Success! Progress! I had a great repair/upgrade session tonight at Yellow Bike, though it didn't start that way. My intention was to spend my time there tonight replacing my basic pedals with the sort that lock into a special shoe, a pair of which I was also hoping to find in the donation pile. I arrived just as Karl, the coordinator, was unlocking the door so I knew I'd have plenty of time. I asked Karl for guidance and he quickly went to looking for the necessary parts. Though it quickly became apparent that there were no shoes for me, and one of the necessary parts to the locking pedal setup, the cleat, was missing.
Thus defeated, I examine the bike trying to determine which part to work on next. I was still missing a front brake, the shifter cable needed replacing - and I had just installed it a week ago, the rear brake needed fine tuning even though I adjusted it last week and it's parts are crude and fine tuning is very difficult, the gears and chain are dirty and gunky, and well, it looks like the whole bike is a scrap heap. Why bother working on it? I only have 4 more nights to work on it, and the work I've done so far has been very slow and clumsy. Even if I do get it working well it's still barely road-worthy. All these thoughts crashed down on me, and I was ready to junk it and just buy a proper road bike, even though doing so would reduce my funds to a dangerous level.
Karl approached and I shared this general feeling with him. He asked about the rear brake and in trying to explain it to him, I realized that its not so bad. We turned to the shifter cable, and Karl recommends replacing the shifters and even the handlebars. I balk at this, so now replacing the cable seems easy. Especially now that I've done it before and I've got plenty of time. I don't get it on the first try, or even the fifth, but with help from the other coordinators who have arrived I get the cable set properly. Then Karl turns up with a cleat and a brand new set of pedals! Woody, another coordinator, recommends craigslist for finding cheap shoes, and even goes to the shop computer and pulls up a few listings. There is hope again!
Back at the bike, I turn to the front brake and once I locate a cable of proper length, I install it quickly. I adjust the wheel alignment. Then I lube the chain. Then I install a second water bottle holder. So much progress! I'm only one pair of shoes away from a very ridable bike!
But now I must rest. Much was done today. Tomorrow I hope to return to Habitat for my first full day of work! The weather should be very pleasant once again. Thanks Texas!
Best wishes,
Ryan
I made it!
The bike and I are safe at home in Austin! I'm working on writing the whole story out for you, so stay tuned! I met so many great people and had an amazing experience, and I look forward to sharing it with you.
Ryan
Check out pictures of the Build!
600 miles on a bike to support Gulf Coast Rebuilding
May 21-25 Habitat for Humanity and over 600 volunteers are going to build 20 houses in 6 days for Hurricance victims.
I want to be there to help. So I'm riding my bike 600 miles from Austin, TX to Gulfport, MS.
But I'm an amateur – I've never gone more than 20 miles in one day and I've got a basic Schwinn bike.
This is going to be a challenge.
How can you participate?
All I ask is for your love and support. I'm not asking for any thing, I'm asking for you. For your support. Support comes in many forms: financial, material, verbal, spiritual. What I want is for you to show support in whatever way you feel moved and to whatever extent you can.
Not everyone can offer money. Not everyone has cycling knowledge or gear to share. That's okay; that's how it should be. One, because I'm not interested in a community of rich cyclists, I'm interested in a diverse community of people brought together by their desire to share and participate in a project they think is good. Two, because every offering is valuable. I am as uplifted by a kind word as much as I am by an $100 donation. It is not the size of the offering that is important, it is the love that inspired the offering. How could I measure love?
If you'd like to participate but aren't sure how, I've listed some suggestions on the right of this page and in the blog post "Wishlist".
Why?
This is about more than Habitat for Humanity. It's about more than helping Hurricane victims. It's about more than a couple guys taking on a challenging journey. This is bigger than any of us. This is about a community. This is about concerned individuals deciding to give more than objects - to give of themselves. That's why I started this. Not just to get to Gulfport, not just to build, not just to help Habitat and the people in the Gulf. I started this in order to be a part of a community of caring individuals working together, supporting each other, and creating something extraordinary.
Why ride a bike?
I got the idea because a plane ticket is too expensive for me, I don't have a car, but I do have a bike and good health. After pondering the idea some more, I realized it would be a challenge and very rewarding, and would provide me with an opportunity to raise awareness and support for Habitat. The idea stuck with me. Thinking about it kept me awake one night so I got up at 1am and started this website.
This would be difficult to do on my own, and much more rewarding to do as a community, so I'm asking for your support. On the right of this page I've posted ways you can contribute to this project and to Habitat.
Why Gulfport, MS?
Gulfport is the site of the 2007 Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon where over 600 volunteers and over 200 AmeriCorps and Vista members will build 20 homes in 6 days, rebuilding a fraction of what was destroyed in Katrina.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast with strong winds, heavy rains and a 30-foot storm surge, causing massive damage to the area. 90% of the buildings along the coast in Biloxi and neighboring Gulfport had been destroyed by the hurricane. There were 53 fatalities in Harrison County. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Jackson County HFH was constructing one house a year and Harrison HFH was constructing two-three a year. Since that time, these affiliates have merged to form HFH Mississippi Gulf Coast. They have completed (or have currently under construction) 85+ homes with a goal of having 125+ completed/under construction by the end of this fiscal year (June ’07). Following that, they are working toward a four-year goal of completing 800-1000 homes in the service area.
I was an AmeriCorps Construction member last year and I love working with Habitat, especially in the fast-paced, high-energy environment of a Build-A-Thon.
My Route:
I plan to leave on May 11 , but I'm still working out which route to take. I've just drawn another possibility on the Google Map, one that avoids the mess of Houston and the missing section of US 90 in East Texas. It's closely follows the route followed by touring groups from the Adventure Cycling Association. I plan to go trough New Orleans, where my friend Jordan has kindly offered shelter, and is shipping his saddlebags to me! I might even get to spend an extra day there, relaxing and enjoying the city!
The trip is 640 miles and the Build-A-Thon organizers want everyone there on Saturday, May 19. I plan on biking 80 miles a day for 8 days, but I'm giving myself 9 days to get there in case something goes wrong and I lose a day.
NEWS!
Thank you all so much for your support and for staying with me though this journey.
The Sun Herald published an article about the Build-A-Thon which includes a brief interview with me. You can read it here: www.sunherald.com
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