Day 7: Are We Out of the Hills Yet? Du Bois to Clarion

No. But we’re getting there! We have one more destination tomorrow within Pennsylvania, and cross the border into Ohio the day after. The hills will become flats and the team is of course very aware. Some are excited for the lack of tough climbing and others are dreading the long flat stretches after so much interesting and challenging terrain (after living in Illinois, any sort of elevation change becomes interesting!) The end of today also marks our first full week of riding and what a week it has been already. We are very excited for what more awaits (and there’s plenty of it) on this vast and epic journey!

Edit: Sorry for late post, neither good wifi nor cell service at the stayover.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 38.4

Elevation: +2926’/-2921’

General Direction: Proceed southwest out of Du Bois, follow linked roads to Reynoldsville and climb Stewart Road to its north, ride on U.S. 322 to Brookville (c. mile 18), cross Redbank Creek and continue to follow U.S. 322 to Clarion. Navigate south to arrive at the stay over: Clarion County YMCA.

Points of Interest: Moonlite Drive-In Theatre, Meadows Frozen Custard (Clarion)

Tales of the Trail

The ride was a relatively quick one, and we made first contact with our stayover before noon! This route took us through a few forests, small Pennsylvania towns, by plenty of fields, and of course had plenty of rolling hills (I and many others would say over 90%). A fair bit of bike issues arose during our ride, but we managed to beat the worst of the heat and take our time all at once.

One wonderful announcement is that our first Portrait is complete! At our one and only rest stop, we met Kathy Dinger who was curious about our mission and was willing to help. Kathy’s husband passed away from multiple myeloma and gave her perspective in regard to the pain, the loss, and the strength accrued from it all. This Portrait, as well as all of the others, will be available in time as our Portraits Coordinator Emily Gonzalez edits them.

Our first YMCA stayover of the ride is here! We are staying at the Clarion County YMCA tonight and is it niceee. Outside of our regular evening routine and chores, everyone on the team has had at least one turn in one of two massage chairs near the entrance. During any free time, riders could be found shooting some hoops, playing some intense games of foosball, taking a dip in the pool, or napping. Tonight we offered our classic pasta dinner (with lentils!) and earlier for lunch we had tacos courtesy of Taco Inc. A group of us also drove to Meadows Frozen Custard for some tasty treats. Tomorrow’s ride nearly doubles today’s as we make our way into New Castle.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Nabeel Hussain

How are you today? I’m feeling good, I was feeling a bit under the weather earlier when we were riding but feel better now. Definitely exhausted too, but I know we are working to be more efficient in how we ride to avoid this.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A white 2020 Trek Domane AL2 that I’m renting from the gear program. A fun fact about the bike is that it has been on I4K twice, so it even beats Mike in terms of miles on the ride.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Getting up every day with the hope of seeing new places. As someone from Pakistan, this is a lot of exposure on its own, and yet I’m seeing parts of the country not many people internationally or even locally get to see. Also, I love meeting new people every day on the ride.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Not a lot. The first time I rode a road bike was two months ago when we started the training rides for I4K. Everyone on the team was very accommodative toward me as I began to get into cycling, and I want to emphasize that just because you haven’t cycled much or at all doesn’t mean that you can’t be a part of this club by any means.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I lost my grandpa to lung cancer in 2013. He was a very integral part of our family. He was mainly lost due to late detection; in Pakistan the medical facilities and technology aren’t as good as those in the US. One of the main reasons I am doing this ride is to pay homage to him and to his life.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? The rest stop when we had our first portrait of the year. It was the first time I saw someone talking about their own cancer experience, where I am from people are not as open about their struggles with cancer or other diseases, sharing creates a conducive environment to promote more about this disease even though it has been around for so long and no total cure has been found.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I thank everyone who has been supporting me on this journey, and as someone who has been in the US for one year, this is a very cool opportunity and I couldn’t be more thankful.

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

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

Day 6: Patience and Persistence. State College to Du Bois

Today was a tough one. A few events and harsh temperatures prompted us to shuttle to our stayover early and recuperate. We hope that this is the hardest day in terms of not riding, and the support, clarity, and strength we have shown each other has been nothing short of incredible. We are ready to roll to our next destination as we begin to approach the western border of Pennsylvania. Going to keep this one brief.

Tales of the Trail

We had planned to possibly shuttle in advance of the high in the upper 80s, and our rollouts at 6:00 AM have also helped us greatly in beating the heat. We started by passing south of State College to begin our first climb at mile 13.5, a near two-miler. This was followed by a descent into the small town of Julian. In I4K, safety remains the highest priority. One of our riders had a close call with a driver during a turn on this descent while riding safely, and ended up on the ground with only minor injuries. They were treated and will recover fully, and the help they received from the other riders in their group was absolutely commendable. We then decided to shuttle in groups from our rest stop at mile 18 to the stayover.

Other fun things that happened: due to various factors including improper fastening devices and bumpy road conditions, my bike took a spill off of the back of our van’s bike rack. :.) Luckily, most of the damage was taken by the wheels themselves, but it is currently un-rideable and needs these and a few other parts replaced. Mike, the absolute angel that he is, is lending his bike to me in the meantime while other members of the team including Nina, both Sams, and our Logistics Director Ellie have been super helpful in tracking down shops and parts. It goes to show how fragile these vehicles really are, and how essential the work that goes into maintaining them is to keep our mission going.

Nina with a small friend pt. 2

We arrived in our shuttle groups to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Du Bois in the early afternoon where we met the amazing Father Mark. He organized pizza donations from two different restaurants and provided us plenty of extra water. We were also given lunch and donuts from a local shop. An absolutely beautiful and lively small town to be sure. Special shoutout to the YMCA for the showers! That’s all for now, we’ll see you on the road tomorrow!

Sing it with me now!

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

Happy Paul :)

Days 4 & 5: Cruising the Mountain Valley. Milton to State College + Rest Day

Day 4 gave our team some of their most beautiful rides and ride conditions yet. We rode through pine-forested slopes and threaded the mountains on either side as the sunny, fielded hills in the valley came and went. It was a lighter day than yesterday mileage-wise, but still a good challenge for the riders. At this point, we have fully nestled ourselves into the core of the Appalachian Mountains.

As I sit here beginning to write this the following morning (Day 5), a few of us are sitting on the stayover porch listening to the birds, far distant traffic below, and the accompanying silence. We can see the range to our north giving way to State College to our northwest, with absolutely no clouds. Sandpipers flit above us and there is a light breeze; truly a fantastic way to begin our first rest day en route. I am combining these two days to give a full account and to maximize some much needed sleep. :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 56.4

Elevation: +3118’/-2332’

General Direction: Ride west from the stayover across two bridges over W. Branch Susquehanna River, turn left on J. Matthias Rd. then right onto two westward roads to meet PA-192 at mile 12.9, follow for the remainder of route until a turn to the south at Linden Hall (mile 54) and a quick passage on W-U.S. 322, climb the hill to the stayover lodge.

Points of Interest: Sand Bridge State Park, Raymond B. Winter State Park, Bald Eagle State Forest, Penn’s Cave, Long Lane Farm Stand, cows!

Tales of the Trail

In I4K, some rides have us constantly turning what seems like every five seconds, and others route us onto a road where we stay for the majority of the day. This was an example of the latter, where the PA-192 highway was the star of the show.

We left Milton around 6:30 in the morning and for the first ten miles could see jagged fields displaced by the topography as well as some sleepy cows. The majority of the climbing took place over the next 13 miles where we entered the beautiful pine forests of Raymond Winter State Park. There were also plenty of rocky slopes on the side of the road, and all of these elements combined made it much more enjoyable.

The end of the climb gave way to open valley as we began to enter Amish country and ride straight in the middle of fields with two mountain ranges on each side. The constant rolling hills gave us some great climbs; we had to approach each one differently to pedal with the most efficiency. Our second rest stop at mile 36 was a general store where we stocked up on some chips, ice cream, and other goodies. We continued down the valley and met some very friendly jersey cows at mile 50 (go follow @i4kows for all of our cow-related content! Shoutout to Hanna for running it this year!), and three of the rider groups stopped at the Long Lane Farm Stand which just opened as they were passing by. There was plenty to look at and snack on and we even debated bringing back some frozen bacon with us.

We arrived at our stayover in the early afternoon, and it was a tough arrival as we had to climb a steep hill that consisted of the driveway as our final bit of the route. We stayed at Calvary Church’s lodge just outside of State College and enjoyed an amazing BBQ dinner provided by our epic host Amy Johnstonbaugh. We explored the property a bit too: some of us played on a beautiful but challenging disc golf course in the woods and Mike proved himself untouchable. Others hiked around the property as the sun set and took in the view. We slept well knowing we could sleep in up to four hours later than normal. :)

Some of the view from the lodge’s porch.

The Rest Day

It was a beautiful morning in the Pennsylvania mountains. A group of four riders took the van into town to buy groceries for a homemade breakfast, and with chef-ing done by Hanna and Jon, we had eggs, bacon, sausage, and bagels with cream cheese. It was especially appetizing following our usual oatmeal for the past week.

We headed into town at noon for a donated lunch from Noodles and Company, courtesy of Adam (who is himself a past Noodles manager in his hometown). We explored State College in groups and took in various sites such as the famous Berkey Creamery, Frost Entomological Museum, Penn State Arboretum, and the Nittany Lion statue. After heading back to the stayover, Amy provided us a delicious lasagna dinner and we relaxed as we mentally settled in for eleven straight days of cycling. Chamois butter, anyone?

And now, as I sit here finishing this entry, the sun is setting in a fiery orange over the town and mountains to the west.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Olivia Ross

How are you today? I’m good!

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A white Giant Avail with blue accents.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Getting to meet a lot of new people, I love meeting new people and of course have enjoyed getting to know everyone on the team.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I did not cycle at all, I knew how to ride a bike but didn’t have one on campus and didn’t usually ride at home.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I’m riding for both of my grandparents but more specifically my grandma. Both had cancer, my grandpa passed quickly while my grandma had battled it for over ten years. I feel like my grandma would have wanted to do this herself, so in that way I’m fulfilling this experience for her.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? Since I rode in the van today, on yesterday’s ride it was walking up the very steep hill with our bikes. Me, Jon, and Kathryn decided to walk due to how exhausting it was but it was a very sweet bonding moment.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? You know I love my chicken-fried.

***Olivia is our social media coordinator for the ride! Go check out all of her fantastic posts on Facebook and Instagram, both usernames are @illini4000.***

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

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

Oatmeal: The I4K breakfast of champions.

Day 3: The Cloudless Climb. Lehighton to Milton

Day 3 was a ride with a physically challenging beginning and a mentally challenging ending. Full of variety in elevation and scenery, it was an adventure in its own right. The temperature got into the low 80s, but was completely cloudless and somewhat cool at high elevations, which made it feel a bit surreal in some ways. The team powered through and it was epic to see. It was a tough day, but rewarding in so many ways.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 74.8

Elevation: +4940’/-5038’

General Direction: Proceed north on US 209, wrap around west into Jim Thorpe, Nesquohoning, and Hometown, ascend the first large climb to the junction with I-81 (max grade 11.6%), descend into Mahanoy City (max grade -10.4%), turn north on Route 54 and ascend into and past town of Shenandoah (max grade 9.3%), descend to junction with Little Mountain Road (max grade -8.0%) and turn left, ascend to the summit via Old Reading Road (max grade 11.7%, 0.6 miles > 9%) and descend to Ringtown Mountain Road (max grade -8.9%), move 11 miles northwest to the Susquehanna River and follow it via scenic Legion Road, turn northwest at Danville and follow hilly Route 642 to Milton.

Points of Interest: Lehigh River Valley, Susquehanna River, lookout near Locust Ridge Wind Farm

Tales of the Trail

This was a challenging and adventurous ride, but also one that rewarded every hard climb with a flying descent. We left around 6:30 AM with a beautiful sunrise at our backs and proceeded along forested mountainsides and gorges. The first 40 or so miles of the ride had the brunt of the climbing, and especially focused on three steep climbs and descents. These climbs tested every rider, especially the third which had the most heat and contained the deafening silence of the sounds of the forest amidst a daunting near 12% stretch. Truly a test between rider and bicycle, but we pushed through. These three climbs were met with stunning views of the fielded valleys below and, perhaps the most fun depending on which rider you ask, three very fast and beautiful descents. Riders found themselves gaining more comfort on these or safely opting to zoom (Iv’e seen some of the GoPro footage already and it is siiiiiick). Everyone’s idea of a climb-descent set was changed for good after training in Illinois.

The rest of the ride was mostly either rolling hills or fairly challenging climbs especially after the three largest. A construction stop allowed groups to stop on the bridge overlooking the Susquehanna River and have a unique rest and photo op. The continuation of the ride was more so mentally taxing as the earlier miles placed physical effects for the later ones. In addition, the road conditions and contending with cars were difficult toward the end - a never-ending game of patience and trust. Nevertheless, we were treated with beautiful roads along the river gorge and passed many farmsteads, towns, and mountainsides as we made our way toward Milton.

The goodwill of those we talk to continues to be a source of positivity and assistance to us along our journey. We met John Ancarzski at a rest stop where he stopped to introduce himself. Seeing his iconic bicycle and breast cancer awareness shirt, the groups there struck up conversation with him. They learned that his son had done a similar ride with four people from Pennsylvania to California that was cut short due to a tragic accident. They gave him a hug and took a photo together. We also met Robert Orosco, the head chef at Creekside Restaurant in Ringtown. He donated two loaves of bread and $53 cash from his own pocket. Note: Pictures will be added as soon as I have them. Also while we were stopped there, they even had our news segment from yesterday playing on their TV!

Tonight, we are staying in Milton, PA at yet another Trinity Lutheran Church. A local pizza restaurant donated our entire dinner and we were able to use the showers at the YMCA! We are looking forward to our 56 mile journey into State College and the rest day to follow.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Paul Leman

How are you today? I’m doing good!

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A crimson red 2020 Trek Domane SL5.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? I have two! The first is seeing the team come together and help each other out, look out for each other, and make sure everyone is safe and comfortable as possible even if it means going out of one’s own way. The second is seeing the generosity of the stayover hosts, who similarly make sure we are fed and comfortable.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? Quite a bit. I got into road cycling three years ago, and throughout college I usually did up to four solo rides per week, usually 20-30 miles long each.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? I’m riding for a rider’s friend who we dedicated the ride for today.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? About two-thirds of the way through when we had a steep climb and descent. The climb was very challenging physically and mentally, but I pushed myself and made it through without stopping which was very rewarding to me. I also achieved a personal best top speed on the descent at 54.7 mph.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you so much for all your support! This definitely isn’t easy but it’s your support that makes it all worth it and possible.

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

Day 2: Another State, A Taste of the Mountains. Clinton, NJ to Lehighton, PA

We begin to lose sight of the beginning as we make our way into our third state: the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. This ride, while a little on the shorter side mileage-wise offered its fair share of climbs, descents, and beautiful views accompanying each. I’m going to keep this one a bit shorter as we have a long day ahead. :)

Think we can all relate to this one.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 52.2

Elevation: +3216’/-2840’

General Direction: Begin by heading WNW out of Clinton and passing various small towns, close to 400’ ascent miles 5-7, cross the Delaware River from Phillipsburg, NJ to Easton, PA at mile 18, continue through Bath, follow the rolling road west and turn north after crossing the Lehigh River at mile 42, meet the Delaware & Lehigh bike trail (gravel!) at 48.5 and continue north into Lehighton

Points of Interest: Delaware River, Lehigh River, downtown Easton

Crossing the Delaware.

Tales of the Trail

The hills slowly began to resemble mountains over the course of this ride, lending to the idea of the value of cycling as a way to view so much while still traveling at a reasonable enough speed to get somewhere. The first week of I4K is always difficult and we are finding this out as we lose sight of the sprawling New York and trade it for the open Pennsylvania countryside. The rhythm of waking up, packing, and departing, as well as stopping or raising or lowering speed during the riding portion are all mainly experimental at this point; we are still finding that groove. Our ride leader Mike has been a huge help in guiding us into this (he’s literally done this thing twice already???) and we will only continue to improve.

Another flat tire and other bike issues were of course present, as was the first real instance of gravel on the ride. This gravel section made up part of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor trail, a gorgeous route running along the Lehigh River between mountains. Powerful climbs were made, and many are already beginning to feel more comfortable descending. In addition, the groups got to walk along, and in some cases be part of a Memorial Day Parade!

Today, I drove the van which means I got to pick our rest stops, and at one of these I was waiting for the team when I met a gentleman named William. He was interested in the organization from the art on the side of the van (shoutout Jean!!) and is also driving across the country with his mother. I told him a bit about I4K and we talked for a few minutes. We have many interactions like this whether alone or in groups and each is special in its own right. William, if you’re reading this, good luck and godspeed. :)

Tonight we are staying at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton. Our hosts Mary Ann Hazel, Al Sellers, and many members of the congregation greeted us with warmth, excitement, and grace, and we were provided a wonderful meal, camaraderie, and even shuttles to the local pool for a niceeee shower (shoutout to all of them who are reading this!). We cooked our first pasta of the trip, ran laundry, cleaned bikes, did chores, and even had some free time. A few of us were also interviewed by local news channel WBRE! Lehighton is a beautiful town and we thank everyone for their hospitality as we prepare for a 75-miler tomorrow.

Quick selfie before entering PA.

The esteemed Sam “Little Island” Rosner offering his thoughts to a waiting audience.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Adam Wallach

How are you today? I am great! Today was a shorter day in terms of mileage but still very hard with all of the climbs. I also had some stomach issues so I am going to adjust my nutrition. Hopefully we get some good mileage in before it gets hot tomorrow.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A Trek Alpha 1.2, which I got from my uncle about one and three-quarters year ago.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Everything has been awesome but the camaraderie with the team is especially so for me. We have had two hard days of biking plus one of a lot of walking in New York, and everyone has kept in good spirits and been uplifting toward each other.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? From checking my Strava the other day (Adam Wallach), around 5000 miles and probably another 1000 offline. I have also been a runner pretty much my whole life.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? Today we were riding for Jaylen’s grandmother and I thought about her and this purpose on a steep climb, but throughout the ride I am riding for my mom who is a cancer survivor, and my uncle who passed away from cancer.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? The 13% uphill at mile 40-45ish before the gravel. It was memorable for me because I wanted to get up the climb, and it felt like I put in a surge and it paid off in that moment.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you for the support whether it be close family or a friend I haven’t talked to in a while, it means a lot that you are following me on this ride. Don’t limit yourself to what you think you can achieve. What you think you can do is much less than what you can actually do.

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

How to make Adam happy 101.

Day 1: From Cities to Green Hills. New York to Clinton, NJ

The first day of the ride itself came and went, and what an adventure it was all on its own. We accomplished biking into our second state: New Jersey, the Garden State. We are staying the night at Clinton United Methodist Church and are already over halfway through the state mileage-wise. We are looking forward to entering our third state, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River tomorrow.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 80.2 (3.4 of which from NYC stayover to Strawberry Fields)

Elevation: +3754’/-3644’ (denotes gain or climbing and loss or descending)

General Direction: Begin in Strawberry Fields, ride north along Hudson River to George Washington Bridge, cross into NJ, take generally WSW path through NYC suburbs, Newark suburbs, and into the countryside by various towns, meadows, and forests. Climbs and descents are especially concentrated in the final seven miles but present throughout.

Points of Interest: Central Park, Hudson River Greenway, George Washington Bridge, Teterboro Airport, Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve, Round Valley Recreation Area

Tales of the Trail

Today’s ride was a challenging first test for the team, as we applied all of our training from the months prior to roads, populated layouts, signage, and terrains we had never seen before. Most if not all riders past and present agree: there is no way to fully mentally and physically prepare for a ride of this scale. Even with cycling for a year prior with access to all sorts of routes plus the prep and side work needed to maintain the bike and the human riding it, there are always new situations, problems that need quick responses, and constantly changing conditions that all impact a ride like this. This further pushes just how lucky we are to be able to do this, and it of course could not happen without our board who have fully prepared us nonetheless. :) I’ll continue to talk more about this process in later entries. Onto the fun stuff!

We began by packing, leaving the stayover, and having our first morning circle (all before 6 AM, the transition from asleep to scrambling to pack is something to see). We then rode about 3.5 miles to the “start line” of Strawberry Fields, which included riding on part of the main Central Park loop in the cool morning air. We then met up with some family members as well as Carly from the B+ (“Be Positive”) Foundation, a massive support campaign that provides funds for families with children with cancer across the United States as well as much more. For more information, please visit https://www.bepositive.org. She gave us some inspirational words and wished us all luck.

One very exciting bit of news is that the team is now complete! Our cool and awesome ride leader, Mike Rotter (gray shirt, leaning on his bike in the photo above), joined us late last night in NYC and drove the van for us today (but will be riding with us plenty in the coming weeks).

As we made our way along the edge of Manhattan, it was amazing to breathe the air, to know we were actually here doing this, for real. It was also interesting to see hundreds of cyclists whiz around and by us as part of their Sunday morning ride, including serious triathletes and entire cycling clubs. The George Washington Bridge lent spectacular views as we left New York.

Crossing into New Jersey offered beauty, stress, and a surprising amount of different terrains from what most outside the state may imagine it to have. Even Jon, a New Jersey native, said the area near the Clinton stayover reminded him of Pennsylvania and was surprised to see it in his home state. We have had our first flat tire (no more than two minutes into NJ, but changed successfully en route), and a few other bike problems (nothing that our mechanics Sam M and Nina can’t handle).

The flat in question.

The beauty was found in the small, such as the colors of the storefronts along the large descent through downtown Rutherford, and the large, like seeing the lake emerge at Round Valley. The country offered large meadows and beautiful woods.

The stress was the physical challenge, mainly through our first climbs and descents outside of a mostly flat Illinois that got to be more and more prevalent in the last seven miles. The team worked incredibly hard to overcome these, especially the climbs. Our challenge was rewarded with an amazing dinner at our stayover and hose showers for all! The exhaustion is already hitting hard, but repetition and self-care will hit harder in the end.

One little cool thing that happened: Olivia’s bike was having brake trouble, enough to where Mike had to drive out to help fix it. Our group happened to be stopped at Arlington Diner, known for their cheesecake, so of course we got some. The owner of the diner eventually came out and was interested in learning more about our organization, and even gave us a food donation!

We are tired but will be ready for Day 2 tomorrow.

Two rider groups on the GW bridge.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jaylen Patel

How are you today? I am very excited for where this ride takes us over the next 76 days. Day 1 was special to me, it puts into perspective the outcome of our training, fundraising, and cancer awareness mission, which gives me feelings of inspiration, dedication and perseverance.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A navy blue Trek Domane AL2, from the Gear Program

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? The conversations I have had with all of the riders. We all have similar motivations for doing this ride at the start, and it will be amazing to see over the next 76 days how these people will turn from strangers eight months ago, to friends, to family.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I mainly got into cycling in March, 2020 and used to bike to and from class every day. The longest ride I had done in one sitting prior to I4K was 40 miles and was a route I planned with my brother from Schaumburg to Lake Michigan.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? Today, I am riding for my grandmother Kailas Patel; she passed from a very rare form of cancer roughly two years ago now. She was a great role model and support network for my family and was a primary caretaker of mine from when I was born to age 12. She was a wonderful cook, mother, and grandmother, and she is truly missed.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? The entrance into the Hudson River trail. It was amazing to officially commence the start of our trip with seeing George Washington Bridge in the distance while riding along the Hudson River. I find it reminiscent of the Lake Shore trail in Chicago.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Thank you for your endless support, I wouldn’t have the strength to go on this ride without all of you, and I’m very grateful for everything you’ve given me thus far. I can’t wait to make all of you proud and see you soon at points along the journey.

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

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

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

Day 0: Damon Runyon & Exploring the Metropolis. New York

Today was an amazing day all around for the Bike America Team!

It began with an orientation for our van drivers and another one for those performing the highly necessary dynamic chores for the ride. This was followed by a packed 40-minute subway ride to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s headquarters in lower Manhattan.

We looooove Bo’s Bagels.

Waiting for the subway to take us downtown.

Breakfast at Damon Runyon.

Damon Runyon specializes in funding high-risk, high-reward cancer research and has been one of our beneficiaries for the past 13 years. I invite you to visit their website, https://www.damonrunyon.org, to learn more about the truly amazing research they have helped to sponsor. While there, we enjoyed breakfast and were introduced to Zeda Zhang, PhD, a scientist who focuses his research on discovering and implementing possible molecular-based treatments for ovarian cancer.

Following this, we took the afternoon to explore the city in groups and found ourselves visiting many different places including Battery Park, the 9/11 Memorial, Little Island, the High Line, Times Square, and Central Park (many of us walked through it entirely). Day 0, while considered a rest day, was pretty much the opposite in terms of excitement and enjoyment, and in some ways was a good warmup for the ride to come.

Obligatory Lady Liberty pics.

Jean, Paul, Patrick, and Nina chilling in Times Square.

Nabeel, Kathryn, Edward, and Jonathan explore the woods (yes, woods!) within Central Park.

Adam, Sam M, Sam R, and Jon walking the High Line.

We returned to St. Mary’s for a delicious dinner provided by Bipin Sangankar, long-time supporter of I4K and past stayover host. Weighing in the back of our minds is the reality of starting the ride itself. Some of us make last-minute adjustments to our bikes, some repack and prepare their backpacks to be ready to act on our 5 AM wake up call.

Stocking up on samosas after a long day of walking the city.

A few of the guys take a beautiful evening ride to Central Park and back.

~Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

Rest Day: a day of rest and no riding. Riders are free to explore the area or stay at the stayover (and likely catch up on some much needed zzz’s). There are 12 of these for 2023.

Beginning tomorrow, I will be structuring our journals with defined sections to allow for some variety in sharing our concrete objectives, personal experiences, and a few other surprises. Stay tuned, and see you on the road! :)

Day -1: Welcome to I4K 2023! Chicago to New York

Hello and welcome to the official Illini 4000 website blog for the 2023 Bike America Team’s journey across the United States! We could not be any more excited about the adventure we are about to take on, nor could we be any more eager to fulfill our mission as an organization over the course of the summer. My name is Jonathan Boudreaux (boo like a ghost, drO like bro) and I am the journalist for the I4K 2023 Bike America Team. My job is both simple and one I am going to absolutely love doing: relaying all of the details of our adventures to anyone and everyone wishing to read about them! I will be posting daily barring any technical difficulties, so saddle up, helmets on, and get ready to follow along on a truly epic summer of cycling!

The team, hungry for adventure, full of pizza.

The first day, ironically called Day -1, consists of a few key objectives: 1.) get the team together 2.) get the bikes and gear together and 3.) get everyone and everything to New York in one piece. Fourteen of us met at Chicago Midway for our flight to New York, while the remaining four of us flew in or drove from other locations (shoutout to Patrick for driving the van all the way from Champaign!). The flight from Chicago was beautiful with virtually no clouds, and the route we will take across the eastern United States was visible from our plane windows. It will take us three weeks to re-cover the distance on our bikes that our plane covered in just two hours.

Gathering at Midway. Note the brown goodie bags (thank you Maya and Rahul! :) )

Leaving Chicago . . .

. . . landing in NYC!

We landed at a renovated LaGuardia Airport in the late afternoon. One bumpy bus ride into Manhattan later, we arrived at our first stayover: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Harlem. We will be staying here for two nights prior to the start of our ride from Central Park. Mary, our stayover host and the priest of the church, provided us with a wonderful pizza dinner upon our arrival. After this, we unpacked the van and got to work reassembling our bikes. As I sit here writing this, we are settling in for our first night of a ride to remember.

Jon enjoying a slice.

Reassembling the bikes after their long trip in the van.

Attaching our saddle bags, lights, etc.

~The Dictionary of I4K~

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

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

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

Ready to roll.