4 Four Months To Go!

So it has been a while. January proved to be quite busy and February I think may be even more busy, but while I've been keeping busy with academic related things, I've certainly been keeping busy with Bike & Build related activities as well. The all nighter count for the semester is about to require a second hand of fingers, which is unfortunately an all time high! I jumped on Tim's trainer for the first time this evening and my legs were not feeling it. Even though I was only going only a few miles some days while I was on co-op, I was still on my bike everyday. This semester I'm lucky if I jump on a few times a week to ride less than a mile to the studio. But anyway enough about my excuses on progress I'm not making. I am making a lot of progress in terms on planning. We have almost a dozen hosts confirmed and we just submitted gear orders today. Our Providence 2 Seattle website is under way and will be making a public debut quite soon. Although I am able to ordered my bike I haven't quite done it yet, I'm still deciding whether I should upgrade. My fundraising is at an all time low as I haven't really haven't had time to get out there and have some fundraising event. Hopefully once this semester winds to an end I'll have more time ot actively fundraise which is very exciting!

Me & Creamsicle out for an evening ride in the apartment!

As always visit http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5497 to make a donation to my bike & build effort!Big thanks to Ian Spencer, who has witnessed first hand my passion for affordable housing and Audrey Gill, who introduced me to Bike & Build this past summer!!!!

Brrrrr....ing on the the warmer weather!?

So Boston is getting colder by the day, but at least we are getting snow tonight! 1-2inches of white powedery greatness!! It does put a damper pn my attempt to get some miles in, but let's be honest that is not going to be happen while it is this cold so it might as well snow! My leader role is now well under way and I had my first phone chat with my co-leaders and they seem awesome and I'm super pumped. I also got my list of overnights that I'm in charge of planning and one of the states I have is South Dakota which is awesome!

In other news my fundraising is working in the right direction. I have officially raised enough to order the bike I will be riding across the country on. Bike and Build has a sweet deal with Giant Bicycles and we get an awesome deal on awesome bikes. I need to go get fitted soon!

Classes are in full swing and as time consuming as ever. Ug. I did present an analysis today on the Seattle Public Library by OMA which is an amazing building. It was a little complicated to analyze, but I picked it of course because it is in Seattle and I'm going to go see it this summer after I BIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY! woo.

As always visit http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5497 to donate to this amazing cause.

Keep warm!
-R

Sooo much news!!!

Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a great holiday season! I had wonderful pre-christmas news which is I was selected as a Team Leader for a bike and build trip! So I will still be biking across America, but my trip has been changed from Maine to Santa Barbara to Providence to Seattle! I am super excited about the opportunity and am highly anticipating this great leadership endeavor!

I may have forgotten how to ride my bike though!! Just kidding! Seriously though, that flat tire I spoke about last post was just changed this evening by yours truly with assistance from my go to bike aficionado.... and boyfriend, Tim. So hopefully I'll get back out there and log some miles soon, although Boston is getting a bit chilly. I don't think my few miles crusing around on a tandem bike in Florida over break count for much so I better figure something out.

One thing that is definitely going to motivate me to get back out on my bicycle are all the awesome bike related accessories and apparel I received for my Christmas/Birthday and all the recent monetary donations that are fueling me across the country dollar by dollar, mile by mile! Huge thanks to my most recent contributors Jay Glickman, Bill DeBaun, Cait Douglas, Babchi & Pip, Dad, and Grandma DeBaun!!

Check out those who have generously donated to this great cause on the right off the blog and get your name on that list too by visiting http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5497 and donating to my trip!

Now I'm going to brag about all my new stuff because I'm so excited about!

Not one, but TWO pairs of comfy bike shorts
Two sided pedals
Cleats to be attached to future shoes to go in pedals
Armadillo tires to go on my bike when it arrives!
Bike Gloves
Bike Computer
Saddlebag
Tubes

Big thanks to Tim, Mom, Dad, Babchi, Pip, and Grandma for hooking me up with all this great gear! Just as vital as reaching my fundraising goal is having the right gear to get me across the country so thanks!

Boooo Flat Tire!

So I have sadly experienced my second flat tire since getting my bike in April. The worst part about it was that I was at work trying to get home quickly when I realized I would instead be getting home quite slowly by walking and carrying my front wheel all the way home! I didn't realize until I got home that I had already packed all of my bike accessories and have sent them away since I am moving out of my current house in Cambridge at the end of this week! So alas after biking to work for almost 7 months, I will be walking for the last week... what a drag! On the bright side, this will be great practice for changing a flat which I'm sure I'll get plenty of on my cross country adventure. It's been chilly here in Boston so other than riding to work and running errands I haven't been really getting many miles in. It's going to get colder before it gets warmer so I guess I'm just going to have to suck it up and find some fellow bike and build bound riders and go for a ride! I'm looking for awesome fundraising ideas if anyone has any to offer!! Addionally as always, I'm happy to get all the support I can get visit http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5497 to donate! See you all in 2012!

Welcome to the Adventure

So for those of you who don't know, I am embarking on a great adventure this upcoming summer. I have been accepted into a program called Bike and Build and will be biking across the United States of America, stopping along the way to volunteer with affordable housing organizations and raise awareness for America's housing crisis. The journey will take 10 weeks and will take me through 13 states riding along the historical route 66 for a period of time. As if the adventure isn't a challenge enough, I have to meet some other requirements before dipping my wheel into the Atlantic ocean at the start of my journey in June. Between now and June 16 I have to bike 500 miles, raise $4,500, and volunteer with an affordable housing organization of my choice! I am quite busy finishing my job at Ababcus Architects and have not been able to get out an bike more than the few miles to and from work everyday due to cold weather and dark nights, but stay tuned for more documentation as my training progresses! I'm also seeking supporters, for every dollar you donate I get one mile closer to the west coast....so far my funds haven't gotten my out of Maine! Help!:(
To donate visit: http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5497
To read more about Bike and Build: www.bikeandbuild.org