Day 77: 4,714 Miles, Two Wheels, One Cause. San Anselmo to San Francisco + Farewell to Illini 4000

We did it. :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 17.5

Elevation: +748’/-810’

General Direction: Use residential roads to navigate through Ross, Corte Madera, and Mill Valley, at mile 7.9 roll onto the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path for 2.6 miles, join the bridgeway road to continue through Sausalito along the bay, before entering the bridge turn left at the Vista Point for a quick break, when ready re-enter the bridgeway, enter the bike path to the right of the entrance, and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, exit to the right following the bridge exit and zig-zag along the bike path to reach Crissy Field. Congratulations!

Points of Interest: Corte Madera Creek, San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay, Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge

Tales of the Trail

It was the last morning circle, also known as the time for our familiar and important, regimented yet fun tradition came to a motivational end. Favorite memories, they themselves being so many to choose from, were shared, and we had one final chant to hype us up for the day to come. It was really something seeing the side of the van say “Day 77 of 77” and we dedicated this ride to everyone facing the evil of cancer in any way. We rolled out to sunny skies and pleasantly quiet neighborhoods. A jaunt by our standards, this was the shortest ride distance-wise of the entire summer at only 17 miles. Cresting the top of a hill gave us our first peek at upper San Francisco Bay, and winding away through twisting residential roads and occasional bike paths brought us closer and closer to the water as we began to run out of land on the northern peninsula. We knew what was coming, and our excitement was building rapidly. A few miles on the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path nestled us right in line with the surface of the water as it reflected the sun’s rays, and what did we begin to see? Cyclists, hundreds of them, from speedy solo riders to massive groups, in all sorts of colors of kits with all sorts of bikes, made their way along this path with and against us. A final iteration of that same internal camaraderie we had felt in New York, Madison, Boulder, and now, a stone’s throw from San Francisco. A few final climbs along colorful seaside houses and hills full of greenery, and there it was. The northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, right there, right around the bend. Everything throughout this summer, throughout this year, everything we had done to prepare, everything we had seen and experienced, every laugh let out and tear shed, lead us right here to this mighty steel symbol of welcome dressed in its characteristic International Orange.

The last morning circle.

Sam M, Nina, Emily, Paul, and Adam (NP) near the start of the day.

Jaylen on the Mill Valley-Sausalito Path. In the distance is the San Francisco fog bank.

Riding along the bay just before the climb to the bridge, Sam M and Paul look out at the fog.

Before we could finish the ride in both senses of the word, we took a long pause at the northern bridge overlook to take our traditional and iconic team picture, give lots of hugs, celebrate, have one final reflective talk, and do one more chant as a team. A team of some of the most driven and incredible individuals that have shared triumph and tears, excitement and exhaustion, extreme concentration and extreme lack thereof (off the bike of course), and who have become a network of true friends, all atop the simple and powerful bicycle. It was an emotional time for all, but luckily for us it wasn’t quite over yet. While we could look on at the bridge, we could only see up until the suspension cables began to climb from the road surface. A true final test, the iconic San Francisco fog had draped the bridge in a blanket at least a half-mile tall; the finish line was completely out of sight. This in no way detracted from the experience of where we were and everything that had lead us here, and now it was time to roll out one last time, all sixteen of us together, the super-mega-group, and do what of twelve of the past sixteen I4K teams had done before us.

The official I4K 2023 Bridge Picture.

A small coast down the bridge overlook entryway and a few quick turns later, the 2023 Bike America Team was pedaling on the Golden Gate Bridge. And it was tough. We found ourselves among hundreds of cyclists heading both ways on the bike path and there was much to dodge on the right hand side. Meanwhile, the fog bank swept menacingly over the bridge from the Pacific’s maw, and covered the two signature towers enough to where we had to be nearly under them to see their tops. A foghorn at the other end of the bridge could be heard every 20 seconds or so, growing louder and adding to the ominous atmosphere the closer we got. We were completely enshrouded in this windy gray for the few minutes it took to cross this behemoth, and, almost on cue, the fog lifted right when we could start to hear cheers coming from both the other side of the bridge and at its exit point. The congestion was still absolutely wild as we finished making our way across and rolled onto the adjacent bike path. We continued zooming and zig-zagging all the way down toward our final, final destination: the West Bluff Picnic Area at Crissy Field.

The super-mega-group rolling out from the bridge overlook.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and finishing their ride across the United States are Jonathan Boudreaux, Patrick Jamison, Jaylen Patel, Nina Rosas, Hanna Fei, Emily Gonzalez, Nabeel Hussain . . .

. . . Adam Wallach, Edward Guo, Jean Lin . . .

. . . Sam Rosner, Sam Michalak, Paul Leman . . .

. . . Kathryn Choate, Olivia Ross, and Jonathan Yuen.

From New York, New York . . .

. . . to San Francisco, California.

We were done. We were there. And what followed was one of the most special and unique celebrations any of us had ever seen, as we were greeted with massive applause and elation by our families, friends, supporters, partners, and a wide array of wonderful food, banners, and balloon-adorned picnic tables. Everyone couldn’t be more proud of what we have done to traverse this continent. And now that the trail is complete, so are the tales. :)

Some of our absolute greatest supporters (and most fervent photographers).

The end. :)

Addendum and Farewell

It’s now been some time since we crossed the bridge and finished the ride, and I wanted to write a few words before ending this account of an absolutely unforgettable summer. At the time of writing, we are already preparing for next year’s ride by bringing in and briefing our new board and beginning the selection process for the 2024 Bike America Team.

First, it has been an honor to serve as our journalist and I have appreciated all of the feedback I have been given. I hope that these journals serve as a thorough account for the team as we look back and for anyone who wants to learn more about our organization and what it’s like to do something like this.

It’s been incredibly difficult to use any amount of language to describe or sum up this experience as a whole (long sentence incoming). We have collectively and individually learned so much about ourselves and the world around us, made intangible memories, fostered lifelong friendships, developed a multifaceted love or hatred for road cycling, conquered our own internal doubts and demons, considerably upped our cardiovascular health (and made huge gains!), looked out for ourselves and each other, laughed a lot, cried a lot, and experienced the beauty and ugliness and everything in between (in our own opinions) of the continental United States in arguably the most visceral and detailed way possible while still being logistically able to complete a journey such as this. It was a unique journey in its own right too, as we completed it with a smaller than average team and from Champaign onward everyone on a bike was a first-time rider. Navigating the waters, or lack thereof, was more challenging in these ways as so much about the ride is incredibly delicate; we are at the mercy of everything we encounter on and off the road. I think Jaylen’s words ring very true here, “The ride across America was never about a single accomplishment, rather the cycle of endless refinement and continuous improvement.”

Still, we pushed on magnificently and, as Sam M. put it, crossed the bridge not only with each other, but with Laurel Racette and Mike Rotter who could not be with us physically but are every bit as much a part of this family. We also crossed with our supporters from our families cheering us on to those we have never met but did the same online. We also crossed with, and for, everyone we have impacted through our mission and entire purpose as an organization. We have all been deeply impacted by the deleterious effects of cancer on those we love, and have been deeply impacted by those we have met and interacted with on and off the ride who have shared their stories with us. Our mission is so central to what we do and we will continue to do all that we can to aid the efforts of scientists, caregivers, patients, and survivors, and to document the American cancer experience through the utterly unique and necessary Portraits Project. This ride that has been so significant to so many could not happen without the meticulous and dedicated work of the organization that is Illini 4000.

To the 2023 Board and Officers, on behalf of the 2023 Bike America Team, thank you for your ceaseless efforts in all that you have done in regard to fundraising, logistics, training, team meetings, marketing, and much more. You kept us right on track and chugging along prior to and during this ride and we appreciate you wholeheartedly.

To all of our individual and business donors, thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting our wonderful beneficiaries that carry out such amazing work, as well as for supporting all of the work that we do as a group of driven student-cyclists hoping to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. This year alone, thanks to all of you, we have raised over $80,000, and we are immensely proud of this feat.

To Kathryn, Hanna, Emily, Ed, Nabeel, Patty, Paul, Jean, Sam, Jaylen, Laurel, Nina, Sam, Olivia, Mike, Adam, and JY, thank you for being you and thank you for everything. :) <3

Tailwinds,

JB

Day 76: Final Approach. Healdsburg to San Anselmo

The penultimate day of the ride and I4K Prom are here! :) Let’s get it!

Ride Overview

Mileage: 59.9

Elevation: +1593’/-1734’

General Direction: Proceed through the town of Healdsburg and onto the Old Redwood Highway, take this south toward Windsor, pass through it and turn right onto Fulton Road at mile 10.1, turn left on W College Ave at mile 15.0 then right on Stony Point Road a mile later, stay on for 14.2 miles to bypass Santa Rosa, turn right onto Petaluma Blvd. to roll through downtown Petaluma, at mile 38.1 cross under the highway via the bike route and turn left onto San Antonio Road, rejoin the bike path at mile 40.7 and Redwood Blvd. within the town of Novato, jump to Novato Blvd. and Alameda del Prado continuing to follow the U.S. 101, at mile 57.1 turn right onto 4th Street to pass through downtown San Anselmo, turn left onto Greenfield Ave. and left onto Lincoln Park a mile later, turn left onto Francis Drake Blvd. then right onto Ross Ave. to reach the stayover.

Points of Interest: Downtown Windsor, downtown Petaluma, downtown San Anselmo, San Pablo Bay

Tales of the Trail

A route on highways, down country roads, past towns, on bike paths, through neighborhoods, and complete with some stray swaying palm trees awaited us as we rolled down the hill out of the church parking lot. Anxious to be so near the end of such a broad, intense, and joyful summer and yet having sixty miles separating us from being within arm’s reach of the bridge was a very mixed set of feelings for all of us. Last night’s conversation was on everyone’s mind, and excitement, sadness, and anticipation of the end being so near are running high. However, it was also Backwards Jersey Day which was fun! :)

Something doesn’t seem quite right . . .

Golden hills on the horizon as Emily, Hanna, and Patrick make their way down a descent.

An overcast sky dwelled over the morning air as we made our way alongside the 101 once again, just missing the city of Santa Rosa within the first third of the miles. Hills of golden, dry grasses passed us by as we made our way into the charming town of Petaluma. A rather interesting detour followed, and took us through the last open and rural area of the entire ride, the golden hills at this western point acting as their own sort of sunset on our experience. As we entered the town of Novato, we had our last ever rest stop at an In-N-Out, a first experience for many riders and filling for all. The final twenty miles were hilly with tight residential and main roads swaying us through the Californian suburbs. Occasional bike paths jammed us against or underneath the 101 and took us on some precarious downhills until our signature right turn through lively downtown San Anselmo (Fun Fact: The birthplace of the first script of Star Wars). The stayover was easy to reach from here, and the sun was fully shining down on us by the time we arrived.

In-N-Out featuring rather silly jerseys.

We loved it, epic place for a last rest stop.

Making the final push south into San Anselmo.

Tonight, we are staying at the beautiful First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo. We completed our routines for the afternoon; laundry, showers, cleaning bikes, and generally organizing ourselves for the day to come. We were served an absolutely lovely dinner, as well as desserts and snacks, by members of the church congregation and then readied ourselves for I4K Prom. Truly unique and cool prom fits were worn by all and we danced the night away, save for our superlative awards and traditional signing of the jerseys. It was a wonderful and memorable night to serve as our last one on the entire cross-country ride. Tomorrow needs no briefing, we know where we’re going.

Unwinding for a bit after completing the miles for the day.

Dinner is served!

Patty signing a jersey as prom continues. We will be wearing these across the bridge tomorrow.

Our superb superlative hosts: Patty and Nina!

And now, the official Illini 4000 2023 Prom Runway and Superlative Awards!

First up is Patrick and Nina with a fabulous Barbie theme, love the pink! Patrick: Strongest Puller, Most Likely to Fall in Love with a Rock Nina: Most Organized, Biggest She-Wee

Next is Hanna and Nabeel with a truly unique set of fits, watch out for them at Fashion Week! Hanna: Best Chef, Queen of the Cows Nabeel: Funniest Teammate, Safest Rider

Paul, Sam R, and Sam M are rocking the shorts/oversized top combo! Paul: Strongest Rider, Most Likely to Never Eat a Vegetable Sam R: Best Mechanic, Best One-Liners Sam M: The Team Player, King of the License Plates

Jean and Jaylen knew they would go to the prom together all the way back since Valentines Day in Lincoln, here they sport a very chic combo of straw hats and sandals! Jean: Most Curious, Most Likely to Order a Steak Jaylen: King of the Dinner Donos, Most Likely to Rizz Up Your Grandma

The lovely Emily, JB, and Kathryn said yes to the dress(es)! Emily: Most Resilient, Most Likely to be Allergic to Anything We Come In Contact With JB: Most Compassionate, Most Likely to Buy a Tank Top Kathryn: Most Positive, Least Likely to Get a Sunburn

Olivia and Jon Y with a fun color palate and hats looking absolutely enthused to be here! Olivia: Social Media Master, Most Likely to Spill a Secret While Sleep-Talking Jon Y: Most Generous, The Not-Quite Pie Delivery Man

And finally, Edward and Adam, guns blazing, hair dyed, and tan-lines truly Nebraska strong! Edward: Best Van Driver, Most Likely to Locate a Brewery Adam: Best Trip-Athlete, Most Aerodynamic

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: In short, what have you gained and what have you lost from this ride?

Jonathan B.: Gained: So much. Lost: Self-doubt.

Paul: Gained: 15 lifelong friends. Lost: A few pounds.

Jaylen: Gained: Confidence as a cyclist and learning to adapt to any challenge. Lost: Bad habits that prevented me from pursuing my dreams.

Olivia: Gained: Becoming more of a team player and being better about putting others first. Lost: My charger :(

Sam R.: Gained: Saw a huge cross-section of the country. Lost: The ability to sleep in on weekends.

Jonathan Y.: Gained: Tan lines, amazing friends, the opportunity to see the generosity of strangers. Lost: Four sunglasses, three pies, a pair of socks, twelve pounds, almost my phone too many times.

Nina: Gained: An introspective analysis on myself and my place. Lost: A hat within 48 hours after buying it.

Sam M.: Gained: A more complete understanding of what a small group of people can achieve as a team. Lost: Any doubts about what I am capable of.

Edward: Gained: A greater understanding of my limits. Lost: Good spending and eating habits.

Kathryn: Gained: A better sense of self. Lost: The ability to sleep past 4:40 AM *smiling with single tear emoji*

Watch us dance, dance the night away!

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

We’ll see you in SF! :)

Day 75: Vineyards and Vistas. Willits to Healdsburg

On this day we were given our first sights and tastes of California vineyards, and they did not disappoint. Rolling between field after field was unlike any set of fields we had seen prior, and it was peaceful and picturesque to a T. What followed was an unforgettable water balloon fight, meal, and team-wide conversation looking back on our ride as a whole.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 71.7

Elevation: +2396’/-3608’

General Direction: Use CA-20 to navigate to the southbound U.S. 101 on-ramp at mile 3.1, stay on for ten miles and exit onto Uva Drive, after 8.2 miles turn right onto north State Street and use this road and the Great Redwoods Trail Bike Path to cross through central Ukiah, turn left onto Talmage then right onto Ruddick Cunningham Road, at mile 28.4 turn right onto Old River Road, stay on until meeting with U.S. 101 at mile 41.1, enter the highway shoulder and stay on for 8.4 miles, take exit 525 toward Geysers Road, turn right onto Geysers Road at mile 49.7, then right on River Road at 52.9, right on Crooker Road at 53.8, and left on Asti Road at 54.7, stay on past Cloverdale for 13.8 miles until reaching outer Healdsburg, transfer to Healdsburg Ave. and turn left onto Terrace Boulevard at mile 70.8, follow to the end of this road to reach the stayover entrance.

Points of Interest: River Road, Russian River, California vineyards and fruit groves

Adam with pear trees.

Bike America Team at Pick’s Drive-In in Cloverdale.

Tales of the Trail

On this the third to last day of the summer, we would end up visiting our final McDonald’s rest stop, and in true poetic fashion, the first of these was on the third day of the ride. Just one of many of those interesting little ways in which this ride has progressed. Anyway, the day began with a Murphy’s Law level of stressful highway cycling on U.S. 101. Not only was the left lane completely closed off for construction, there was no shoulder on the right meaning we had to block the entirety of traffic for approximately six miles. Luckily, it was mainly downhill and there were a few places to pull off and let the dozens of cars and trucks that had accumulated pass us, but it was still one of the single most stressful ride segments we’ve ever done. The rest of the ride was quite mellow in comparison, and was mostly spent alongside 101 on some very eye-catching and quiet vineyard roads. Towns passed us by on occasion, and for lunch we stopped at Pick’s Drive-In in the town of Cloverdale. Some more bumpy roads following the Russian River brought us into the town of Healdsburg to end a successful ride day and our last one over 70 miles.

Paul departing the town of Willits.

Jean’s expression says it all. Note the long line of cars passing us back.

Sam R and Emily rolling by a vineyard, a common site during the latter portion of this route.

Jaylen, Nina, and Patrick on the second stretch on the 101.

Tonight, we are staying at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Upon arrival we had a very fun and massive water balloon fight, a continuation of the smaller one that morning. We then took showers at a local health club (and possibly a dip in their hot tub) and upon returning to the church began preparing dinner. We were given the means to make an absolute feast from Costco by our hosts at the church, and in addition we were visited by Pastor Rob McNeill who talked with us and gave us a few bottles of wine he helped create from his time as a winemaker. There was tri-tip, salmon, pesto pasta, salads, and much more, and it was all incredibly delicious. Huge shoutout to Hanna, JY, and Edward who prepared everything. After dinner, we had another discussion as a team facilitated by Jaylen reflecting back on how far we had come, what this has meant to us and those we ride for in regard to our mission as a whole, and what this will mean for our lives going forward. Tomorrow will bring us within very close proximity of San Francisco, and the final two rides will be just a little longer than today’s ride combined.

Hanna and Sam R entering Cloverdale in search of lunch.

Sam M, Nina, and Patty at the lunch stop.

Enjoying our feast at the stayover.

A time for celebration.

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: What was your favorite place we had a rest day? (Answers displayed in order along the route.)

Champaign, IL: Paul

Chicago, IL: Jaylen, Adam

Lincoln, NE: Nina

Vernal, UT: Nabeel

Grand Teton N.P., WY: Patrick, Sam R., Jonathan B., Kathryn, Olivia, Jonathan Y., Jean, Sam M.

Boise, ID: Edward

One final proposal: Ed and Adam!

Day 74: The Weird Snake. Humboldt Redwoods State Park to Willits

U.S. 101 is an identity crisis in highway form. Stretching from Olympia, Washington to L.A., this major road is quite scenic and offers some of the best views of the West Coast from a car. Because of the extreme variance in population in the regions it passes through, it can range from two lanes to eight or more. During the day, vehicles would pass us in random droves and sometimes a full minute or more would pass without a single car anywhere on the road - a bit eerie, but also cool. Winding between the mountains of the Coast Ranges, it was a ride that tested us in many ways as we shaved off the miles in the dry California heat.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 92.4

Elevation: +6834’/-5617’

General Direction: Navigate onto the southbound Avenue of the Giants and stay on it for 17 miles, re-enter U.S. 101, Option 1: Take U.S. 101 all the way into Willits and exit onto Main Street, use residential streets to reach the stayover, Option 2: Take the exit for Benbow Road at mile 25.5, re-enter at mile 29.8, turn right onto CA-271 S at mile 32.7, re-merge with 101 at 38.8, turn left onto CA-271 S at mile 47.6 and re-enter at mile 49.6, continue on 101 for the duration.

Points of Interest: Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California Coast Ranges, South Fork Eel River, Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area

Tales of the Trail

The Bike America Team started their day with a gorgeous sunrise as seen peaking through the redwoods. Supposedly, we were going to be awarded another 17 miles on the Avenue of the Giants, but this ended up being about 12 due to an ambiguously marked closed road that one group had to backtrack up a hill to avoid. Nevertheless, it was another chance to be among these massive trees and a wonderful start to the day all the same. From there, we became good friends with U.S. 101 and continued at a mostly climbing pace given it was a net uphill for the entire day. Construction zones were everywhere, but we have become seasoned pros at waiting in one-lane queues (honestly, it’s pretty interesting how many construction flaggers we’ve spoken to alone on this trip). Shoulders appeared and disappeared erratically, sometimes in stressful places along two-lane sections, and today’s ride became a good exercise in where we would best be situated in pedaling on this road. Rest stops were wonderful things to have on a day like today, and our third one in the town of Laytonville gave groups a chance to get some lunch before continuing. The heat continued to cook the pavement as we raced the last 21 miles toward the small but adorable town of Willits.

Closing in on 200 miles!

Van selfie!

The Jons in the construction queue. Notice the rare electric Lucid in front of us.

The Sams making one of the many climbs of the day on 101.

Tonight, we are staying at Willits United Methodist Church. The evening consisted of many things including showers, writing letters, ice cream at Scoops before it closed, shopping for prom outfits, and a wonderful dinner of lasagna and sides provided by our hosts. The end is looming quite close at this point, and while the mileage on the bike only decreases from here, the awareness of the finish and the mental and emotional recognition of the bridge getting closer and closer only continue to grow. Tomorrow is Healdsburg and wine country!

Fun Fact: Willits, California is home to legendary champion racehorse Seabiscuit.

Super excited for showers!

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: What was your favorite state to ride through? (Answers displayed in order along the route.)

Colorado: Nabeel, Jonathan B., Kathryn, Jonathan Y., Nina, Jean, Edward

Wyoming: Olivia, Sam M. (1)

Oregon: Sam R. (1)

California: Paul, Jaylen, Patrick, Sam R. (2), Sam M. (2), Adam

A master at work.

Day 73: Coalescing Carbonic Spires. Arcata to Humboldt Redwoods State Park

They just keep going up. For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to visit a redwood forest in person, you begin to feel a bit small upon first entering given just how massive these trees are. The light levels drastically change as the canopy 300 feet up and the volume of trunks block the sun enough to produce a significant cooling and wind-blocking effect on the ground. These trees are as neat as they are imposing; their wide trunks enter the ground and simply disappear with hardly any trace of roots. Existing among the largest living plants on Earth as well as our final night of camping made this day a favorite among the Bike America Team.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 57.8

Elevation: +2119’/-2111’

General Direction: Proceed south and turn left onto U.S. 101 via Bayside Cutoff, at mile 8.0 exit onto the Waterfront Drive through Eureka and rejoin the highway at Exit 702, take Exit 698 to follow Tompkin Hills Road, rejoin at Exit 696, take exit 681 to navigate through Scotia and rejoin at Main St. onlet, take Exit 674 to ride on Avenue of the Giants and stay on this road to meet the campground on the left 14.8 miles later.

Points of Interest: Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Avenue of the Giants, Founders Grove, King Range National Conservation Area, Eel River

Tales of the Trail

The day began rather gray as the team headed south from Arcata on a road that would become very familiar during this final chapter of the ride: U.S. 101, a scenic and important California artery as well as the road that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. As easy as it would be to stay on this road, we would opt to take exits often to allow for a little more exploration and variance of scenery (and avoid highway brain). Riders pedaled through the larger town of Eureka which provided views of the entrance to Arcata Bay and a brief sight of the ocean, our last until the bridge. We eventually joined the Eel River and followed it through the towns of Fortuna and Rio Dell as the clouds broke. Already we began to see giant trees appearing on nearby hills, and at mile 43, almost immediately, we took the exit off of 101 to suddenly be immersed in another world.

Nina, Adam, Hanna, and Patty rolling along the coast.

Jaylen, Emily, and Jean pedaling through downtown Eureka.

Kathryn, Edward, Sam R, JY, and Olivia exiting off 101 for the first rest stop.

A classic Paul pull as the clouds break.

This pic goes hard.

The Avenue of the Giants may be the most aptly named road we have come across on this journey. Forests of 300 foot tall coast redwood trees that we had to crane our necks to see the tops of surrounded us on all sides. A rest stop at the beginning of the road allowed the team to climb one of these fallen trees and take plenty of pictures before continuing on one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire ride. The next fifteen miles were truly unforgettable as groups were greeted by thousands of these red giants forming their own sort of canyon along the road’s edge. We arrived into Burlington Campground in the early afternoon.

Redwoods photodump!

The mileage today meant more time to explore, and that we did. First, we took the van to the town of Miranda for some much-needed late lunch, coffee, and ice cream. Most of the team then opted to take a swim in the Eel River and we finished out the night with some beans, rice, and hot dogs. We even met a couple of bikepackers (many frequent the 101 within this part of California) traveling from Oregon to Mexico who asked to use our floor pump and we swapped stories of our one ride and their many rides around the world. The sunset seemed to arrive early as the trunks continued to block the light, and sleeping under these giant trees was a truly epic experience. Tomorrow, we will leave this graceful and awe-inspiring park and continue along the 101 toward the town of Willits nearly 100 miles away.

Heading to the riverbed for a swim.

I went on a solo ride around the park to see some of the largest trees. This is the Founders Tree, it is 346 feet tall and one of the most famous.

Skipping stones under the 101.

Camping among giants.

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: What was your favorite activity/outing as a team?

Edward: Costco Speedrun (Bend, OR)

Sam R: Brush Rodeo (Brush, near Fort Morgan, CO)

Kathryn: Jenny Lake Hike (Grand Teton N.P., WY)

Jaylen: Pickleball Tourney (Big Piney, WY)

Jonathan B: Exploring (Lincoln, NE)

Nabeel: Cascade Canyon Hike (Grand Teton N.P., WY)

Sam M: Kickball (Green River, WY)

Jonathan Y: Team Activity (Yuma, CO)

Nina: Pickleball (Big Piney, WY)

Paul: Rodeo (Brush, CO)

Adam: Whitewater Rafting (Idaho Springs, CO)

Day 72: Crossing the Cascades Pt. 2: The Cross-Continent Mark. Weaverville to Arcata

As much as the waves of the Pacific Ocean continued to crash upon the shoreline we stood on, a silence became present that we hadn’t truly been able to hear up until that point during the entire summer. In front of us was nothing - bikability-wise at least, and behind us was the entire continent that we had crossed. It’s a really difficult feeling to describe fully, but accomplished, both in terms of the mileage and the amount of good work in many ways that we had done to prepare for this ride, is a good placeholder. After a day as difficult as this one, with its 8000+ feet of climbing and maddeningly long downgrades, plus a final trudge through some sand dunes, it was especially rewarding to be greeted with this blue vastness.

First glimpse of the ocean (and the remaining mini hike needed to reach it).

Ride Overview

Mileage: 97.1 (+2.9 for Pacific Coast/century)

Elevation: +8164’/-9914’

General Direction: Turn left onto CA 299 and remain on this road for 93.9 miles, take Exit 1 and navigate south using local roads to reach the stayover. Optional: Use westbound CA 255 to reach beach access for the Pacific coast.

Points of Interest: Trinity River Valley, Klamath Mountain Range, Trinity National Forest, Mad River, downtown Arcata, Pacific Ocean!!!

Going to miss these.

Tales of the Trail

In this race against the sun, we found ourselves descending the final 2000’ of elevation needed to reach sea level. To do this, we would need to cut across the remaining width of the Klamath Mountains, which would involve four major climbs along CA 299. A switchback-filled descent within the first ten miles brought us in line with the Trinity River. Beautiful and immense ridge walls picketed with trees picked up from the river on both sides, making for a magical morning. We continued along through a few construction zones and an indecisive road that would go from extremely bumpy to quite smooth every mile or so. Ridges and smaller peaks opened up as we gained elevation from our second climb, and our second rest stop in the midst of this scored us some soft serve and tofu in addition to PB&Js to prepare for the two largest climbs to come.

Sam M, Patrick, Sam R, and Paul (NP) roll into the first rest stop along the Trinity River.

These climbs, the first to Berry Summit and the second to Lord-Ellis Summit, were eleven and five miles long respectively, as well as the only remaining obstacles between our team and the Pacific coastline. We pushed heartily through these tough ascents, including a half-mile long construction zone with a 7% grade that we had to book it through, and carefully took their enjoyable descents as the outside temperature climbed into the 90s. By the end of the second climb, we were 84 miles in and ready to finish out the day with a truly special stop: the Pacific Ocean, the true end of the ride in one sense.

Jean and Adam waiting on the next wave of cars to pass through a construction zone.

Hanna and Jaylen cruising down a descent.

The green mountains had faded away just as the highway turned south toward the coastal towns tucked in their bases. As we continued our final sprint westward on this suddenly flat terrain, we saw a collection of farm fields, with cows! Finding beach access proved to be a little cumbersome as for the last half mile or so we dismounted and de-shoed to walk ourselves and our bikes across the Ma-le’l Sand Dunes. From the top of the first of these, we could see the ocean for the first time, and the trek across the hot sand full of prickly plants was more than worth it for what came next. Groups arrived to the beach at different points in the afternoon, but the experience was a shared one of sheer joy, celebration, and utter awe. The water was cooling as well as powerful in its own right, with massive cloud embankments taking up the background of an otherwise intense blue sky. We dipped our front tires into the water, a tradition and sign that we had truly and humanly pedaled from coast to coast.

From coast . . .

To coast . . .

Tonight, we are staying at the Lutheran Church of Arcata, and in true I4K fashion gunned it to the top of one of the most brutal climbs to a stayover we’ve had on this ride. We were graciously offered showers at HealthSport, a local gym, and made ourselves some delicious spaghetti and lentils, which honestly have become a bt of a delicacy at this point given how many donated meals we have received. Riders opted to unwind from this intense day as well as explore the town of Arcata in the evening, and we went to bed ready to make our turn south toward the giant redwood trees, and later, San Francisco.

Nabeel and Jaylen rolling through downtown Arcata at the end of the day.

Seriously some reeeally good pizza.

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: Which climb has made you feel the most accomplished?

Nina: Ochoco National Forest

Paul: Hill #3 on the 3 Hill Day, Milton, PA

Sam M: Hill #3 after Paul dusted me

Hanna: Loveland Pass

Patrick: Mt. Eddy Pass (Day 71)

Kathryn: Loveland Pass

Sam R: Mt. Eddy Pass (Day 71)

Emily: John Day

Edward: Second half going into Baker City

Jean: Loveland Pass

Jonathan B: Day 72 eleven and five-miler

Adam: Ochoco Climb

Day 71: Crossing the Cascades Pt. 1. Mount Shasta to Weaverville

Absolutely gorgeous ride, but National Forest roads are not to be trifled with.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 89.2

Elevation: +7980’/-9590’

General Direction: Navigate northwest out of the stayover onto Old Stage Road for the first 12.3 miles, begin the climb on Stewart Springs Road until it terminates and turn right onto NF Road 17 to finish it at mile 16.7, take the descent, then turn left onto CA 3 at mile 39.3, remain on this road until mile 87.0, then turn left into Weaverville, use local roads to navigate to southbound CA 299 and turn right into the stayover parking lot.

Points of Interest: Mt. Eddy Pass, Cascade Mountain Range (Mt. Eddy, Craggy Peak, Denny Point, etc.), Trinity Lake, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Summit rest stops. are some of the best.

Did you know she’s not just a chef but an artist too? Hanna’s masterpiece is complete and we absolutely love it! Note Hanna’s cat Cubby making an appearance driving the van.

Tales of the Trail

The day began with a fun little descent down Old Stage Road through open fields with plenty of mountains overlooking from a distance as the sun rose. This teaser turned into one of the most challenging climbs of the summer - a diabolical 12.9 miles at 5.6% average grade. The road weaved through the trees and surrounding plant life and gave breathtaking views of the surrounding ranges the higher we climbed. Slowly but surely we made it to the top of the Mt. Eddy Pass in time for a much needed rest stop. As rough as this climb was, most would take it over the descent as the other side of the pass descended for 25 miles at a -3.5% average grade, complete with plenty of potholes hidden in shadow. Having to re-chain the bike mid-descent (Sam M) or getting stung by a bee at the top (JB) only adds to the fun. Groups made it safely through this genuinely bad downgrade in one piece and the left turn onto CA 3 with its much better pavement was quite welcoming. From here, we came across rolling hills ensheathed in forest and red clay, with S-curves abounding. Three groups had consolidated into two by this point; everyone pushed quite hard in gear and spirit through these final miles and, at long last, into the small town of Weaverville.

An accidental mega-group starts the day off.

Sam’s Club reapproaching Black Butte.

Adam, Ed, and JB starting the climb.

Sam R and Paul keep trucking as the mountain ridge appears on the right.

Finishing out the day with some winding descents.

Tonight, we are staying at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, a one-room style building with incredibly friendly folks who provided us with a much-enjoyed spaghetti dinner. We slept in pews or on the floor, looking forward to our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean the following day.

Jaylen taking care of business during the last stretch.

Sleeping on a church pew.

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: Team Ice Cream or Team Milkshake?

Ice Cream: Kathryn, Laurel, Edward, Nabeel, Jean, Olivia

Milkshake: Paul, Sam M, Patrick, Sam R, Adam, Jonathan Y, Hanna, Jonathan B

This way to the ocean.

Day 70: Giant. Klamath Falls to Mount Shasta, CA

It’s not all that often that we are able to see our destination for the day five or ten miles out, let alone one or two. Today, a truly broad mountain with white streaks of snow lacing from its peak emerged at the size of a quarter at arms length from the church parking lot in Klamath Falls. We would spend the day pedaling our way toward this mountain, Mt. Shasta, and watching it grow right in front of us, with the ultimate goal of reaching the town with the same name to its southwest. Quite the epic way to make our appearance into our final state of this summer-long trek: the Golden State of California. Largest by population, third by land area, and home to an iconic red suspension bridge that will serve as our last length of riding in one week.

Welcome to California I4K 2023 Bike America Team!

Ride Overview

Mileage: 81.9

Elevation: +3328’/-3993’

General Direction: Navigate through downtown Klamath Falls and proceed onto southbound U.S. 97, cross the California border at mile 18.9, follow the road for another 54.4 miles around the western edge of Mt. Shasta into the town of Weed, enter southbound I-5 and ride in the shoulder, take the third exit (741) onto Abrams Lake Road, meet with Pine Grove Dr. and take it and Lassen Lane the last few remaining miles to the stayover.

Points of Interest: Mt. Shasta, Cascade Mountain Range (Hamaker Mountain, Ball Mountain, the Whaleback, Black Butte, etc.), Klamath National Forest

View through the back of the sign (technically looking from California into Oregon).

Tales of the Trail

First things first, it’s NRLAD! Also known as National Ride Leader Appreciation Day, this holiday celebrates our leadership team of Patrick, Nina, and Jon Y (and Mike of course who is chilling in Champaign), and began with a very fun wake-up of party horns by their fellow riders. We took care of them every chance we got by getting them snacks, holding their bikes, filling their water bottles, and so much more.

Mt. Shasta (just right of the far away building) as seen from the church parking lot. Watch it grow in the next few pictures.

Mt. Shasta is the fifth-highest peak in California, and sits on a truly massive 17-mile wide base. It continued to amaze us as a few stray clouds gathered around its peak during the morning and dissipated in the afternoon when it finally towered nearly directly over us. The first leg of the journey gave us our much anticipated and highly celebrated crossing through California’s northern border. Fields collected along the sides of the highway as the smaller Mt. Hebron began to block its taller cousin. This made for a hefty five-mile climb with a 4% average grade along some torched pine trunks, but this only prepared us for a few dozen miles of quite fun and scenic descents through the spectacular Northern California Cascades and our move to the right of the now quite-imposing Shasta. Mile 72 brought us back to level ground as well as to the one and only Weed, California, where we stopped for some lunch and caffeine out of the heat (resisting the urge to make a joke so hard right now). From here, we got onto I-5 and took it by a prominent cinder cone called Black Butte, exited, and rolled into the town of Mount Shasta.

Sam R and Jean’s group on 97 just after dipping into California. Groups jammed to California-themed songs during this stretch.

Bikes, trains, and automobiles ft. Sam M.

Sam M and JB after passing over Mt. Hebron. Clouds have overtaken the peak at this point.

Passing Mt. Shasta to the east . . .

. . . and its friends to the west!

Tonight’s stayover is the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Members of the congregation prepared a wonderful and filling dinner of lasagna, salad, and dessert and we were able to shower next door at The Wellness Center. Tomorrow will begin our two-day push across the Cascades with some difficult cycling (8000’ of climbing per day anyone?) as we make our move for the Pacific coast.

Hanna and JB posing for the iconic Weed arch.

Paul and Sam M making their way toward Black Butte on the I-5.

Cyclist’s Corner: Team Edition

From now until the end of the ride, this segment will be a single open answer or poll-style question that most or all of the team will answer. :)

Today’s Question: What is your flat count as of now (end of Day 70)?

0: Sam R, Nina

1: Emily

2: Jaylen, Paul, Jonathan Y

3: Adam, Kathryn

4: Jonathan B, Hanna

5: Sam M, Patrick, Jean, Nabeel

7: Ed

9: Laurel

>10: Olivia

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

Goodnight Van!