Created: 5/26/2003 4:15:13 PM
Photos courtesy of the Habitat Bicycle Challenge and Amanda Laws
As a graduating college student, the summer is filled with decisions.
Should I have a final summer of rest and relaxation at the shore? Should I take an unpaid internship in the city to jumpstart my career? Should I work as much as I can to save money for the coming year? Should I bike ride 4,000 miles with 59 others to raise a quarter million dollars for Habitat for Humanity?Thankfully, a large group of mostly Yale students -- including nine Bulldog student-athletes -- have chosen the final option to benefit Habitat for Humanity of New Haven and New Haven's student-run Collegiate Build.
The athletes participating in the trip are women's lacrosse player Amanda Laws (Montclair, N.J.), football captain Jason Lange (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), swim captain Catey Bradford (Portage, Mich.), swimmer James Cocks (Weston, Conn.), men's lacrosse player Noah Glass (Newton, Mass.), swimmer Kim Richardson (Wilton, Conn.), diver Bates Gregory (Duxbury, Mass.), field hockey captain Rachel Burnes (South Dartmouth, Mass.) and field hockey goalie Wendy Ketner (New York, N.Y.).
Not only will the group pedal 4,000 miles across the country (and parts of Canada) in an effort to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity, they will spread the word about Habitat's work as they encounter thousands in large cities and small towns across the country. After nine arduous weeks, they will reach the Pacific Ocean knowing that their journey has helped to build houses for people in need.
The Habitat Bicycle Challenge will cross the country in two groups of 30 cyclists with both starting in New Haven. That will be the last time they see each other as the Northern Route traverses the scenic and difficult terrain of the northern United States and southern Canada. The Habitat riders bike through Connecticut, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. After 4,000 miles, the riders will end their epic journey in Seattle, Wash.
The Southern Route will cross New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. After nine challenging weeks, the group will triumphantly cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Lange, Cocks, Glass, Bradford and Laws will be on the Southern swing while Richardson, Gregory, Burnes and Ketner will be with the Northerners. Laws knows what to expect as she did the Northern Tour back in 2000.
"The first time I did the Habitat Bicycle Challenge I had the summer of my life," Laws said. "I was with a group of 30 wonderful people, got to see some of the most beautiful parts of the country while riding at a leisurely pace (once the season ends, there's no more sprinting for me!), and encounter some amazing small towns and fascinating people along the way."
"I did the ride the first time because I thought it would be fun, I'm doing it again because I know that it was a life changing experience and I'd like to have that feeling again. Every athlete is always looking to win the big game, or make a big play - biking across the country gives you that same feeling inside. Except when it's all over, no one is keeping score, and it's just you, your mind and your body that have just gotten you across the entire United States. There's no better feeling than that."
The trip is broken into two groups for two reasons. The first is logistical. The Challenge depends on the kindness of small communities to house and feed the riders each night. Many places are unable to accommodate 50 riders, but can take in 25. Secondly, having two trips allows a wider reach as the riders share the mission of Habitat for Humanity along the way.
The riders begin shortly after dawn. After breakfast, they hit the road to get as many miles as possible before the sun is ablaze. After lunch, the ride continues with discussion among motorists and locals about the purpose of our journey.
The day's ride can be between 40 and 120 miles. The Challenge participants stay primarily in churches and community centers, where they park their bikes and head out to investigate the local hot spots. In each of the towns along the journey, they spread the word of the amazing work done by Habitat for Humanity by making presentations and providing useful information on starting Habitat chapters.
As they prepare for the trip of a lifetime, many of the riders put down their thoughts at the Habitat Bicycle Challenge website, which is also where you can go to sponsor riders and learn so much more about the work of Habitat for Humanity.
Bates Gregory is really ready for the Challenge after spending last summer recovering from a broken leg.
"I joined the Habitat Bicycle Challenge to top off a great four years at Yale," she said. "I can't believe I am actually going to ride my bike all the way across the country! It is a very exciting challenge for me physically and psychologically, as well as a unique chance to help out other people."
Noah Glass has worked in a soup kitchen in Boston, tutored in New Haven and interned with Amnesty International in Ireland, but this will be his first mega-bike trip.
"The Habitat Bike Challenge seems like the ideal way to end my college experience; doing something meaningful, challenging and eye-opening with some of my best friends," said Glass. "I have always dreamed of a post-college road trip across the United States a la 'On the Road,' but I never thought I'd be doing it on a bike and raising money for such a worthy cause at the same time ... I can't wait to cross the Golden Gate bridge and meet up with my brother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and others after a hardcore nine-week journey."
Again, to learn more about the journey and sponsor the riders, please visit their website at www.yale.edu/habitat.
