing, er, pedaling for our team. We left Maumee bright and early as usual and followed along the Maumee River for 94 of the 99 miles en route. Most of our scenery consisted of the bending treeline along the river as well as plenty of farmland. We had mostly clear skies and a high in the mid-70s, and the air quality continued to improve as we rode. We had not one, but two tire explosions and plenty of other issues but pushed through.

Knocking out a few more states before Indiana.

Our second rest stop in downtown Defiance, OH garnered us some delicious caffienated drinks and sandwiches at the cozy Cabin Fever Coffee. Many patrons and employees talked with us about our mission and the ride and by the end we had nearly every head turning in the place. Our jerseys aren’t just for riding, they are in many ways uniforms that demonstrate our purpose even at first glance.

We arrived into Fort Wayne a bit before dinner, and what a dinner it was. Our hosts at The River Christian Church made an absolutely stunning homemade meal of roast chicken with sweet potatoes and onions, bruschetta pasta, potatoes, broccoli, and folded blueberry pies. We played a bit of MarioKart and grabbed some Dairy Queen as well. Definitely a worthy celebration for a great first achievement for many on the team. Tomorrow’s destination is Logansport, IN at a hefty 78 miles.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jonathan Yuen, Ride Leader

How are you today? I’m doing great! Today was a lot of fun, I did my first century and I think today was a good day to do it. The air quality wasn’t much of an issue and Indiana roads are pretty flat so it was very manageable. Sam R., Nabeel, Edward, and Olivia were very fun to ride with; we sang songs, learned about people’s favorite colors, and had a great time.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A Black Trek Emonda ALR 4 Disc.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Its tough, but probably the ability to work and grow as a team. We all have responsibilities and there is lots of problem solving and working through any communication issues we may have that goes on. We are a really good group and I love spending time with everyone on this team. After the team meeting we had in Sandusky, knowing more about why people are doing the ride makes a very big impact for me too.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Before joining I4K in 2020, the most I’ve probably cycled in my life at one time was three miles. My training with the 2020 team, which was cut short, mostly involved running and lots of lifting. After 2020, I did a few rides with I4K alums and didn’t get back into running until last April.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? I have two, the first was after mile 30 when Edward starting pulling and we averaged 18-20 mph for about ten miles. It was very enjoyable to get into that zone and to go that fast. The second was after Olivia joined us at mile 48, from then to the end we were chatting, singing a lot of different songs (including plenty of T Swift), and getting up to shenanigans. One point I remember was when everyone in the group gave a very detailed description of their favorite food, dessert, and drink.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you for everything that you have done for me. I may not be the greatest at communicating or following up, but know that I always appreciate your support. I am very grateful for everything we’ve been doing and what this will do for me in the future.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Laurel trades in the bike for a ‘dozer.

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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. Kathryn and Mike are exceptions with Kathryn having just completed her nursing program at Parkland College and Mike being a teacher of special education at Champaign Centennial High School.

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.

All systems go from Jean, note the three interested horses in the background.

Day 11: Root Beers and River Walks. Sandusky to Maumee

Today was an interesting one, but a very fun one too! We are nearly through our fourth state and will be riding into Indiana tomorrow morning. Tomorrow’s ride is one of the longest of the summer at 99.2 miles (and many will probably ride an extra 0.8 to make the century mark). Though we are seemingly always on the move, the opportunities we have to explore places like Maumee are always special to us.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 62.4

Elevation: +766’/-729’

General Direction: Proceed west from the church and south on Old Railroad Rd., ride for five miles, then direct toward town of Clyde via Route 101, meet and ride northwest on the North Coast Inland Trail for 24.5 miles (with directional interruptions in Fremont, at mile 43.3, turn left, cross the Ohio Turnpike, and navigate to town of Stony Ridge, turn right onto U.S. 20-23 and ride for 6.6 miles to pass through Perrysburg, cross over the Maumee River and navigate to the stayover.

Points of Interest: North Coast Inland Trail, Sandusky River, Birchard Park, Maumee River, towns of Perrysburg and Maumee

Tales of the Trail

The day began three times. The first two were Slack messages from Mike saying we could sleep in another hour each due to the AQI value being too high, so we got to sleep in all the way until 6:40! Mike decided to shuttle a group directly to Maumee and hopefully, if the air cleared enough, a rider group could do part of or all of the route. As the first shuttle group departed, those in the riding group and van group got some more sleep and had a second breakfast at Wendy’s or the Sandusky Bay Pancake House. The sole riding group, consisting of both Sams, Adam, Paul, and myself was given the all-clear and departed at 12:30, much later than the team normally begins a route.

While the riding group got underway and the van crew talked, jammed out, and slept, the team in Maumee explored the town and ate a delicious lunch. For the riding group, the route took us through mostly flat farmland with the early summer corn crop having just reached calf height. For a fair portion of this route, the North Coast Inland Bike Trail was not only scenic in a simple way with long sections of trees and open country, but super convenient on the route to reach Maumee. It was a day spent in the big ring and a great one to ride. With the help of the amazing van crew, the riders that day were well-equipped and arrived in time for dinner.

Tonight, we are staying at St. Paul’s Lutheran, and thanks to Jaylen’s mad skills, we were donated an incredibly filling fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean food from local restaurants Vaquero and Zingo’s. Many of us decided to check out Maumee Valley Chocolate and Candy, which had plenty of quirky selections of candy, ice cream, and soda. We then walked to Towpath Park as the sun was setting and checked out the waterfront; definitely a relaxing and fitting way to end our time in Ohio.

The spread.

A Kathryn in a candy store.

Looking over the river.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jonathan Boudreaux

How are you today? Doing well, and yourself? Fine, thank you.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? An electric blue Specialized Diverge E5 with 38 mm tires, however, I am currently riding Mike’s bike and trading off with him until the new wheels are installed in Champaign.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? There’s quite a few, but for me its getting to share this incredible experience with a team of such dedicated, supportive, and very cool people. Seeing the entire width of a continent and pedaling through all of that is absolutely monumental, and there is so much intrinsic value in the places we see and the people we meet, but I could not do this without them. Our camaraderie only gets stronger and its just amazing to be a part of.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Some, but nothing like we’re doing. I have biked on a trail system in Bloomington-Normal called the Constitution Trail ever since I was a little kid; it ran two houses down from mine and reaches all over the town and beyond. The longest single ride I had done before I4K was something like 25-30 miles. I was never this into road cycling before, it was always just fun to ride.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? Today, we shared some words about some of the people and reasons why we are riding during our team meeting. It was very emotional and I rode for all of them today.

For me, I am doing this ride for my grandma who I never got to meet as well as my mom’s best friend Maureen, and by extension my mom because of her closeness to them and all that she did to take care of and help both of them as their struggles with cancer took over. I am also riding for two of my BSA troop leaders who have passed from cancer and each had a large impact on my life: Mr. King and Mr. Clark.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? Riding down the bike trail that took up a good 20+ miles of the route. We were cruising at up to 20 mph and the way that the trees surrounded the trail and seemed to stretch on forever reminded me of the trail at home.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support throughout this journey and for believing in me all the way through. I could not have hoped to do all that I am doing through I4K without you.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

Van drafting!!!

~Dictionary of I4K~

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.

Fair enough.

Day 10: Scarcity and Truth. Akron to Sandusky

Today’s route of a whopping 89 miles gave us possibly the most highly diverse experience in terms of its appeal, authenticity, and the fatigue encountered when riding. We saw forests and crowded highways, wetlands and run-down businesses, trains and the tracks they ran on (which we also had to ride across) and where they ran through. It was a push for many as we pedaled that distance (on the longer side for I4K) and took in different aspects of, strangely, loneliness. From the sound of the flowing Cuyahoga River to the constant throng of traffic on a busy suburban road to the silent openness of the country, we found that even though there is so much variety to be found when riding, it is in many ways soberingly blank and open. The mental toughness required for this ride is directly linked to the physical and, in a way, this makes our mission and the method in which we carry it out that much more important. We are now in Sandusky, the tourism capital of the state, and are ready to get some much needed rest and recovery.

Edit: Sorry for late post, sleep was very much needed. :)

Nabeel exploring the Cuyahoga riverbank.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 89.3

Elevation: +2333’/-2795’

General Direction: Ride north and west into downtown Akron to catch the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, ride it north bordering the Little Cuyahoga River and eventually the Cuyahoga River, take the path north through the national park and turn at mile 24 onto westbound Route 82, turn onto the northbound Mill Stream Trail at mile 33.5, continue snaking northwest through residential areas and turn onto Sprague Street, continue to turn and route northwest, pass through downtown Elyria at mile 54, and meet Route 113 at mile 56.7, follow to the town of Florence and continue to use country roads to proceed into Huron and westward toward Sandusky.

Points of Interest: Downtown Akron, Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Mill Stream Run Reservation, Cedar Point (runs near)

Quick stop to take in the river view.

Tales of the Trail

Another chilly morning greeted us as we rode through the center of a sleeping Akron to meet the rail trail we wouldn't leave for the next 20ish miles. A mashup of gravel and pavement twisted and turned us through forests and along the Little Cuyahoga until suddenly we were at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park entrance. The path opened up to valleys, bridges, old buildings, and of course the river itself which was beautiful to see and hear. We continued onto a stressful and busy suburban artery and through some residential areas to reach our PB&J stop.

From there, a few more highways took us through some industrial warehousing zones, towns, and into the country again. The edge of the sky was a shade of milky white and a noticeable haze was visible on all sides in the distance. In I4K, we ride rain or shine, but there are a few hard limits weather-wise that we will not ride in. One of these is air quality, and an AQI value above 150 means shuttling for the day. Due to wildfires in Canada, the air quality was not good, but held steady below this as we got closer to Sandusky. It was a long ride, but we have trained for this distance.

We are staying at Columbus Avenue United Methodist Church. We were treated to some great pizza, salad, and drinks, and washed the dust off of our bikes from the gravel trails. Tomorrow will be our third and final night in Ohio as we begin to turn southwest toward our home base in Champaign.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Sam Rosner

How are you today? I’m doing pretty good! It was a long day but we got through it faster than expected which was great.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A blue 2013 Salsa Colossal Road Bike, it has a few upgrades too.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Every day you see a new little slice of the country which has been really cool. Normally, I would drive through and miss places that we have had the chance to see while on the ride. Also, in these places, meeting the people there and learning about their lives.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I started mountain biking about four years ago and switched into road cycling about two years ago. I have also ridden a lot with Illini Cycling.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? My violin teacher has had battles with cancer and she is who I think of the most while doing this ride.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? We passed through our first national park [Cuyahoga Valley] and there was a really nice bike path through it. Seeing the river in the morning was a very nice moment, along with there being no traffic and potholes, which is hard to come by here in Ohio.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I’d like to say a really big thank you both to my family and the group at Charlottesville Community Bikes. For the latter, they have encouraged me and helped me to get into cycling, and without that experience, I would have probably never done this ride.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

Our reaction to the busy Ohio roads.

big mike in tiny car

Curious toilet arrangement in our stayover (see last year’s journal for the comparison)