Woohoo 10 miles!

In some very exciting news, I rode 10 miles on Saturday. There were some stops along the way, but I did it. And, my legs did not feel like they were going to fall off on Sunday. Which is almost as awesome. Story is, Nikki, Lisa, and I were building with Habitat on Saturday (well, Lisa was building and Nikki and I were moving dirt). I told Nikki I want to try the Hawthorne Trail later that say. Nikki was down for it, we told Lisa about it and she was down, and that's how it happened. Except, Lisa is already badass and had ridden to the build that morning and then rode to the trailhead. Nikki and I drove home, got our bikes, and drove to the trailhead. We did ten miles, hills and all (Florida hills, remember) and saw some wildlife. The trail is beautiful. If anyone is on Facebook, you can look at my pictures and see some of it.

The highlight of the trip may have been the epic fitting three people and three bikes into one Mustang. We had a two bike rack on the trunk, but my bike got disassembled and put into the trunk, which required the back seats be laid down. Which required Nikki to sit on Lisa's lap in the front seat. It was hysterical. It probably would have been faster for Lisa just to bike home, but she had already ridden like 25 miles that day, which is still just crazy to me. I can't wait for the day when I'm like, 25 miles, whatever. I can do that plus 75 more. That day is not here yet, and will probably not be here for another couple of months, though.

I did ride last Tuesday also (just 4 miles because it was already dark and I don't have lights on my bike yet), and will probably ride tomorrow morning before work. Unfortunately, grad school applications are taking up a lot of time and so I haven't been as dedicated to this as I want to be. I plan on starting my letter writing campaign for fundraising this week (although once again, grad school apps are calling my name tonight). I'm also posting a story about Bike and Build in my company's quarterly newsletter in an effort to raise awareness (and hopefully money).

I think that's all the news for now. Oh, I learned how to shift gears on the Peugeot without crashing on Saturday. That's a big plus. Now I won't die when trying to ride my bike around Gainesville. Yay!

Titles for posts are more difficult than you would think...

Here are the updates:

Haven't ridden since last Tuesday. I cannot believe I haven't ridden in a week. I WILL be riding tomorrow, probably on my new bike.

Speaking of which, thanks to my parents for bringing me a new bike this weekend and for getting me a seat cover, bike rack for my car, new pedals for the new bike (the old ones were clip-ins), and new handlebar tape. I really appreciate it! For those of you who don't know, the bike is a Peugeot Triathlon. Slightly older, but much nicer than the Wal-Mart bike. I have to learn how to use the gears and get safely off and on the bike (the frame is a little bit big for me), but it's lighter and easier to ride than the other bike.

And in more positive news, we raised $54 trick-or-treating and raised lots more awareness! That's only $18 each (there were three of us, for those of you who are division-challenged), but it's something! We handed out lots of cards and talked up Bike and Build, and we got candy. The night could not have been much better.

Also, Nikki and I went and built with UF/Alachua Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. I had forgotten how much fun it was to spend hours doing manual labor (I'm actually serious here). I spent a lot of time helping with interior framing and putting decking on the roof, and some time painting walls and baseboards. I have a nice blister on my hand from swinging a hammer and my hamstrings are sore from standing on the roof for so long. It's a good feeling.

And finally, thanks to my roommate, Alex, for not complaining that there are now two bikes in our entryway. I really am trying to find something to do with them, but I am sure as hell not putting them outside to get stolen and/or vandalized by random drunk people. Luckily, the cats don't attack them and there is still room to walk, but this is not a permanent solution. Ideas, anyone?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

I got my official notice from Bike and Build that I am accepted! My profile and link to this blog is now up on the Bike and Build website (I'm doing the Boston to Santa Barbara route).

I rode 4 miles yesterday. Not too bad. I'll probably ride again tomorrow, because tonight we're going trick or treating! This is exciting for a couple of reasons. First, I get to wear my awesome costume (which I am actually wearing most of at work right now). I'm Jem from Jem and the Holograms. If you don't know what Jem and the Holograms is, Google it. It's an 80's cartoon that I was/am in love with.

Second, while we hope to get candy also, we're actually trick or treating for donations for Bike and Build! I'm also making little cards to hand out to people with more info about B&B and the website to help raise awareness.

And finally, I went to the Habitat for Humanity meeting last night and signed up for builds this Saturday and next Saturday. This will be my first time building with Habitat, so I'm super-excited.

I think I should probably actually do some work now, since that's what I'm getting paid to do...

And I'm already slacking with updates...

So I have some updates for everyone on my quest.

First, I sent in all of the paperwork and application fee on Wednesday. I haven't heard anything yet, my bio isn't published on the Bike and Build website, and they haven't deposited my check, so I guess they haven't gotten it yet. I'll post again when everything goes through.

Second, I got my bike! I went to pick it up on Wednesday, but they offered to assemble it for me, so I ended up getting it on Thursday. It was dark by the time I got home, and it rained all day Friday, so the first time I got to ride it was yesterday. It seems like a nice bike. For those of you who know Gainesville, I rode from my apartment, down the road by Little Hall and Century Tower, cut down by the Reitz Union, came back up North-South (which I refuse to call Gale Lemerand) and then heading back down Stadium, across Turlington, and back down that road by Little Hall. For those of you who don't know Gainesville, that's about a 2 mile ride. I could have done more, but it started raining about halfway through, so I just came home.

I need a new seat and/or seat cover. I thought it didn't bother me, but my butt is sore today. Surprisingly, my quads are not sore at all (I definitely felt them on the ride up the hill on North-South, though). I plan to ride again today, maybe the same route, but extend it somewhere on campus. Campus seems like a safe ride on the weekends because there are so few people and cars.

Well, I'm off to meet the girls at Leo's to discuss fundraising and whatnot.

I'll try to keep the updates more frequent and shorter.

Also, totally unrelated note (but it makes me very excited)-I made this awesome Curry Tempeh and Rice, and it was really easy. If anyone wants the recipe, just ask!

Today's update

So I have finished the application. My essays suck. Why do I always have such a difficult time writing about myself? Anyway, once I get a couple of people to proof the essays (Thanks Tommy! And any volunteers, by the way?), I'll send everything in. Trips seem like they're filling up fast, so I had better get a move on it.

That's all. Obviously no bike yet. I'll probably start brainstorming fundraising sometime soon. If you have any ideas, let me know.

I already have news...

I have officially started the application process. I filled out a brief online application, and now am in the process of deciding on a picture to go with it and writing a bio about myself. I also need to start writing a few essays to go along with it and mail in my deposit. So, I haven't actually been accepted yet.

But I bought a new bike! It's a $150 Wal-Mart women's road bike. It will be enough to get started on until Bike and Build gives me a better one (which they do, and that's awesome). The bike should be here in a week and half or so (I had to order it online), and then I can start riding.

Now I'm off to finish work, go to Crisis Center training, and nurse an oncoming migraine.

More bike news soon!

The beginning...

So, just a few days ago, my friend Lisa invited me to a Facebook group called "Bike and Build 2008." Lisa had decided to bike cross-country with an organization called Bike and Build to help raise awareness of the problems with affordable housing in the US. The group would build houses along the way and do presentations to communities.

Some of you know that I enjoy getting involved in charitable events and taking on a challenge. Bike and Build sounds like a great way to do this, so I've decided to sign up. Problem is, I literally have not been on a bike in 2+ years, and the bike I had is kind of dead from rust and plants growing into it.

But, I've never let a challenge like this stop me before, and I'm certainly not going to now. Shannon pushed me to swim even though I never had before, I am got my lifeguard certification. I pushed myself to raise $1000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention this past summer, and then go walk 20 miles overnight in NYC as the reward. Because Lisa (and hopefully our friend Nikki) will be doing this as well, I'll have people to train with, fundraise with, and stay motivated with. We will each raise $4000 and train to ride up to (and a little over sometimes) 100 miles in a day.

So this is my call to my friends and family to read this blog and hold me accountable. If I haven't posted anything about fundraising or training in awhile, call me out on it. I want to do this, and I need as much support as possible to make it happen.

Look for more posts soon as everything starts...