Day 15+16: Home Sweet Home | Rockville, IN to Champaign, IL

The team got to spend the last two days in our organization's hometown - Champaign, IL. The team was cheerful to be back at home on familiar grounds where we had our weekly meetings and training rides. It’s crazy to think that only 10 months ago, everyone on the team where strangers to each other. Throughout time, as we got to training and getting to know one another, we ended up back on campus as one big family - the I4K way. Two weeks into the ride, a little over 1,000 miles, and this rest day in our hometown was much needed.

Ride overview

Mileage: 76.8 Miles

Elevation: 1,334 ft 

Points of Interest: Sidell Grocery, Homer Lake, Meadowbrook Park, Beckman Institute, Murphy’s Pub, UIUC 

Ride Dedication: Mark Austin

Tales of the Trail

Day 15

After our stay at Randy’s, we started off the morning with a quick picture at a Rockville mural nearby to remember our visit and headed towards Illinois. We expected conditions similar to ones in our training rides with heavy wind, but fortunately enough, it wasn’t super windy. It was nice to be on familiar roads once again, as some team members earlier this year took a similar route by participating in the annual “Ride to Randy’s” in the spring. Instead of going from west to east though, this time we were going east to west! The team’s encountered some trouble in the morning as we encountered a collapsed bridge across Leatherwood Creek that we were not able to cross, making the teams backtrack a couple of miles to reroute. Despite this interruption in the day, the team continued with eagerness as we all wanted to be back home in Champaign.

One of our rest stops during the day was at Sidell Grocery, where an employee remembered us from 2022, back when our team stopped there for shelter during a storm. It was great to be back and visit a familiar place! Our team had lunch there and continued onwards to Homer Lake, where we met with some I4K alumni to finish the day with! Afterwards, we approached our final rest stop of the day at Meadowbrook Park. (Un)fortunately for us, Illinois weather hit us again and it started to rain! It was a throwback to our training rides in the spring. Regardless of the rain, the team met with friends and family who wanted to ride the final 3 miles with the team back to Champaign from Meadowbrook Park! The ride-along was a blast and we got to share with others how our team works during the ride with callouts and formations.

We all ended the day at Beckman Institute, where the Cancer Center at Illinois arranged a welcome event for us. We were met with support from staff and loved ones. We all rushed to celebrate. We got to talk about our mission’s purpose with the local media, got cool swag from the Cancer Center (along with some delicious Jimmy John sandwiches), and then headed to the Alma Mater statue to take a few photos with the team. Thank you to a photographer from the University, Fred, who documented the final miles of the ride from Homer Lake. Thank you to the CCIL as well for organizing the welcome event at the end of the day. After the celebration, the team decided to disperse, with some going to Murphy's Pub for the night to get half-priced burgers (Murphy’s Monday - perfect timing!)

Day 16

Our second rest day started out great, with everyone dispersed throughout the Champaign-Urbana area. My group (Dev, Andres, William, and Micah) stayed at Maaike’s house in Champaign, and we all got to sleep in — hooray! Personally, it felt amazing to rest and recover after a long stretch of biking, and I think everyone would agree. Some of us went to pick up new gear and bike parts, while others got food and coffee.  Later in the afternoon, some of us went to the Illini Union basement to bowl and get ice cream. Many of us got some stellar strikes and enjoyed a couple of laid-back games. Afterwards, we went to a new ice cream shop in the Union basement - Moo of I.  We picked out some flavors and extracts, and enjoyed our ice cream before heading back out in the Champaign heat. 

After being dispersed, we all met up at Jason’s house to get some well-needed bike and van cleaning done. We used his handy power washer to give our bikes a deep clean — shoutout to Jason for having great cleaning supplies! We also completely cleaned and reorganized the van, which was very needed after how dirty it got. We got to practice setting up tents and folding them down to prepare for our camping days, and we made some additions to van decor! After van cleaning, everyone dispersed to get some rest before our ride to Kankakee. 

Thanks to Maaike for giving some of us a house to sleep in — your basement was great and allowed us to get some deep rest!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider (day 15): Dev Dassani

How are you feeling today?

For the most part, I'm feeling pretty good. It was a really flat day rolling into Champaign, and the rain didn't really hit us until the end, and we still missed it for the most part, which was good, and it was just great to be back in Champaign. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I really enjoyed how flat it was. It was a well-needed break from the hills we had on the east coast. It's just really nice to be back in Champaign.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

There are a lot of reasons. I really liked the idea of biking across the country, and it seemed like an awesome opportunity. It's great that Illini 4000 is also an organization grounded in its goal to raise money for cancer research, spread cancer awareness, and also document the cancer experience. This organization really makes an impact on the lives of many, and it’s great to be a part of that impact while partaking on this annual ride across the country. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I had a little bike training. I would go on bike rides every now and then, and I did a lot of indoor biking when I was injured from running. But for the most part, throughout all of high school, I was a big runner, so that was a big part of my athletic background that I feel really built my endurance. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike's name right now is Jeremy, after Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy from Phineas and Ferb. I don't know why I named it that, but that's the name that I decided on for some reason, and the model is a Cannondale Synapse 3. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'm nervous about biking on busy roads because it can be a little scary sometimes, but we're still super safe, and as long as everyone's making the right callouts and everyone's doing what they need to do, safety-wise, it's still super safe. I'm excited to bike in the West Coast. It's gonna be really beautiful out there, and I haven't seen a lot of it. I'm really excited to see the Tetons and Yellowstone, and just all the places that are out there.

Day 14: RIDE TO RANDY'S!!! | Indianapolis, IN to Rockville, IN

Today was an exciting day, as everyone was ready to meet the one and only - Randy! This year will be the 17th year that our team has been hosted by Randy in Rockville, IL. The team was ready to tackle the flat roads and ended up finding some of our first license plates on the ride! (Only more to come)!

Quote of the day

Hanxi: “There was a time I didn’t consider banana a fruit”

Katie: “What is it then?”

Hanxi: “Carbon dioxide”

ride overview

Mileage: 62.5 Miles

Elevation: 1,827 ft

Points of Interest: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rockville First United Methodist Church, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Neva’s Antiques and Collectibles

Ride Dedication: Randy

Tales of the Trail

The team was eager to get going this morning as tonight we would be staying at the one and only - Randys’! We started off with our morning circle, and for one of today’s morning activities, each group was required to create a poem. It could be a haiku or something longer, so each team spent their time throughout the ride trying to create their own poems. It got our brains thinking and legs moving as we made our way over to Randy’s.

Our route had us pass by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where we could hear the cars zooming by inside the stadium. One could only imagine what a bike race would look like inside a track like that. Our first rest stop was at a Walmart, with a very much needed Subway inside. Some teams decided to get some sandwiches while getting some much-needed supplies from the store. The rest stops became quicker as everyone was excited to get to our stayover for the night. The roads were smoother and less mountainous (perks of the Midwest for biking purposes), allowing us to be more efficient on the bikes. One team was even able to find two Indiana license plates on the side of the road as memorabilia!

Once the teams saw the big red doors at the front of Rockville's First United Methodist Church, we knew we had made it. We were greeted by Randy and the fellow locals and he shuttled us to some fairgrounds where everyone got much needed showers. Afterwards, the team was spoiled with snacks and an amazing dinner. The dinner consisted of pulled pork, potatoes, mac n cheese, and way more! After the filling dinner, the team was provided with dessert and an opportunity to fill up their classic “Love Bags”, a gift from Randy where we each filled gallon-sized plastic bags with as many snacks as we could fit. To relax for the night, the team got to rock painting and piecing together a puzzle. Thank you to the members of the RFUMC community who helped prepare a lovely dinner for us and breakfast the following morning, along with the rock painting activity, and giving us some floor space to sleep on. We are grateful for the support and kindness we encounter throughout this ride. Thank you to Randy and the RFUMC community members for having us again this year, and for more years to come!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Jason Wang

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling good, a little bit tired, but it's been a good day.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I think rolling into Rockville, seeing the church, and just being welcomed into the church by Randy and everyone else here. Everyone was so welcoming, especially after being honked at and harassed off the road just moments earlier. It was a really nice change of pace.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

Oh, lots of reasons. Illini 4000, I've known about it since I came to U of I when I first started my PhD program. I found out about it when I was working at Neutral Cycle, which has now been rebranded to Bike Lab. At the time, I helped order and fit bikes for the ride members of the 2018 or 2019 team, and it was something I was always interested in, and then all throughout my own PhD research career, the cancer aspect overlapped a lot my own research where, although I study pluripotent stem cells, a lot of those signaling pathways directly overlap with how cancer develops. For example, many cancer genes are also called proto-oncogenes, and many stem cell genes are the same proto-oncogenes. So there's always been a lot of research overlap. And then I also worked with the cancer center when I was a tissue microenvironment research fellow at the Beckman Institute, and I remember having lunch with one of the teams one year ago. So, unintentionally, I've always gotten to interact with the I4K without ever really being a part of it until this year.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

So I've been biking since I was 12 or 13, but I never really biked seriously until the last couple of years of my PhD. But I think a lot of that did help train me for Illini 4000, but at the same time, it's still different since in Illini 4000 you bike day after day after day, whereas when I was biking with the cycling club at U of I it's just like, you bike a few times a week and you get plenty of rest in between. So the experience and the training is still very, very different. I don't think there is anything that could really quite fully prepare you for I4K, except just by doing it 

What is your bike's name? Model?

So I've always just called my bike by the brand that it is. It's a Niner RLT with full Tiagra.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'm really excited to cross over into the Rocky Mountains. That entire part of the US is somewhere I've never really been before. So far, all the places we've been from day 1 to 15, I'm quite familiar with. Once we cross over the western side of the United States, it's all gonna be brand new to me. So, hey, I am quite nervous but also excited to see what's out there.

Day 13: Enjoying the Flatlands and More Rain | Richmond, IN to Indianapolis, IN

After our longest ride of the year, the team had a far easier ride across the nice and flat Indiana, with temperatures in the mid-70s. We spent most of the ride on smooth roads and bike paths, giving us time to take it easy after some hard days of biking. Unfortunately, we got rained on again (multiple times), but at this point, the team is used to it.

Quote of the Day

Andres: “I need to buy some drumsticks”

Jess: “like the ice cream or the chicken?”

Andres: “like the instrument…”

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 74 Miles

Elevation: 1,352 ft. 

Points of Interest: Hebrews Coffee, Pennsy Trail 

Ride Dedication: Kira Spedale

Tales of the Trail

The team woke up at our usual time, with Queen blasting in the main gym. The four days of centuries tired many of us, but we got some good rest before starting a much easier ride. The start of our ride was very chill, giving my group some time to talk and take things easy. Our first rest stop was at Hebrews Coffee, where many of us got pastries and some well-needed coffee. We got back on the road, and every group took on a challenge to find 5 things that everyone has in common, and these similarities couldn’t be surface-level! This really challenged us to get to know each other by sharing interests and experiences. We also rode on some great bike paths during our ride, and some of us even found outdoor workout equipment to use during a break! Unfortunately, our bad luck with rain continued, and we had bouts of rain throughout our ride, with a heavy downspour as we rolled into Indianapolis – a team even had to deal with a flat tire while getting soaked. Hopefully, we’ll have better luck with rain in the future, and hopefully I didn’t jinx it!

The team rolled into Richmond around 3:30, giving us more time to rest and relax than on other days. We shuttled over to Crunch Fitness and everyone got to shower for free, which is always great! After getting back from the showers, some of us drove over to a laundromat while others took some time to stretch, eat, and relax at the stayover. The group that stayed behind experimented with back massages, which was a great time for them. Loosening up our muscles is incredibly necessary on a trip like this! The team wound down with some dinner and journaling, and everyone got to bed!

Thank you to the community of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church for giving us a place to sleep for the night!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Andres Villarreal

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling good. Yesterday was a long day, but today I feel good. I feel like I furthered my endurance yesterday, so I was not worried about today. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

We had to find five things that we had in common with everybody in our group, so that really got us talking. We were just in yap formation the entire time. So that was nice because we were just sharing stories and learning about each other.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

It was mainly two things, first, the cause. The whole aspect of helping people I really liked, and not just fundraising, but like being able to also meet those kinds of people and gain perspective from people who are going through difficult times and how they got through it. The other part being like, I think, the athletic portion, like biking across the country, traveling, training, staying in shape. That was just really appealing to me. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

No. I bought a bike the summer before I went to U of I and I biked a few times. The furthest I'd ever gone was 14 miles. But like, sports wise, I didn't really do much for it in high school or ever, besides playing soccer as a kid. But I feel like I've always been pretty good at running, so I guess overall, like, I was kind of unprepared, but persevered. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

Okay, the model is the Trek Domane AL 2 with disc brakes. The name has, like, changed. At first it was Albus, but like, something was missing. And I think, like, what was wrong was that I was pronouncing its name like it needed an A in its name, but it didn't need the “uh” sound. Like, not Apple, like it needed like an A sound. So now it's Aemus, yeah, its name is Aemus. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'm excited to go out west. I feel like that's gonna be so much fun. I think the weather's gonna be great. I'm excited for the camping days. I'm nervous for everybody on the team, like, I hope nobody gets hurt and hopefully we all do well, yea, nothing goes wrong, but I’m excited. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

Shout out to Jason for fixing all of our bikes and for being the unc of the group. Shout out to everybody who's been like a leader and always looking after each other and putting others before themselves. I feel like everybody has been doing that.

Day 11+12: Midwestern Flats | Athens, OH to Richmond, IN

The last two days were quite a challenge, and yet, the team continues onward to tackle another two long days of riding! The team was eager to ride in the Midwest, avoiding the climbs in the eastern states, but then encountered new challenges like wind. We entered our 6th state of the ride, Indiana, and persevered through the two longer rides. We had many rail trails these two days, which allowed teams to take it easier by not having the stress of traffic, and being able to chat.

Quote(s) of the Day

“Where’s my helmet?” - Micah

“On your head” - Nicole

“Oh, that turn is tight, let me sit up straight and get this right!” - Veronica

Ride overview

Mileage: 89.4 Miles + 114 Miles = 203.4 Miles

Elevation: 3,204 ft + 2,735 ft = 5,939 ft 

Points of Interest: Lancaster, Sivilotti Household, Columbus, Ohio to Erie Trail 

Ride Dedication: Irina Ziminski, Carol Knowles

Tales of the Trail

Day 11

The team woke up bright and early today, starting with a “Happy Birthday” to one of our riders, Alex!!! (Whoop whoop!) Today we tackled 89.4 miles - just slightly shorter than the previous two days. We started off the day by going on some trails - a luxury to any rider. The trails meant that the riders didn’t have to worry about traffic, enjoyed the scenery, and most importantly, yap. We had one of our first rest stops at a coffee shop in Nelsonville, and the team explored the local area. Later that day, some teams stopped to quench their thirst, run by some kids at a local lemonade stand! As we got further into the Midwest, the flat country roads felt more and more familiar to the riders - finally, a break from the climbs!

The riders looked forward to a very special stayover today - the Sivilotti household! The Sivilotti family generously gave the team air mattresses to sleep on and five-star dining! Everyone knows that the best meals are home-cooked meals; it doesn’t get better than that. Alex’s family also took the trip from Illinois to Ohio to visit for Alex’s birthday! Both families and the team debriefed over chicken, sausage, polenta, cauliflower, and many, many fruits! Shout out to Alex’s sister, Emma, who made bracelets for the entire team! We admire the work it took to make that many bracelets, and we love them! Thank you to Sofia’s family for hosting the team and making it feel like home.

Alex and Emma with the bracelets she made!

Day 12

The team tackled one of our longest rides today - 114 miles! Luckily, the first 69 miles were on rail trails! This gave the team plenty of time to yap, making the day pass by faster. The team encountered lots of wildlife on the trails: bunnies, foxes, cardinals, and more! Our rest stops started becoming more efficient and timely, as we knew we would take the entire day to complete the ride. During lunch, the team explored some local yard sales while munching on some Bruegger’s Bagels - provided by the Sivilotti family.

As we got closer to entering our 6th state of the ride (Indiana), the team faced torrential downpour. Despite these conditions, the teams pulled through, determined to finish what we started. We successfully got into the stayover before 8 p.m. and felt accomplished for completing the challenging day. We stayed at Central United Methodist Church, where we were provided sandwiches for dinner, breakfast, and snacks for the days ahead. Thank you to the Central United Methodist Church for providing us with a place to sleep and food to fuel our hungry riders!

Cyclist’s Corner

Day 11 : Stephanie Yang

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling really good. I was the van driver today, so I didn't have to cycle at all, and I got a little break.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

My favorite part was watching all the groups roll in when I was waiting at the rest stops. It was really fun to see you guys from afar, because that's not really something I get to see on a daily basis.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I really love challenging myself physically and signing up for races or trying new sports, so I thought this would be a fun new thing to try because I hadn't really cycled before. In addition to that, I think that the cause is really great. I know so many people, friends, family, and neighbors who have been affected by cancer, so I think it's just a very meaningful and impactful cause to support.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I had never really competitively cycled before. I had completed a triathlon where I used my commuter bike, and I would ride my bike around campus, but never on a road bike before, so it's my first time. Other than that, yeah, I was in a triathlon club and I ran cross country in high school, so I had a lot of cardio background.

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike's name is Ivy because it's black and white with some ivy leaves on it, and it’s a Trek Lexa.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'm probably the most nervous about inclement weather. I think being stuck in like a tornado or severe thunderstorms is pretty scary, especially because we can't shuttle everyone at once. I am usually the most excited about food donations.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I'm gonna give a shout out to everyone who was sagging in the van today because they kept me company, played good music for me, and helped me with directions and finding rest stops. It was nice to have them there.

Day 12: Micah Yoder

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling pretty good about today. Today was a really long ride, and was definitely tiring because of that, but it was also really nice because we had some really long trails. And it was great having a wonderful breakfast this morning and then also having a dinner donation tonight. We missed the last rest stop, but got back on track, and everything worked out pretty well, and we got in a lot earlier than the other long days.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I'm going to say the trail section in general. It was a very nice path, and there also was a cyclist who joined us for a bit of our ride, falling in for drafting, and then biked up ahead to finish whatever route he was doing, which was nice to see.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I initially joined because I had a lot of friends in inline insomniacs, another club at U of I, who had been a part of Illini 4000 and they encouraged me to do it. And I thought it sounded like a great opportunity to bike across the country. I didn't know about the cancer fundraising aspect then, but that just made me want to do it more, because we're actually working toward a cause which will help other people. And I went to the meetings, and it seemed interesting, so I signed up!

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Yeah, so I had done a lot of medium bike rides during COVID, because I was bored – mostly around 50 miles. So although that was with a different bike and different equipment, with Illini 4000 it's definitely prepared me for doing longer rides. But for the most part, all of the riding with groups, and even a lot of the endurance was fairly new. I tried to do the marathon at the same time as training for Illini 4000 which also helped.

What is your bike's name? Model?

I do not have a name for my bike yet. I'm borrowing a bike from the gear program. It's a trek domane!

What are you most nervous/excited about?

 I'm most excited to get to know the other members of my team and make more memories together through the rides themselves, through games, through things we learn from stay overs. One thing that I'm most nervous about is… Yeah, not a whole ton. Actually, I've been through summer long experience with being a camp counselor before, which I feel has prepared me for this. And I'm excited to keep riding with everyone.

Day 9+10: Centuries, Centuries, Centuries | Morgantown, WV to Athens, OH

We’ve had a couple of hectic and long days, so we’ll be condensing days 9 & 10 into one journal. The last two days haven’t been easy, as the team has tackled two centuries - BACK TO BACK! We’ve really been toughing it out, but I’d say this team is incredibly perseverant and has found ways to have fun these past two days despite the mental and physical stress. 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 102 miles + 100 miles = 202 miles

Elevation: 6,338 ft + 4,393 ft = 10,731 ft 

Points of Interest: Fairmont, Zhara’s Food Truck, Marietta,

Tales of the Trail 

Day 9

We started day 9 with an early morning wake-up at 4:45 am to prepare for the long day ahead, albeit we still rolled out of our stayover around 7 due to the long walk from our yurts down to the parking lot. The team also decided on having a picture contest, with the winning group earning a prize for having taken the best picture on the ride. The ride started with a big descent, which proved to be easier than the climb up the previous day. After riding through and out of Morgantown, we hit a nice rail trail along the Monongahela River and took a quick rest stop to refuel. We also rode through our longest tunnel of the ride so far! After some miles on the trail, we got back on the road for a lunch stop in Fairmont, WV. We had an amazing stop at Yemen Coffee Hut and Zhara’s Food Truck, where we had some great coffee and halal food, which was well-needed after a long start to our day.

After lunch, we dealt with some rolling hills through West Virginia, which weren’t too difficult, but my group did experience a downpour that apparently didn’t touch other groups. After our third rest stop, we rode through a more secluded and scenic valley, which included some big climbs. At this point, our groups were more separated than initially expected, and the phone signal was weak, requiring us to use our handy satellite phones to communicate. The last climb proved to be difficult, but it was worth it when we looked out at the countryside of West Virginia atop the mountain. We descended down the mountain and were welcomed by some very nice folks in New Martinsville, where the team ate a hearty meal and some amazing cake. 

Thank you to the community of St. Vincent De Paul Church for giving us a place to sleep with some comfy cots. We really enjoyed your hummingbird and heath bar cake

Day 10

After getting some rest after our century the previous day, we mentally prepared to take on yet another century. It was a foggy morning as we rode out of New Martinsville along the Ohio River. The first rest stop was near a waste management facility – no worries, we didn’t smell anything! The team has been working on making our rest stops quicker and more efficient, especially on longer days, and I would say that we’ve been improving – shoutout to the van drivers who have done a great job at getting us back on the road! After the skies cleared and we got back on the road, we rode into the great state of Ohio, marking it our fifth state of the ride! We tackled some hills soon after crossing state lines, and the team has surely become stronger during bigger climbs. We stopped in Marietta for lunch, and many of us got subs from McKenna’s Market while chilling on the Ohio River. 

We faced more rolling hills after lunch, and high temperatures started to wear us out, but my team took it slow and steady, which made it easier to get through the day. We took a quick rest stop on the side of the road, and the team took some time to refuel before hitting some gravel roads. Handling our bikes on the gravel roads was difficult, and my team walked some of the way, but it gave us some time to interact with the local cows! We ended our ride on a well-paved bike path and enjoyed the sunset while rolling through Athens. We ended our day at the OHIO ecohouse in the middle of Ohio University, and Matt and Harbin cheffed up some meat pasta and bread for dinner before we got some rest. 

Thank you, OHIO Ecohouse, for letting us stay in your house and supplying us with some food, and air mattresses to sleep on!

Day 8: Crossing State Lines and a Challenging Final Climb | Connellsville, PA to Morgantown, WV

Today, the team was ready to take on a day with less mileage, with a tough final push at the end. It was an exciting day as the team crossed into their 4th state of the ride, West Virginia. It is finally appropriate to sing the song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, and the team had it on repeat. Later that day, the team found a new pet to take on the ride… an inchworm?!

Quote of the Day

“I’m just trying to reconnect with my legs”

— Veronica

ride overview

Mileage: 39.0 Miles

Elevation: 3,918 ft

Points of Interest: West Virginia State Crossing, Coopers Rock State Forest, WVU Outdoor Education Center

Tales of the Trails

The team woke up as usual, ready to tackle the day with lower mileage. The ride proved to be quite scenic in the beginning and not too tough for the team. In the last stretch, we faced a huge climb, but nonetheless, we got it done. Today (mostly because of the lower mileage), was one of the fastest days we got on and off the bike, arriving at our stayover at the West Virginia University Outdoor Center before 3 p.m!

We were excited to explore the area and took on some of the ropes courses in the area. We completed courses like the Whale Watch, a Swinging Log, and a course that involved using planks to get everyone across a series of rocks without touching the ground (floor was lava). Utilizing our teamwork skills, we were able to successfully finish all the challenges and had a blast having some fun in the woods as a break from the bikes. During this time, our team found an inchworm and named it “Harbo”. This silly little inchworm will turn into a moth, and he spent the rest of the day hanging out with the team. While eating dinner, we got to watch part of the “Bee Movie”, and to end the night, the team had a quick campfire and went to sleep, as in the day ahead, we would wake up earlier to tackle our first century ride of the summer (100 miles)!

Thank you to the WVU Outdoor Education Center for providing us with a place to sleep in the yurts, showers, laundry, and snacks from the kitchen! We loved the area and being able to relax out in the woods by tackling some team challenges and having a campfire to lead us into the night. Stay tuned to check out how our upcoming centuries go!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Eli Kujawa

How are you feeling today?

Pretty sore, but pretty good. It was a good day, and the stayover is really nice. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

That trail that we took on the way, right before the rest stop, was really nice. I enjoyed that.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

It was partially because I thought it just sounded awesome to bike across the country, and also with graduating, I felt a little directionless, and I thought it would be really good to have a good cause that I could dedicate myself to 100%, so the work that I4K does in the fight against cancer was also a big motivator.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Not a ton of biking. I worked as a delivery biker for about a year, about four years ago, but that would be like a maximum of 20 miles a day, and I don't think I would have joined Illini 4000 if I hadn't gotten into the gym a couple years ago, because before that, I was always pretty unathletic, but working out kind of built my confidence up enough to think I maybe actually could do something like this.

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike doesn't have a name yet. I've been told that it'll come to me on the ride. So I'm waiting for that,

but it's a Trek Domani.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I’m really nervous about these next four days, since we’ll be doing 400 miles in four days.

Day 7: Long Trails and Torrential Downpour | Ebensburg, PA to Connellsville, PA

Quote of the Day

“My greatest fear is dying to a peanut.”

— Nicole

ride overview

Mileage: 77.7 miles

Elevation: 3,636 ft

Points of Interest: Ghost Town Trail, Eliza Furnace, Spruce Creek, Connellsville

Ride Dedication: Diane, Randy, and Herman

Tales of the Trail  

We started out the ride by saying bye to some of the community members of Ebensburg Presbyterian Church! It was very nice of them to wake up early and cook us breakfast before our day ahead. After leaving Ebensburg a bit later than usual, we rode down the Ghost Town Rail Trail, which went downhill for 30 miles! It was great to take in the scenery around us as we rode past trees, rivers, and mountains without having to worry about pushing ourselves up a mountain. We had a great time stopping by the Eliza Furnace, a historic landmark constructed in 1845 and one of the best-preserved hot blast furnaces in the region. Unfortunately, it started raining when we got back on the trail, and we got gravel and dirt all over our cycling gear. On the bright side, the rain died down during our rest stop, and we got to have some whimsical fun at the park!

Ghost Town Trail and Park Fun!

After our first rest stop, we got off the trail and started conquering some rolling hills. After having some clear skies, the rain came back even harder, and we all got re-soaked. We rolled into a gas station for lunch and enjoyed some PB&Js as the skies cleared up yet again! Too bad for us, after some miles of sunny skies, we were hit by rain yet again, and it came down hard this time! While caught in the rain, we encountered a closed road and had to take a longer detour, which eventually got us back on route. As we reached the top of the final major climb, thunder prompted us to shuttle everyone safely to our stayover. Thanks to Sofia’s family, we were able to get everyone back in two trips! Though soaked and covered in dirt and gravel, we stayed in good spirits and enjoyed fresh individual showers before ending the day. The day ended with dinner provided by the church and some ramen that we anticipated would be spicier.

Thank you to the community of Calvary Assembly of God Church for giving us a place to stay for the night and providing a warm meal!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: William Xu

How are you feeling today?

We had a really nice gravel trail going down from Ebensburg. It really lived up to the hype. It was like a straight descent down. We passed through this really nice furnace that I thought was pretty cool, and yeah, it was a really nice historic view of the town and everything. I really enjoyed that part. Then it started to rain and everything was sort of a lot more difficult. We basically had to ride through the rain for many, many miles, and it eventually started thundering. But I mostly enjoyed the ride, especially the first part, second half, could have been a lot better, but it was an experience. It's nice to have experience with that.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

Definitely, like I said, again, definitely the gravel trail. It's very scenic, there was a furnace and also, just like nature in general, like the trees, everything was really pretty. 

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

Going into college, I didn't really know what was big on campus. So there's the event called “Quad Day”, and that's where all the clubs basically make their own tables and try to get people to join their club. Basically, I just happened to run into the Illini 4000s table. I was just really impressed, basically, by their ambition to fight such a horrible disease like cancer. Also, just like with the crew, it's kind of insane, like, how they go 4000 miles across the U.S. And I just really wanted to be a part of that. So I went to one of their info sessions and I watched their short video, and I was pretty much sold. So yeah, that's basically how I ended up here.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I biked like 10 minutes to school, like twice a month. So I basically had zero experience, like, at all biking, but I did run cross country, so I had some endurance, that helps me a lot. I feel like during  the training, I was able to dig in and just like, handle all the distance we were putting in, I had to learn from the ground up, like shifting and everything was a challenge. But yeah, I guess we pulled through.

What is your bike's name? Model?

Right now, no. I can give it one like, since it has my name plastered all over it, WIlliam Jr. or something. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I’m nervous about the four, one-hundred mile days coming up. But, yeah, I'm excited to meet more people. Especially people who have been affected by cancer, or who know people who have had it, and it's just really nice to meet all these people. Yesterday, we had a lot of portraits that were done with cancer patients, and I thought it was amazing. So just continuing that is what really excites me.

Day 6: More Climbs and Mountain Views | State College, PA to Ebensburg, PA

Today the team was met with some climbs once again, a normal occurrence in Pennsylvania. Despite them, the team persevered and made it to our stayover for the night. The day was met with changing weather and meeting many new people, whether that was on the side of the road or at our stayover.

Quote of the Day

“Are anyone else’s arms fly traps?”

— Matt

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 63.3 miles

Elevation: 4,610 ft

Points of Interest: Altoona, Loretto

Tales of the Trail

The day started off gloomy, with drizzles of rain starting and stopping throughout the first couple of miles of the ride. As the team pedaled through Pennsylvania, the occasional rain was able to cool us off as we made our way to Ebensburg, PA. The first miles were met with beautiful scenery, mountains on either side of the road, and lush forests. The team was able to take in the views and enjoy the road.

At one of our rest stops for the day, we chose a McDonald's. Once again, some opted out of PB&Js for a classic Happy Meal to refuel for the last couple of miles ahead. The team took shade and ate in the parking lot when a kind man saw our van, and decided to come back with Mallo Cups - a treat similar to a Reese's Pieces cup. They are made by the Boyer Candy Company, in Altoona, PA, which is where we had the rest stop!

After the rest stop, the team tackled the last of the challenging hills of the day, passing through historic places near Ebensburg. Once we got to our stayover at the Ebensburg Presbyterian Church, our hosts provided us with dinner and an opportunity to shower and do laundry at the Central Cambria High School nearby. Afterwards, we were able to talk to some locals, the mayor, and the commissioner! Others also had the opportunity to hear a local’s story with their experience with cancer, which will be shared in the future via the Portraits Project!

Thank you to the Ebensburg Presbyterian Church for being so willing to host the Illini 4000, and thank you to all the community members who were willing to donate food and their time to support the team. You guys have very well convinced us to visit Ebensburg once again in the future, and we will have you in mind! Thank you for your hospitality and the heads-up about potentially encountering wildlife tomorrow as we venture onwards by taking The Ghost Town Trail tomorrow morning!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Alex Ziminski

How are you feeling today?

Today? Well, I'm feeling really exhausted, but feel really appreciated and encouraged by stay over hosts for providing us such a nice meal and place to stay, and also just taking the time out of their day to talk to every one of us and kind of get to know us.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I definitely liked the beginning, because it was very downhill and very fast.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I was an avid hobby cyclist before joining all throughout high school, and I heard about the organization through my advisor, and as I learned more about it, I found out that it's also a great way to support the cancer research community, since cancer has impacted my family and others across the country. It's also such a cool thing to do, and not something that everyone can say they've done before.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Yeah, so definitely the hobby cycling. But other than that, I just did weightlifting a lot and honestly, my cardio was terrible, even throughout the training rides. So this ride has definitely been a bit of a shock.

What is your bike's name? Model?

I have not named it yet, but it's a giant contend SL 2.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'd say I'm kind of nervous for the century rides coming up in the near and distant future, and I am also a bit nervous as to how I'm gonna be feeling in the future, just like, energy wise, but  I’m excited. I'm so pumped to go to the national parks and camp overnight and also just pass through small towns, like the ones we've been i’ve been in today. And it's such a cool thing because  this is absolutely not something you'd be able to see, like if you drove past here, you know

Day 4+5: Cave Activities and a Well-Needed Rest Day | Milton, PA to State College, PA

After a difficult day prior, the team was ready to tackle the day by “eating the frog”, meaning, tackling the greatest challenge of the day first. Today, the team was met with a 13-mile-long gradual hill to start off the ride, followed by rolling hills for the rest of the day, making for an easier ride. Some fun rest stops were made, and the team explored State College the next day!

Quote of the day

“I never take this helmet off, I live in my helmet ”

— Katie

Ride overview

Mileage: 60.9 miles

Elevation: 3,392 ft

Points of Interest: Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park, Poe Valley State Park, Raymond B. Winter State Park, Penn State Berkey Creamery, Palmer Museum of Art 

Ride Dedication: Joyce Stah

Tales of the Trail

Team spirits were high this morning when our route master, Andres, gave a little talk about “eating the frog”, the frog in this case being a 13-mile gradual hill at the beginning of our ride, hence, tackling the greatest challenge first. Although it was long, it was an enjoyable ride as it went through lush green scenery and state parks. Our first rest stop of the day was at the Raymond B. Winter State Park. With a lake in sight, clean bathrooms (yay!), shade in the trees, and a wide selection of snacks, the team felt fulfilled and was ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Raymond B. Winter State Park Activities

The rolling hills that the team biked through the rest of the day were deemed easier than past days. This allowed us to enjoy the views, have conversations, and take in the moment without gasping for air. A familiar face that the teams kept encountering throughout this ride was cows. This was no surprise as people outnumber cattle 12.6:1 in Pennsylvania! Known for their cows and dairy industry, it was an honor to see the cows graze the land.

Lots of Cattle!

We landed at Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park for our second and last rest stop of the day. Most of the team opted in for bison burgers at the visitor center (which were delicious) instead of PB&J sandwiches for lunch. One group was able to take a cave tour with a tour guide who made them chuckle. After the well-spent 2-hour rest stop, the team continued onwards towards our stayover for the night at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, getting some ice cream at the Berkey Creamery, excited for the rest day ahead.

Caves, Ice Cream, and More!

Our rest day was very pleasant, and many of us enjoyed sleeping in for the first time since starting our ride. We started our day with an amazing breakfast provided by UUFCC, which included muffins, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, and fruit. After breakfast, we took a stroll around the local area and found a cool park to hang out in. Some of us climbed rope-like structures, and others (Matt and Harbin) learned to play Pachelbel’s Canon on the park’s bells. Unfortunately, we didn’t leave the park in time and got rained on. 

Park Activities and Happy Eggs

After eating sandwiches – also provided by UUFCC – we shuttled to the downtown area of State College and explored as much as we could. Our town stop included stocking up on supplies and finding some well-needed coffee – shoutout @i4kofee. We found some cool stores and art shops, with a cycling painting catching our eye. We walked around the Penn State spirit stores (enemy territory) and found a “Beat Illinois” pin, but we all know the Fighting Illini will come out on top this year. 

Visiting Downtown

After walking around town, we took a trip to The Arboretum at Penn State, where we took in the sights of nature and even found a cave. Next to the arboretum was the Palmer Museum of Art, which possessed many beautiful pieces of art. The collection is the largest between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and is the leading cultural resource of the region. Our last stop was the Berkey Creamery (again), where everyone enjoyed even more ice cream before heading back to the stayover and enjoying yet another meal provided by UUFCC. The day ended with people cleaning their bikes and preparing for the next day

Penn State Arboretum!

Thank you to the community members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County for giving us a place to sleep for two nights and so graciously providing us with 4 meals during our stay!

Cyclists Corner:

Today’s rider: Katie Kobel

How are you feeling today?

Im feeling good today. I feel like this was the best day i’ve had so far with biking, and I’m feeling good about how it went today. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I really liked the beginning of the ride because the sun hadn’t come out yet and it wasn’t too hot. I also didn’t find the climbs to be that bad in the morning, so I could really take in the view, since it wasn’t too hot or too hard of a climb. 

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I saw the organization last summer when they were on the ride on social media, and I’ve had people in my life and mutual friends with cancer who have been affected, so I like to hear people’s stories and make a difference with raising money [for cancer research]. 

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

I did not do biking at all before I came to the ride. I was a competitive swimmer since I was nine years old, so I feel like that helped somewhat with the cardio part, but it’s like different muscles, so I find it a little, still a little challenging. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike’s name is Flicka, after the movie. This was Emma’s bike last year, so I’m keeping the name for her. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I guess I’m most nervous about some of the climbs, because that’s definitely the hardest parrt for me. I am excited about going west and seeing the national parks, and then just the other states I’ve never been to. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

I want to give a shout out to the whole team. I feel like we all work well together and everyone makes sure the pace is good for everyone and adjusts when needed. I think everyone gets along pretty well!

Day 3: The Tail of Three Hills | Lehighton, PA to Milton, PA

There’s only one word to describe today – HARD. We rolled out of Lehighton bright and early with the prospect of a hard day. We faced three really hard climbs, with the last one posing a big challenge to the entire team. We still managed to get through the day, despite the brutal elevation and heat. 

Quote of the day

“Sweet things not only make you full but stimulate your spirit”

— Hanxi

Ride Overview

Mileage: 74.7 miles

Elevation: 4,939 ft

Points of Interest: Weiss Market, Ringtown Valley Veterinary Hospital

Ride Dedication: Lauren Wardell

Tails of the Trail

We all woke up at our usual time of 5:45 am and rolled out of Lehighton around 7:30 am, ready to tackle the day. The first 18 miles before our first rest stop felt pretty good, and we faced some inclines that weren’t too bad. At our first rest stop, we all snacked up and hydrated for the climbs ahead of us, and we knew we’d be in for a challenge.

The real challenge of today came with three challenging ascents that proved to be super difficult. The first ascent was challenging, but we all still had enough energy to easily make it up the hill without being too tired. The second big hill was far more challenging, and my group took multiple stops while making our ascent. After the second climb, we stopped to rest at Ringtown Valley Veterinary Hospital and ate lunch. We all snacked - a lot -  and we had a lot of leftovers to grub on. Next was the final ascent, which proved to be the most difficult of them all. We slowly but surely made our way up the hill with the peak in mind. My group would go about 50ft up the hill and stop to rest for a bit before continuing onwards. We eventually made it to the top and took some time to rest before making a fast and safe descent. 

Our third rest stop was at Weiss Market, where many riders waited inside to cool off. We all took a long breather before heading back on the road and finishing up our ride. We finished up today’s ride with a couple of hills before rolling into Milton. Everyone was super beat, and many of us passed out after taking a shower and eating. 

Thank you to the community members of Trinity Lutheran Church for giving us a place to sleep! It was great to meet you, and we really enjoyed staying at your church! 

Cyclists Corner

Today’s Rider: Matt Guibord

• How are you feeling today

I am the most tired out of all three days since today was the longest day and hottest day we've had so far – The heat really just took it out of me. There were some good stretches where we were going pretty quickly, and my legs felt good, and then we hit three hills where we just stopped so many times to go up, like everyone stopped. So, yeah, it was tough, but glad that the day's done. We can go on to the next.

•  What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

My favorite part of today's ride – there were some gorgeous views. It was right after the third rest stop. So at like mile 55, we were going over these rolling hills, and you could see hills just for miles and miles and miles. And we were kind of like on top of one, kind of going down it, and it was just so green, and it was very, very cool scenery. 

• What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I am a big fan of cycling, or biking, and then that with the opportunity to go and take a cross country trip, coupled with being able to support cancer research and spread awareness of support services, and do that for some of the others that are fighting cancer right now, and in memory of some of the people such as my family members and friends that I've lost to cancer.

• Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Yeah, I was a pretty athletic kid growing up, played like all the sports, pretty much, and then kind of narrowed it down to baseball, switched over to track for a few years in high school. But then after that, I pretty much switched to the arts in high school, so like, jazz band, marching band, concert band, things like that. Then COVID hit, and I got really into mountain biking, so that was kind of the start of my cycling journey. But yeah, pretty much COVID was mountain biking, and then I kind of fell off when I hit college, because I couldn't bring a bike to Illinois. 

• What is your bike's name? Model?

The long name is Peddle Pusher McWeezy, but the short name is Julia, and the model it's a Trek Domani. It's a sweet bike, I recommend.

• What are you most nervous/excited about?

I’m most excited to do something that I've never done before, and for a good cause. And that's just a one once in a lifetime opportunity. One thing I'm nervous about is how long it’s been for the first three days, very, very fun, very cool, but also quite long. So we have what? 74 more days? 73 more days of this, it's gonna be quite the adventure. 

• Anything else you want to talk about?

I just want to thank the exec board for taking their time out of their year, like they didn't go on the trip, and they basically planned the entire trip. And so I'm really thankful for them and all my teammates –  It's been a blast so far. So, thank you.

Day 2: Feeding Frenzy | Clinton, NJ to Lehighton, PA

After the first exciting day, our team was ready to tackle the second day from New Jersey to Pennsylvania! A slightly shorter ride from the previous day, but eventful nonetheless, as we started exploring the mountains of Pennsylvania, quite a different terrain from what we were used to in Illinois.

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 52.2 Miles

Elevation: 3,217 ft

Points of Interest: Nazareth, Cherryville, Alpha, Lafayette College, Indian Trail Park, Mia & Maddie’s Bakery, Lehighton Swimming Pool

Ride Dedication: Colleen

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Only 52 ft remaining, it’s like 8 of you Yuncong”

— Hanxi

TALES OF THE TRAIL

The team got up at 5:45 a.m. to prepare for the day ahead. The team typically starts with a bowl of oatmeal, but thanks to our stayover hosts, we had additional food to help fuel our morning! We rolled out after 7:30 a.m. (a start time that we are trying to improve upon) and headed straight to PA. We crossed into Pennsylvania via the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge, where we had our first rest stop of the day and enjoyed shade.

Our team heading into PA!

Further into the trip, the team had the pleasure of meeting Micah’s family at Indian Trail Park around mile 37! They graciously provided us with lunch: pulled chicken sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and more! The team ate everything up as the meal called their name away from the usual PB&J sandwiches. The team would like to thank the Yoder family for providing us with a scrumptious lunch that helped fuel us for the rest of the day. At this time, we also took the opportunity to relax in the park by hopping on the swings and spinning on the roundabout (though not the best idea after a filled stomach). Some members of the team also took a dip in the nearby creek, utilizing natural resources to cool off from the heat.

Indian Trail Park Rest Stop!

The team was super excited to head into our stayover location tonight, Trinity Lutheran Church. The team was greeted with smiling faces and eagerness from the stayover hosts to meet the group. They welcomed us in and generously shuttled us to the Lehighton Swimming Pool, where the team was able to hop into the pool and get a much-needed shower that many were waiting for. The pool activities consisted of sliding down the water slides, cannonballs, and… back flopping? (yikes) The showers gave great relief to the riders, being able to wash away all the dirt, sunscreen, and sweat that accumulated throughout the day.

Lehighton Activities

Afterwards, our hosts provided us with a team dinner and taught us the terminology of classic PA foods. The team chowed down on some classic hoagies (a sandwich layered with meat, cheese, and lettuce), a term first coined in Philly when many Italian immigrants worked at the shipyard outside of the city called Hog Island. On top of this, we learned about shoofly pie, munched on some whoopie pies, and took gulps of orange juice and lemonade from a company called Zimmerman’s Dairy, located in Lehighton, PA. Essentially, the food options throughout the day brought a lot of joy to the team and our spirits. Food. Such a powerful tool.

Thank you to the community members of the Trinity Lutheran Church for hosting the Illini 4000. The hospitality you gave us was immeasurable and made us feel right at home with all the efforts you put into making sure the team was able to shower, eat nourishing meals, and have a place to rest. Check out Lehighton, PA! There are great people, history, views, and, of course, food. Make sure to come back to the journals tomorrow to keep up with the team!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s rider: Harbin Li

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling quite good. I'd say we had a great lunch provided by Micah's family. Then ended off the day with a lovely greeting and like just a lovely experience with people at Trinity Church, and the climbs were tough, I would say, especially for day two, back-to-back rides.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I don’t think it was the first climb, but one of the first climbs, right after we went [to the top], it was just, zoom! For a good few minutes of just straight downhill, that was good on the ride at least. But that rest stop at the park was also quite delightful. I don't know,  each day so far has just been so dense that it's like, oh, this happened today. This felt like yesterday or like several days before.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

Initially, it was just like biking across the country would be like, really fun, and visiting nature places and meeting people, and doing it as a group would just be an experience that really ties with my want or desire to just meet new people, find new experiences, enjoy the environment that I'm in. I think as I got to know more about the organization and the people that run it and the people that are participating, the mission aspect of it really resonated more and more, like finding funding and support for cancer research and patient support services. I'm also working in a lab that's helping out people, helping to create some method of activating drugs that target cancer. And I didn't realize the adjacencies everywhere in my life until I joined i4k and that was the mission that we have.

Before joining Illini 4000, how much bike training had you done, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?

Bike training? No. Maybe I'd go for like a 30-mile ride a month during the summer, but I just bike to commute. sports wise, I haven't been doing sports since like middle school, so, yeah, I mean, I just try to stay active. Go to the arc, play spike ball with friends. That's about it. Nothing intense.

What is your bike's name? Model?

So I got the bike from a guy on Facebook marketplace, it's a nice bike, and I asked him, (he's from Indiana), and I asked him, what's the name of the bike? And he's just like, I just call her Surly because that's the brand's name and, like, it's a nice name, but I'm sure that a lot of Surly owners will name their bikes Surly because it is a great name, but I think that's still TBD, but I guess the code name is Surly.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I think I am most nervous about tiring myself out too fast or too early. I guess because we have a lot of days together and a lot of days on the ride. We're only on day two. It feels quite exhausting each day. Like, each day I come to dinner being like, I don't know if I can, say, talk right now, I just want to eat food, and probably after eating food, I'm gonna pass out, but I'll probably get better. I'll get used to that. But, yeah, just hopefully I get more conditioned to that. There's a lot to be excited for. I mean, yeah, maybe my favorite place to visit [later on the ride], probably basic, but like the Grand Tetons.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I'm not really good at these questions. I think, I don't know, nothing comes to mind right now.

(A reminder that any unfamiliar terms can be found in our handy I4K dictionary)

Day 1: We’re off!! | NYC to Clinton, NJ

Our first day of the ride was hectic, exciting, scenic, and strenuous, but we all managed to get through the day feeling satisfied and accomplished. We rolled out of our stayover to meet with the B+ Foundation in Central Park, and we set out to cross state lines into New Jersey. The climbs proved challenging compared to our training ground (Champaign), but we still tackled the day and made it to Clinton, New Jersey. 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 76.8 Miles

Elevation 3,755 ft

Points of Interest: Strawberry Fields, George Washington Bridge, The City of East Orange, Round Valley Reservoir 

Ride Dedication: Jeremiah, Gavin, Mary Beth

Quote Of The Day

“Going to the George Washington Bridge? No, you’re not” - Helpful pedestrian on Fort Washington St

Tales of the Trail

The morning started at 4:45 a.m., with everyone gearing up to ride to Strawberry Fields in Central Park to meet with one of our beneficiaries, the B+ Foundation. It was great meeting with Carly and hearing about how our fundraising has supported services for many families dealing with cancer. After taking a team picture in front of the Imagine Mosaic, we rolled out of Central Park around 7:30 en route to Clinton.

We had a fun ride out of New York, biking on a paved path next to the Hudson River. After taking a bit of a detour due to path closures, we were able to ride a narrow path on the north side of the George Washington Bridge. It was truly nice to take in our final views of New York before heading out, and it felt surreal to ride over our first state crossing as we rode into New Jersey. After crossing the bridge, some of us dipped our back tires into a nearby lake that was connected to the Atlantic Ocean – it’ll be great to say our bikes have touched two oceans. After dealing with some busy Jersey roads, we had our first stop at a 7/11 and took some time to chill and refuel.

Soon we were back on the road and traveled through some notable towns such as the City of East Orange. We dealt with a lot of busy Jersey roads, but no worries, everyone stayed safe and patient throughout the ride. Around the halfway point of our ride, we stopped for lunch at a Wawa, which was my first time (Dev). Most riders ate PB&J sandwiches while some got food from Wawa, and we took a well-needed lunch break before heading out again. 

In the second half of our trip, we came across some steep inclines, but the team powered through and showed those hills who’s boss – I4K 1, HILLS 0. At our 3rd rest stop, the team took a well-needed nap in the shade and took some time to relax before the final stretch. After a final stretch, which included more hills, we arrived at our second stayover – Clinton United Methodist Church. After a scrumptious meal, we unpacked and hit the hay after a long first day of riding. 

Thank you to the community members of Clinton United Methodist Church for giving us a place to sleep and a meal to eat! Also, sorry for being behind by a day, we’ll hopefully be posting blogs the day of our rides coming soon. 

Cyclists Corner

COMING SOON

Day 0: Siri, play Empire State of Mind | Visiting Damon Runyon and Exploring NYC

Day 0 was the second rest day for the team in New York City. We visited one of our beneficiaries, Damon Runyon - who funds high-risk, high-reward scientists working on cancer research. We did plenty of sightseeing and took as much time as we could to relax before the big day ahead of us when we get to hop on ours bikes and start our journey!

Quote of the Day

“Ducks can fly???”

— Harbin

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: ????? by foot 

Elevation: 33 ft. (elevation of NYC)

Points of Interest: Damon Runyon, The Battery, Staten Island, Statue of Liberty, New York Stock Exchange, Rockefeller Park

Tales of the Trail

This morning, the team got up to meet with one of our beneficiaries, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation! We enjoyed breakfast with them as some of their scientists informed us on their most recent research with targeted therapies and CRISPR technology! It’s always a pleasure to see the work our beneficiaries are doing to make a difference! We cherish Damon Runyon for taking the time to meet with us in New York before the start of our adventure, and for feeding us a delicious breakfast. To read more about their mission and research, visit their website at https://www.damonrunyon.org.

Afterwards, the teamset off to explore the city once again! Most of us ended up taking the Staten Island Ferry to get a better look at the Stature of Liberty. We then continued to explore New York by visiting the Stock Exchange and Rockefeller Park. Some very necessary souvenirs where bought along the way and the team enjoyed getting to spend another day in New York City, exploring everything it has to offer. 

The team visiting Battery Park!

Statue of Liberty!

Nicole, Harbin, and Hanxi on the Sta

Veronica checking out the NYC apron at a souvenir store

Stephanie enjoying NYC street food

The day ended with the team unwinding by drawing pictures on the van with our mission, and preparing spaghetti and lentils for dinner – a nice percourser to what the rest of our summer dinners will look like, and we ate outside on the patio. Afterwards, everyone got prepared to hit the hay for an early wake up the next day to meet with the B+ Foundation and set off for our 2025 ride from Central Park in NY!

Harbin and Yuncong decorating the van by drawing the Statue of Liberty!

We’d also like to thank St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Manhattanville  for hosting us these past two nights and supporting the Illini 4000 and our mission! Can’t wait to update you tomorrow after our first official day of the ride!

Day -1: The Avengers Assemble in New York

We’re excited to announce that most of us have arrived in New York and are ready to kick off an amazing ride. After a super early flight, we arrived at Laguardia airport ready to conquer the day – many of us were sleep deprived. Despite the early morning wake-up call, we all took full advantage of our first day in New York!

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 750 miles via plane

Elevation: 35,000 ft (Cruising altitude)

Points of Interest: Chinatown, Little Italy, Central Park, The High Line, Hudson Yards

Tales of the Trail (NY Edition)  

Day -1 started with most of the team meeting at Midway Airport in Chicago at 5:00 a.m. to catch a plane to our starting point in New York! Everyone arrived fairly on time, and checking in was a breeze. Some set forth to explore the airport, while others chose to get some shut-eye. Once we got on board, it was as if Maleficent cast a spell on the entire team, putting them all into a deep slumber, only to be awoken by the landing at LaGuardia airport. We all took the M60 bus to our first stayover, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in North Harlem, and dropped off our bags before exploring the city. 

11/17 of us arriving at Midway Airport!!

Plane squad (first row - Nicole, Veronica, and Willam, second row - Eli, Harbin, and Micah)

We couldn’t unpack or reassemble our bikes at the time of our arrival, so we all decided to spend time enjoying the city. We got a large group to take the subway downtown, and we walked around Chinatown and Little Italy – most of us were starving and trying to find something to eat. We split off into different groups, with some of us getting bagel sandwiches and others going for Chinese. 

Stephanie and Sophia totally eating a giant rainbow bagel

Squad in Chinatown!

We found a big pigeon! (Dev, Eli, Stephanie, Katie, Sophia)

After venturing downtown, we returned to our stayover and got to unpacking our bags and reassembling bikes, with most of us being reunited. Everyone was pretty beat, and we all got some well-needed rest before dinner. Most of us and some I4K alumni – shoutout Joey and Rose – got food at Dado’s Pizza, where we enjoyed a great meal and were met with some enthusiastic Knicks fans. After dinner, some of us enjoyed a night ride through Manhattan, and we got to enjoy the sights of Central Park, Times Square, and the Rockefeller Center.  

Times Square! So many lights!

Thanks for reading today’s journal! We appreciate all of your comments and hope you enjoy keeping up with the team!

Day -2: The 2025 I4K Team Introduction!

Welcome to the I4K 2025 Bike America Team blog!! Our names are Dev Dassani and Nicole Tchorz, and we’ll be riding across the country with 15 other teammates this summer. We’re incredibly excited to be documenting our journey from New York to San Francisco, and we hope you’ll enjoy our daily blog posts during the ride!

For those who followed last year's journals, we’ll be keeping up with Maaike’s and Riddhima’s traditions, with each daily post including a Ride Overview, a detailed Tales of the Trail section, and a casual interview with each rider in Cyclist’s Corner. We’ll also continue to use terms from the I4K Dictionary – bear with us as we’re still learning some of these. 

If this is your first time navigating our website, no worries! You can read up on The Portraits Project and learn about the stories of cancer patients and caretakers, learn about the work of our beneficiaries, and familiarize yourself with the team’s rider profiles. There’s a lot more you can do on our website, so give it a look! You can also donate at any point during the ride to help our fight against cancer! 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: ~4,800

Elevation: +190,000’

Points of Interest: THE AMAZING USA

TALES OF THE TRAIL

Our team spent months preparing for this journey! We had training rides when it was rainy and freezing, warm and sunny, even… wormy? All of them made for a great ride with an amazing team and gave us a glimpse into what this upcoming summer has in store for us!

Stop at Miss Daisy’s in Sidell, IL on our annual Ride to Randy!

Training ride to Homer Lake!

A little rain never hurt nobody! Trip back from Homer Lake gave us a surprise! (feat. Nicole, Alex, Andres, Yuncong, Veronica).

70-Miler Mood (feat. Sofia, Eli, Dev, Stephanie, Micah).

Nothing but smiles when you’re on a bike in sunny weather! (feat. Eli, Kev, and William).

Mandatory playground rest stops! (feat. Harbin and Jason).

This boat don’t float (feat. Eli and Jessica).

Sofia, Katie, and Harbin take a moment to enjoy the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve.

Yuncong, Micah, Stephanie, and Andres enjoying their training ride.

Micah, Eli, Harbin, and Nicole off to Homer Lake once again to join the Prairie Dragon Paddlers!

Dinner chore always cookin up something good for the team.

24 hours… on a bike?!?!?!

When you experience the best and worst weather on a days trip to Sidney Dairy Barn for some ice cream…

An inside glimpse to the I4K van as it set’s forth to our starting location in NYC!

We are excited to set forth on this adventure to document the American cancer experience, raise funds for cancer research and patient support services, and spread awareness for the fight against cancer through our 2025 cross-country bike ride! We hope you enjoyed the preview, be sure to come back everyday starting May 31st for updates on the ride! I-L-L!