Day 31: Nebraska’s Dry Heat | Kearney, NE to McCook, NE

Today was long and hot, but we braved our first century in a while and made it through the day. Our first couple of rest stops were at parks, and we tried our best to make the start of the day as fast as possible to beat the heat. Later in the day, the UV index started to rise, and the dry heat made the ride far harder. Taking a break from the heat was necessary, and we had a long lunch stop and re-fueled for the rest of our ride, which was mostly flat with a gradual incline. Luckily, we ended the day with ice cream!

Quote of the Day

“Okay, I feel good. I feel like a captain who decided to go down with his ship” - Veronica

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 103.8 mi

Elevation:  2,708 ft

Points of Interest: Lee’s Crossraod Cafe

Ride Dedication: Leo Ratzer 

Tales of the Trail 

To beat the heat, we had an early morning wake-up at 4:45 am, with Matt blasting “Turn Down for What” to wake everyone up. After enjoying breakfast, we all met for morning circle, and Jessica’s mom graciously sent us some American flag fans! After rolling out, my group decided to stop at McDonald’s around mile 2, continuing the tradition of early stops, which our team is really enjoying! The start of the ride was fairly easy, with a very gradual incline. We had our first rest stop in a parking lot, which we made quickly before getting back on the road. After a more gradual incline, we got to our second rest stop at a park around mile 40, and everyone could start to feel the heat. After rolling out of our second rest stop, we faced some semi-hard rolling hills, which felt much harder due to the heat, as the UV index was starting to reach 11. During the ride, it was great to see the arid landscape of Nebraska for the first time, but the dry heat did prove to be a challenge, and water was undeniably necessary. Thankfully, we made it to Lee’s Crossroad Cafe, which felt like an oasis in the middle of the desert! Everyone took some time to sit down, recover, hydrate, and re-fuel before getting back on the road, and we all needed a long break after the stretch we just endured.

The rest of the ride was flat with a gradual incline, and we took a couple more rest stops at gas stations to cool down. It was a great end of the ride until a group unexpectedly got a flat tire at mile 99 – maybe the worst time to get a flat. Since they were so close to the stayover, Matt picked them up so we could get to the showers before closing time. Fortunately, we all got to take showers, and everyone enjoyed some ice cream before shuttling back to the stayover. Once we got back, most of us wrapped up the night by washing our clothes and getting ready for bed!

Thank you to Peace Lutheran Church for giving us a place to sleep, a meal to eat, and some amazing University of Nebraska t-shirts! 

Cyclist’s Corner 

Today's Rider: Nicole Tchorz

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling pretty good, I had a good day. All of the century day’s I’ve had so far have gone really well, and I just typically yap with the people in my group which makes the entire day fun. 

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

I typically try to go for snacks that would fill me up most. The pretzel bags we have usually have a good amount so I try to get that first and then any granola bars that I can so I can get fueled up. My favorites are goldfish and nutrigrain bars, or nature bakery bars. 

What is your rest stop routine?

If there’s a bathroom I typically use that first, then I just snack a lot and lay in the shade when available. When it gets closer to having to go, I fill up my water bottles, wet my arm sleeves and gaiter if I have them on, and put on sunscreen before hitting the road again. 

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

On longer days on the bike, I stay motivated by thinking about how lucky I am to have this opportunity to be a part of I4K and my motive for joining in the first place, so I push through it. Having a good group to talk about anything during the ride also helps a lot, because when I get to talk with others the time goes by way faster and its much more enjoyable when I continue to learn more about my teammates or any random topic we talk about. If no one is in a talking mood I typically sing to myself and that helps a lot as well, back in Pennsylvania, The Piña Colada song was a hit for me. 

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I am most looking forward to just the rest of the ride West. I’m excited and both a little nerve-wrecked about Colorado's mountains with the elevation, but there are places down the road like the Grand Tetons and other national parks that I am excited about visiting along the way outside of Colorado. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

Thanks to my family for supporting me throughout the trip and shout out to everyone else on the team as well,  I have gotten to know everyone better throughout the trip and they make every day an adventure.

Day 30: A Steady Rise | York, NE to Kearney, NE

Today was not super eventful for our team, but we got to explore more of Nebraska! Throughout our ride today, we got to gradually climb up in elevation while enjoying the views. There were many smells that tickled our noses today, and we got plenty of cold treats to keep us going throughout the day.

Quote of the Day

“You have very flexible calves”

— Jessica (to Veronica)

ride overview

Mileage: 82.8 Miles

Elevation: 1,112 ft. 

Points of Interest: Cabelas, Java Junction, Baristas Coffee House 

Ride Dedication: Nicole Banitt

tales of the trail

The team rolled out today, ready to tackle the gradual climb throughout the day. We started with our ordinary oatmeal and hit the road! Nebraska continued to surprise us throughout the day with the variety of smells our noses encountered; most were not pleasant, but at least we knew our senses were working! As usual, it would not be an I4K ride day without a coffee shop rest stop. We had our rest stop at a coffee house where everyone refueled to have energy for the rest of the day. We were climbing a gradual hill throughout the day, with the steepest part being a grade of 1.6% at one point! So (not) steep! It felt like we were riding on a flat surface throughout the whole day, but slowly and surely, we were gaining elevation. Towards the end of the day, some groups stopped at a Cabela’s to check out what they had to offer, and we all ended the ride by visiting Java Junction! At Java Junction, many people got smoothies and ice cream, a nice way to end an 80-miler on a hot summer day in Nebraska.

Thank you so much to the First Lutheran Church ELCA for providing us with sandwiches to make for dinner, and a place for our team to get some well-needed rest!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Dev Dassani

How are you feeling today?

 I'm feeling pretty good today. It was a somewhat long day, but we got through the ride pretty fast, because we were going fast, but overall it was a little tough.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

No, I don't necessarily have any go to snacks. I normally just try and get carbohydrates, protein, and salt to energize me for the day 

What is your rest stop routine?

Chill for a bit, drink some water, and try to get something to eat. If it's a gas station or a cafe, I'll usually get a coffee if it's early enough in the morning, and I usually try to fill up my water bottles. I just do what I can to prepare to get riding again. 

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

The way I motivate myself usually varies. A lot of the time, I just try and take it mile by mile or rest stop by rest stop. On some days, I try and lean into the pain. When it gets hard, it's usually not so painful, but just the long days can be a bit tough. Other times, I try and distract myself by either singing a song in my head or just thinking about something to distract me from riding for the day. I also enjoy just talking to my teammates, and on the bike, that helps the day go by quicker

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I’m most looking forward to visiting the Grand Tetons. It seems like such a beautiful place and is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit.

Day 29: Dino Mart! | Lincoln, NE to York, NE

Today’s ride was a fairly quick one, giving us more time to enjoy our day in York! After a late start to the day, we experienced some minor rolling hills and a gradual incline, which wasn’t anything we weren’t used to. Once we arrived in York, we had a great time visiting a marble museum, an antique store, and the grocery store for root beer!

Quote of the Day

“If it’s evenly coated in rust, it’s okay” - Harbin (talking about his bike, Surly)

“You guys know Costco?” - Veronica 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 54.2 Miles

Elevation: 1,381 ft.

Points of Interest: Neutral Grounds Coffee Shop, Sinclair Gas Station (dinos!), Grand Central Foods, Lee’s Legendary Marbles & Collectibles 

Ride Dedication: Robert (Bob) and Ann Snider 

Tales of the Trail 

We all woke up at our usual time of 5:45 am, feeling well-rested from the previous rest day. We rolled out later than usual due to rain in the morning, but the early morning sky greeted us with a beautiful sunrise and rainbow! We eventually rolled out around 8 am, and some of the groups immediately found coffee, while others got a head start. The morning started out with low-grade hills, which were fairly easy compared to some other days of the ride. Our first rest stop of the morning was at Neutral Grounds Coffee Shop, which was a relaxing place to get some coffee and snacks before getting back on the road. The rest of the ride was very flat, with a very low grade incline, making it much easier to get through the day. We had our lunch stop at Sinclair’s Gas Station, which was dinosaur-themed and even had a mini dinosaur statue, which our team had a great time taking pictures on! Luckily, we only had 15 miles left of the ride, giving us time to enjoy the rest of the day. 

We got to the stayover around 1:30 PM, and everyone got to unpacking and taking showers. Some people went to the community center to shower, while a group of us went to buy all kinds of root beer from the grocery store! A bit later, a group visited the marble museum and had a great time learning about this niche interest. Once everyone got back to their stayover, we were provided some great sandwiches by the church. We were also challenged to find cool objects on the side of the road this morning, and every group took the time to share a story surrounding their discovered object. After dinner, we spent the rest of the night watching Interstellar and taste testing the root beer we bought earlier in the day. Unfortunately, the movie was very long, and we had to end it early so everyone could rest up for the next day. No worries – we’ll finish it eventually!

Thank you, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, for giving us a place to sleep and providing us with a great meal!

Cyclist’s Corner 

Today’s Rider: Matt Guibord

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling good, we had a short day. It started raining when we started, it was a longer first stretch, but we got to have coffee. We stayed a little bit longer at the coffee shop, which was nice and relaxing. We told the coffee shop owner and some guests about what we were doing, they were very supportive. Then the longer first stretch made the last two stretches kind of shorter, 12 miles and 16 miles, those were very nice because it wasn't too hot and the road was nice. It was very straight and flat, but it was nice and relaxing. It's nice to be back at the stay over quickly. We got here around 2: 30 and so we've been able to rest since then.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

For gas station snacks, if they're selling a lunch like thing, not just snacks, but like a sandwich or things like that, then I to go for those for rest stop snacks. I really just try to get as much protein in as possible. I like pairing a protein heavy, like granola bar or something, with maybe something sweeter or savory to keep me motivated and keep the spirits high.

What is your rest stop routine?

My rest stop routine is, I start a timer at the beginning of almost every single rest stop, even though I normally don't tell people, because when it hits 15 minutes, I don't want to leave, and so I'm not gonna kick people out if I don't wanna leave. So I normally just keep that, but I do set timers, and then I grab snacks, and I'm basically just eating snacks all the way until I'm almost ready to go, and then with a few minutes left, I fill my water bottles. I don't have that much sunscreen to put on, just because I like the arm sleeves and leg sleeves, and really the only things that are showing are the tops of my hands and my cheeks. So I'll sunscreen those.

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

I think the best is to break it into bite sized chunks. I mean, this entire trip, it's easy to just say, every day is the bite sized chunk, but I don't think that a day is small enough. So maybe like, rest stop, or, every 20 miles, every 10 miles, and you really just have to block the rest of the day out of your brain. You just have to focus on the moment, on the present. Honestly, just looking around, because it's very easy to just kind of put your head down and just like, keep biking and say, “oh, my legs hurt. This is painful.” But then you start looking around, enjoying the scenery, and you start talking to people, and it makes the time go by much faster, and you enjoy it more.

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I’m looking forward to basically everything past Boulder because that's when we start doing elevation again, and mountains and stuff. I really enjoy that, and just the scenery, I think it’s going to get a little better than the flat cornfields of the Midwest. I'm also excited for the dry weather, because the humidity kind of sucks. It makes everything feel so much hotter than it actually is, so things being dry will be nice, and with good views, lots of climbing, but I don't really mind the climbing. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

Shout out to all the stayovers who have helped us. They've been so generous so far, and everyone's been very appreciative and grateful for everything.

Day 27+28: Will You Be My Valentine? | Omaha, NE to Lincoln, NE

Today we had a somewhat quick ride, which gave us more time to enjoy the sights of Lincoln. We dealt with some difficult hills in the beginning of the ride, but the roads soon flattened out, making the day much easier. The team got to Lincoln after dealing with two flat tires and had time to relax before getting dinner. We hit the town in the evening for some food, and enjoyed the night without worries of waking up early the next morning, excited for one of our first I4K holiday’s, Valentines Day!

quote of the day

“Dev was giving flat tire vibes today”

— Alex

ride overview

Mileage: 57.9 Miles

Elevation: 2,031 ft

Points of Interest: The Beanery, Tipsy Tinas Taco Cantina, The Waffle Cone Haymarket Ice Cream, Historic Haymarket, The Hub Cafe, Lincoln’s Children Zoo, Nebraska State Capitol Building, Sunken Gardens, Holmes Lake Park 

Ride Dedication: Aruna Shah 

tales of the trail

Day 27

We woke up at our usual time, and had a quicker than usual morning – we’re getting better at rolling our early! This morning, we challenged ourselves to come up with fun callouts during our ride, which made the day a little brighter. The ride started out with some rolling hills as we rolled out of Omaha, which made for a somewhat difficult start, but we soon came up on our first rest stop of the day - The Beanery Coffee Drive Thru! We all took a quick coffee break and got back on the road to finish out the day fast. Luckily, the roads flattened out, making the ride much easier. On our way, we passed by a cool lighthouse near the side of a river, which made for some fun pictures! Soon, we got to our second rest stop of the day, which was outside of a Mexican restaurant and coffee shop. Some of us got $1 ice cream, bought patches, and got some food before heading back on the road. It was a quicker day, as we only had 12 miles to go, but we ran into some misfortune on the last stretch. In the span of a couple of miles, the team got 2 flat tires, making the day a bit longer, but we were able to fix them up and get back on the road. With only a couple miles to go, we came up on a very windy path going into Lincoln, and we soon found ourselves riding through the University of Nebraska campus. We soon made it to our stayover for the night, and everyone got to unpacking and showering, while another group drove over to a bike shop in town to get some bike parts. 

Since we had the evening to relax and not worry about riding the next day, the team decided to go out for dinner in the Historic Haymarket District. The whole team went to Tipsy Tina’s Taco Cantina, and we enjoyed each other’s company in a fun atmosphere! After dinner, we went to get ice cream to finish out the night, and a group of us went back to the stayover while others stayed out for a bit. It was great to have a good night’s sleep without the worries of being woken up at 5:45 am, and the upcoming rest day would be well-needed after a long stretch!

Day 28

The team was greeted with coffee and donuts this morning at their stayover in St Paul Methodist Church. While the team was eating breakfast, we got to chat with some local community members and met Robert and Ann! Both of them have survived cancer, and we had the opportunity to talk to them about their experience and what we, as riders, have also learned along the ride. Afterwards, Robert so kindly gave the team a tour of the sanctuary and up to the church bells (McKinley Memorial Chime), where the team was able to read sheet music and play the bells! The experience was amazing, and it was so kind of Robert and Ann to show us around. Thank you!

Once we said goodbye to Robert and Ann, the team got ready to head out for the day to explore Lincoln with their “dates”. I4K Valentine’s Day is Valentine’s Day, just not on February 14th. It’s one of the many holidays that I4K celebrates while riding on the trip. The “dates” were chosen randomly, and gave people on the team the opportunity to know one another better. The team set off for the day to do a multitude of things. Some went to The Hub Cafe to grab lunch, while others went to neighboring cafes to get to know one another better. Here is what our “dates” were up to: Nicole and Andres went to the Lincoln’s Children Zoo to feed some giraffes, goats, and gaze at the animals. Sofia and Micah went kayaking! Alex and Stephanie went to throw some Axes! Jessica, Yuncong, and Jason explored Lincoln and the Nebraska State Capitol. Harbin and Katie went to the Sunken Gardens, where they surprisingly encountered a wedding in progress! So they stayed to watch and support the newlyweds of some strangers. Eli and Dev went to shoot some targets, and Veronica and Matt baked an apple pie that the team later ate that night (which was scrumptious)! After the team spent time with their “dates”, we got dinner from a pizza restaurant called Yia Yia’s, which gave us 50% off our order. Thank you for giving us a discount — the pizzas were amazing and fed the whole team! Once the team was fed, everyone went on with the night, doing whatever they needed to do to prepare for the next day. It was a day of adventure for everyone, and we’re ready to explore more of Nebraska! 

Thank you to the St Paul Methodist Church for hosting us for two days in a row, and for giving us recommendations on what to do in Lincoln, NE!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Katie Kobel

How are you feeling today?

Today, I’m feeling pretty good. I had a lot of fun with the ride in my group. At the beginning, my legs felt like they weren't waking up, even though it was a pretty easy day. So after the first rest stop, it got better, and then it was pretty good day.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

Okay, so my favorite gas station is the Wawa, which was out East, and now it's gone, so that's sad to me. My favorite snack I like is when we go to the coffee shop and I can get my Ice Chai.

What is your rest stop routine?

My routine is, normally, I immediately like to go into wherever we are and cool off. Then, lately, I've been falling asleep at the rest stops, which I don't like because then I'm too tired to go back on my bike, and then I get sunscreen and water. 

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

I think lately, I've been telling my life story, because everyone keeps asking me, and it really does make the time go by quicker. So probably talking on the bike and then just thinking again about why I'm riding, that helps a lot.

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I think, really, I'm looking forward to the entire rest of the ride, but specifically California. I've never been there, and I've always wanted to go. It looks cool! I went to Colorado a few summers ago, and I had a lot of fun, so I'm excited to go back there again.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I think I'll just give a shout out to myself, because I think at the beginning it was hard to get used to the ride, but I think within the past week, probably, it's been getting much better, and I'm enjoying it a lot more rather than having a hard time with biking. I think I'm getting stronger and it's easier so I'm able to enjoy it more!

Day 26: No More Iowa - Naurbraska! | Atlantic, IA to Omaha, NE

Today, the team entered our 9th state of the ride, Nebraska! Iowa continued to leave us biking on rolling hills till we hit Omaha, but it wasn’t anything our team hadn’t seen before! To get through the hot, hot, hot day outside, the team took many fun pictures throughout today’s ride with different objects and statues to fill up our camera rolls with memories.

quote of the day

“I can’t hear clearly with sunglasses” - Yuncong 

“The sun be sunning” - Jason

ride overview

Mileage: 65.7 Miles

Elevation: 3,725 ft. 

Points of Interest: Rubacks Super Market, Tom Friedman: “Looking Up” Sculpture, River’s Edge Pavilion, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters  

Ride Dedication: Ela Ostrowski Tchorz 

tales of the trail

After yesterday’s events in Iowa, the team was ready to get moving into our 9th state of the trip, Nebraska! Home of Kool-Aid, the team made sure to hydrate throughout the day with electrolytes and water to not let the heat get to them. Iowa’s hills kept us on our toes and pedaling until we made it out of the state. Our first rest stop was at Rubacks Super Market, where the employees were super kind and wished us luck on our travels. Despite having oatmeal in the morning, the team was ravenous, and many decided to buy some fried chicken to satisfy their hunger with some protein. At this stop, many groups also chose to take some cool photos for today’s scavenger hunt activity, where we were given a list of objects to take a photo with.

Our second stop of the day was in a shady area underneath some trees. The team silently and unanimously agreed that this would be the perfect spot to nap, so many fell into a slumber until it was time for the next and final stretch of the day, when we would cross into Nebraska. Leading into our 9th state, the team had to stop at Tom Friedman’s “Looking Up” sculpture. The sculpture reminded us all of our beloved tall rider, Matt, and we took some time to rest and refresh as there was a sprayground park nearby.

We took the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Nebraska, and it was a well structured bridge. The team stopped to admire the Iowa-Nebraska state line across the ground. Afterwards, some teams went to visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters, while others continued onward with the ride. Omaha tested our perseverance for the day with some final steep climbs (but no rolling hills like Iowa) leading up to the stayover. Once everyone got settled in for the night, the team made our classic Spaghetti and Lentils for dinner. Some went for a trip to Walmart to get some necessities, and others got some haircuts by one of our riders, Sofia! We ended the night with some classical music, as our heads hit our pillows to take some much needed rest for the day ahead.

Thank you to the All Saints Episcopal Church for providing us with a place to sleep in the retreat center. It was lovely there and the team was able to get their much-needed rest.

From the Saddle: A Question for You

Introducing a new segment, From the Saddle! We as an organization have reflected upon how much our supporters mean to us and want to get your feedback! For the time being, we will be testing out this segment to see how well it performs and include it in our journals on a weekly basis (may change). The idea is, we will ask YOU, the readers, a question, and it will be your job to respond in the comments. This will be a great way for us to get to know our supporters better and create a community surrounding the cause of fighting cancer!

Today’s Question For You: What snack would you never get tired of on a long trip?

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Eli Kujawa

How are you feeling today?

Pretty good, kind of sore, ready for the rest day tomorrow. But this stretch has definitely felt easier than the last one, and I can tell I'm  getting stronger. So I'm feeling pretty good today.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

I kind of just go for whatever's in the in the van, but if I can go to a gas station and buy either a protein shake or just some milk, that's always a good day.

What is your rest stop routine?

I usually start by trying to get down as many calories as possible, and I also drink as much water as as I can comfortably drink, and then sunscreen, maybe sit down for a bit, and Then get rolling when, when my group is ready.

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

I try to just tell myself, I'm just gonna push through for another mile and see how I feel. And then I kind of just keep doing that until I get there. And then same with rest stops, I'll say I'll just make it to the next rest stop, and then  I can sag in the van if I want, and then I try not to let myself actually do that and just push through, kind of just taking things one piece at a time.

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I'm really excited about Crater Lake National Park. I think that's going to be really cool. And in general, I think just out west is going to be very beautiful. So I'm excited for that. I'm a little nervous about some of the climbs and descents on the mountains, but I think that the payoff is going to be huge.

Day 25: A Series of Mis”fun”tunate Events | Des Moines, IA to Atlantic, IA

Today wasn’t a usual day for I4K, and things didn’t necessarily go as planned, but we adapted and pushed through. The ride started out with an unexpected amount of trail closures that required us to maneuver around trails at a slow pace. The day continued on with long gravel hills and more road closures that required us to make some adjustments. Soon, we were hit by storms that required us to shelter in a Casey’s and finish out the day by shuttling everyone to the stay-over. Despite an unfortunate turn of events, the team still had a good time and found ways to make the day fun!

Quote of the Day

“Morning grind? Sounds like my gears right now” - Harbin 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 84 Miles

Elevation: 2,840 ft. 

Points of Interest: Morning Grind (Coffee), Closed Trails

Ride Dedication: Donna Wallach 

Tales of the Trail 

We started out the morning at our usual time, and everyone prepared for what was expected to be a longer day. We biked through very windy trails and were met with a lot of trail closed signs that we had to maneuver around. We even had to trek through the mud for a small portion of the ride, and everyone took some time to clean the mud off their bikes and cleats. We came across some unfinished bridges and fences we had to climb over, and even though they proved to be a major inconvenience, we laughed it off and kept on going. This made the first stretch of the morning far longer than usual. Fortunately, we made it to the first rest stop of the morning and got some coffee at the Morning Grind. We met some very nice people at the coffee shop, and it was great to take some time to relax after a turbulent morning. Some of us weren’t in the best of moods, but we continued onto the next stretch of the ride and eventually got to ride down a shaded path, and luckily, we didn’t come across any closed trail signs on this path. Eventually, we came across some hilly gravel roads, and we were met with yet another road closed sign. Luckily, we were able to find our way around and continued the ride on some challenging hills before seeing dark rain clouds in the distance…

Due to the prospects of a severe storm, we booked it to a Casey’s to try and beat a torrential downpour. We just nearly missed the rain as we rolled into the gas station, and we sheltered there for a while. It wasn’t looking like the thunderstorms were going to clear up any time soon, and our ride leaders made the executive decision to shuttle everyone to the stayover, ending our ride for the day. A group of us were shuttled to the stayover, while another group had to stay at Casey’s to wait for a second trip. Since the left-behind group had some time to kill, we decided to bike over to an ice cream shop in the town over before the next storm rolled in. The only problem was that we had an extra bike, but Jason used his super cycling skills to ride on his bike and hold the other at the same time. As we made our way to the ice cream shop, our group got a flat tire, which was unfortunate because we had to make it to the town over quickly. Jason changed the tire quickly, and we were on our way as we took in the views of beautiful clouds in the distance. We made it to the ice cream shop just in time before it started downpouring, proving to us that today wasn’t all bad luck! We enjoyed some ice cream before being picked up by Sofia, and the rest of us were finally shuttled back to the stayover for the night. Upon our arrival, we got to shower and enjoy some of the facilities at the YMCA before eating and wrapping up the night. Reflecting back on the day, we dealt with some misfortune, but it made for some funny moments and what some teammates would call “type 2 fun.”

Thank you to the community of Nishna Valley YMCA for giving us a place to sleep and letting us use your facilities!

Cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Micah Yoder

How are you feeling today?

I thought today was very fun and interesting, because we had a tunnel underpass pretty close to a construction zone, which we went underneath, and it got quite a bit of mud in my tires and everyone else's tires and in my breaks, but a good cleaning at the stayover made that all fine, and it was a fun experience to go through with my team.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

I had two slices of pizza today, but usually I would stick to our snack box trying to get protein bars or chips. Since chips, I figure, are fairly healthy, since we need the sodium anyway, so that’s good. 

What is your rest stop routine?

When I get to rest stops, my first thing is usually to finish all the water from my water bottles and then sit for a little bit, maybe eat as much food as I can fit in my stomach for a short period of time. Then I eventually fill up my water bottles, and if it's been two rest stops without sunscreen, reapply sunscreen, and then forget that I didn't turn my Garmin (a bike computer) off, and that it’s battery life has gone down 10% and then roll out.

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

Usually, my method for doing this is just singing, either out loud or to myself. I go through a number of songs throughout each day, and i've noticed that whenever i feel especially tired, it's usually because i haven't been singing to myself for a while, and I start singing to myself, or something like that, and I feel a lot better. Otherwise, I try to talk to other people, or share life stories or hear other people's life stories, as we do a lot on bikes.

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

I’m looking forward to seeing the Rockies and all the mountains there since I haven't been up mountains very much, besides passing through on flights and such, and mountain scenery is great.

Day 24: Why We Ride | Newton, IA to Des Moines, IA

The team was psyched up for today with lower mileage. It meant we would have more time unwind and remind ourselves of what life is like off a bike. The 40 miler went by fast for the team and we were able to spend the rest of the day in Des Moines unwinding, sharing our “Why We Ride” stories, and finishing the night with some vocals.

quote of the day

Sofia: “we’re not trees”

Matt: “so we will die”

ride overview

Mileage: 40.5 Miles

Elevation: 1,510 ft. 

Points of Interest: Village Park, Zombie Burger, The Greatest Store In The Universe, Black Cat Creamery

Ride Dedication: Meredith

tales of the trail

The team got rolling this morning with one goal in mind: get to Des Moines early enough to have time to explore, and we achieved that goal! We experienced all the terrain we could possibly go through in one day, and ironically enough, on of our shorter days! We encountered the paved road, gravel, rails trails, bridges, flats, and climbs! Our only rest stop for the day was at Village Park, where the teams took some longer time to relax in the shade knowing that we had a short day so there was no rush.

Once the team unpacked everything at our stayover for the night, we went out to shower at a local YMCA, then immediately headed out to eat since we hadn’t eaten lunch yet. We arrived to eat at Zombie Burger, where many got interesting burger combinations and ramen. Ever tried a burger with peanut butter and banana in it? Well, some of us did and it wasn’t too shabby! After we filled our stomachs, a store nearby caught our eyes. “The Greatest Store in the Universe”, it said. Well, we had to check it out to see if it was true. The advertising did not lie. It was quite an amazing store, it had many cool stickers, shirts, keychains, postcards, etc. you could find a lot of sick and funny merchandise. It was the bomb.com. Following the store adventure, the team set off to Black Cat Creamery to get some much needed ice-cream as a reward for the hot day. Their flavors were interesting and their apple-pie flavor did indeed taste like pie!

Back at the stayover, the team got together to share their “Why We Ride” stories. This annual tradition in I4K is an opportunity during the ride where everyone gets together to share their stories and motive for joining I4K. Many do it to prove to themselves that they can tackle on such a physical challenge, along with the deep desire of wanting to make a difference in the world via the fundraising we do for cancer research and spreading awareness. Many shared stories of loved one’s who have had cancer; there were tears, laughs, and it brought us closer together as a team to get the chance to hear everybody out. At the very end, the team linked arms to create a giant cinnamon roll looking hug. Our conversation reminded all of us of why we are here, why we are doing the ride, and we want to thank all of our supporters who have helped us along the way here as an organization to help combat cancer.

Succeeding our heart-felt conversation, the team was in the need of some laughter. Two days prior, the groups on the ride had been given a challenge to create a parody of a song with their groups, and tonight, we performed them. Each group rehearsed their parts, got on stage to compete, and sang their heart outs to the parody. The winning group sang a parody of the song “Let It Be” by The Beatles. Afterwards, the team hit the hay to get ready for the next day, ready for Day 25.

Thank you to Grace United Methodist Church for allowing us stay the night and providing us with a hose to clean off our bikes to be squeaky clean!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Alex Ziminski

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling pretty good today. It was a short day, so feeling nice,  and feeling like I'm gonna be better recovered for tomorrow than I have been for other days.

Do you have any go-to gas station/rest stop snacks?

Honestly, I eat way too much at the rest stops. I pretty much eat like, everything that's in the snack bin. But if I do get something at a gas station, I usually get something like, usually a cold drink just to cool me off. Like, sometimes I'll get a Sprite or a Coke or something, but, yeah, that's probably my go to.  As for food, I had some animal crackers today. They were really good.

What is your rest stop routine?

Usually, when I first get to rest up, I just put my bike down, and just lay down for a minute, and then then I go eat,  and then I'll refill my water, and kind of just just try to relax as much I can, like I try not to move around too much.

How do you stay motivated on long/tough days on the bike?

On long and tough days, I feel like I really have to lean on my teammates, because it is kind of hard to stay motivated. So I make sure to stay vocal when I am struggling, and tell everyone “Hey, I'm really struggling”, or “I'm bonking”, or “I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish this”. And usually people in my group are really good about keeping me motivated and finishing like, whether it be early on in the day or towards the end, usually my ride group has my back for the remaining portion of the ride

For the remaining portion of the ride, where are you looking forward to visiting the most?

Well, I'm really excited to go to Colorado. I know that's that's coming up next week, maybe, or in a few weeks, but, yeah, just seeing the mountains in person, like from the bike, is just gonna be awesome. Really excited for that. Also still probably the most excited to get to the West Coast, just, I feel like the first time when you see the ocean, it's just gonna be like, amazing. And just riding along the coast too is gonna be so cool because you're gonna have that, like ocean air as we're riding, and each rest stop it could just, just go swim in the ocean of each night.

Day 23: Iowa Has Hills?!?!?! | Iowa City, IA to Newton, IA

quote of the day

“Sometimes I just like to touch Jason’s bike”

— Stephanie

ride overview

Mileage: 89.4 Miles

Elevation: 4,090 ft. 

Points of Interest: Parnell Park, Vivarium Coffee (Montezuma)

Ride Dedication: Bela Shah

tales of the trail

The morning started out strong with another early wake-up to beat the heat. It ended up being a cloudy and cool morning, with a beautiful view of clouds in the distance. There were also a lot of rolling hills throughout the ride, which weren’t too steep, but very repetitive. Luckily, we hadn’t experienced rain so far, and it was a chill morning to enjoy the Iowa countryside. The groups also spent the day creating their own I4K parodies of popular songs, which was a fun way to pass the time! As we rolled through the countryside, all the groups stopped at a bale of hay to take a picture, giving us the true Iowa experience. Soon, we rolled into our first rest stop in Parnell, and everyone snacked up before quickly getting back on the road. On our second stretch, it started to rain a bit, but it was nothing we weren’t used to! As we continued on our way, we had a second stop in Deep River, where we enjoyed meeting some of the local families! 

Two groups decided to take an impromptu stop at Vivarium Coffee, and everyone enjoyed taking a nice coffee break! We quickly got to the lunch stop, which was on the side road, and we ate some pb&j’s before finishing out the day. After our final rest stop at Casey’s, the teams split up between two houses to shower, set up, and prepare for dinner. Everyone shuttled to Our Savior Lutheran church to eat dinner with the community and share our mission against cancer! After dinner we split up again, and returned to our stay-over houses, where the hosts were kind enough to offer us beds! We wrapped up the night with some laundry and hit the hay!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Jessica Fornek

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling really good, considering we had 90 miles that turned into 95 miles today. There are a lot of hills, which is kind of unexpected for Iowa, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. I kind of miss climbing and descending a little bit, and it was a really fun ride day. It didn't feel like 90 miles at all, and I feel like the team was all in high spirits. So, yeah, good.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

Iowa has actually been nicer than I expected, because during my ride, we only went into like a corner of Iowa for like 10 miles, maybe, so I didn't really get to see much of it. But the farmlands are actually pretty, and the sky was really pretty today, and there weren’t a lot of cars on the road so we were able to talk, and our group was just being really goofy today. So I feel like we were able to just laugh our way through the day, which made it a lot of fun. We did stop at a coffee place, it was really good coffee. I got an oatmeal cookie latte, and it was really good. Yeah, our group was team shenanigans today, so we were stopping a lot. Oh, the hay bales, yeah. We pulled off at several hay bales and got fun pictures on the hay bales, which I've been wanting to do. So that was a lot of fun.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I've had a lot of my immediate family affected by cancer, and then also a ton of extended family, but my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my brother had leukemia, so very close relations with cancer, and part of that was at the same time so it was a huge thing that affected my family. I was young at the time, but now, thinking back on it, it's like crazy that my family went through that, and my brother was in college at the time, so to think that he was diagnosed with cancer, and then was still able to finish his degree is really crazy for me to think back on, now that I've finished my degree without those conditions. Yeah, just the cause, and I've always wanted to do something like this, like a grand adventure, where I get to see a lot of the country and travel. So it was kind of the best of both worlds, and it's been great.

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 didn't have a ton of bike training. The most I did was like, maybe, well, okay, before my first ride, I did do the ride already, but before my first ride, the most I did was like, maybe 20 miles, which is like a really long ride for me. I had a cheap mountain bike that was really heavy and hard to bike on, and I would just go on bike rides during COVID. That was about it. But I've been in sports, like, my whole life, so that helped in some way I'm sure. But yeah, cycling, no. Now the second time around, I definitely have the mental preparation, I know I'm capable of it, so it's like, okay, I'll just do it. But yeah, physically, it's still hard not gonna lie, mentally easier. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike still doesn’t have a name. I care about my bike, but I care about it too much to the point where I can't commit to a name, so I need to name it by the end of this ride. If anyone has any ideas for a coral bike, please let me know. I don't like the name coral though. Model, its a Specialized Diverge.

What are you most nervous/excited about?

 ​​I'm really excited for Colorado. I know everyone's a little bit nervous about that because of the climbing, but I think it's going to be so beautiful. So even if it's hard, like, I know I'll just be having such a great time with the views. I'm also really excited to go back through the national parks that I went through on my first ride, like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, those were just amazing, and camping, camping is fun. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

Shout out to my mom and my family for being so supportive and helping me out with whatever I need during the times when I'm home, and you know, everything before the ride, helping me get ready and deal with all the issues. Yeah, thank you.

Day 22: Electrolytes! | Davenport, IA to Iowa City, IA

Today marked the third day in a row where the team was faced with biking in extreme heat. Don’t worry though, by now we are pro’s at dealing with these conditions with groups getting their sun sleeves wet with cold water at rest stops, drinking electrolytes, etc. We took on a shorter day and were met with some of the first rolling hills that Iowa had to offer us.

quote of the day

“Every time we adopt something, I lose power”

— Andres

ride overview

Mileage: 59.4 Miles

Elevation: 1,852 ft

Points of Interest: Fire Nutrition, Rise and Grind (Coffee), University of Iowa 

Ride Dedication: Vicki Kobel

tales of the trail

The team was ready to tackle a shorter ride today (crazy to think 60 miles is short now), getting up early to beat the heat for the third day in a row! The goal for the day was to have quick rest stops. That being said, our van driver for the day, Jason, chose the first rest stop to be at a smoothie shop, with a coffee drive-through nearby… The team did a great job making it a quicker (relatively) rest stop, nonetheless. Some got smoothies at Fire Nutrition, while most got a coffee at the Rise and Grind coffee shop nearby.

Throughout the day, our team kept up with our hydration. After experiencing the heat the last two days, we now knew what to expect and how to take care of our bodies on these hot days. Iowa surprised us with some climbing on their hills (thought nothing compared to those in Pennsylvania and West Virginia). With 2-3 miles left to the stayover, the last group decided to tackle the challenge of each member of the group drinking half a gallon of milk and riding the rest of the way to the stayover. Only one member of the group completed the challenge successfully, Harbin! The other members, unfortunately, did not finish the half gallon milk, or the milk came up in some other way before they got back on the bike (don’t ask).

After all the groups got to our stayover at the First Mennonite Church, the group shuttled to showers and were treated to dinner by our hosts. Later that night, our team had the privilege of speaking to Meredith and Donna about their cancer experiences. It was a pleasure being able to speak with them and hear about their journeys (be sure to read their story in the near future)! The team ended the night with a movie and was ready to tackle the next day. Thank you so much to the First Mennonite Church for giving us a place to sleep, along with the dinner and delicious breakfast that was provided so early in the morning!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Veronica Kozak

How are you feeling today?

We got in early, so we had a lot of time to rest and just be human. So I'm feeling good.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I  really liked walking through the drive-through at a coffee place. It was funny because there were cars in front and back, and there was a bunch of cyclists just walking through to get coffee. And the owner was really sweet, and she gave us stickers. And the coffee was delicious. I got a vanilla honey cinnamon ice latte.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

A lot motivated me. My sister did the ride in 2016, and I knew I always wanted to do it because it sounded amazing to bike across the country. But it wasn't until my uncle passed away from cancer, and near my freshman year of entering college that I knew I wanted to do the ride then and there, just as a way to pay homage to him and also prove to myself that I could do something like I4K and push myself in that way.

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?

Well, for my first ride, I hadn't touched a bike in five years prior, so I was not prepared at all. But that just shows that anyone can do it, and it's possible with effort, determination, and willpower. You can do it if you really want for this ride. I will be honest, I didn't train as much as I did my first time around, but I'm really surprised. I think my experience doing it the first time helped,  and I was mentally prepared a lot more this time around. I think that helped me get through the physically challenging days on the ride the second time. And I think that's what got me through, just having a little bit of experience, and being able to do that. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

My bike's name is Bobby, B, O, B, B, Y,  and the model is a Trek Domani 2

What are you most nervous/excited about?

It's a bit nerve-wracking having to lead a team of 15, and knowing that I am, in a way, responsible for everyone. But I'm also excited at the same time, because I think we got a good bunch this time around. And I love everyone's personality, and I think they fit well, and everyone's great.

Day 21: Beating the Heat (Sorta) | Rochelle, IL to Davenport, IA

Today was surely a long one, and we all had a difficult time dealing with the heat, but the team powered through, and a group of us was able to finish out the day. We started off with some flat lands and rolling hills in Illinois as temperatures started to rise, and the team enjoyed some stops along the way. The team had a scenic end of the ride along the Mississippi River and crossed into our 8th state of the journey as we finished a long and hot day. 

quote of the day

“I’m the master hydrator”

— Dev

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 96 Miles 

Elevation: 2,067 ft

Points of Interest: Fresco On First, Will B. Rolling Statue, Mississippi River, Centennial Bridge

Ride Dedication: Colleen Buhrfiend 

Tales of the Trail 

We started the morning with a 4:45 am wake-up to beat the heat, and everyone prepared for the day ahead. Our team has been attempting to improve our wake-up to rollout time, and we have been better about packing up quickly, but we are still rolling out later than we would like. Fortunately, we were able to get a somewhat cooler start to the morning with an early wake-up, and we began the day with 26 miles before reaching our first rest stop. The first rest stop of the day was in Dixon (hometown of Ronald Reagan), where some of the team enjoyed lattes, smoothies, and coffee at Fresco On First. After taking a bit longer than we would’ve wanted, the team rolled out of our first rest stop as temperatures started to rise. As we continued on, the sun's rays became stronger and we really started to heat up. The team made sure to fill up our water bottles (with ice) at every opportunity, and we took hydrating very seriously. Days like this can be long and grueling, but properly fueling and hydrating is one of the most important ways to stay safe. The team found a good spot for lunch outside of a Subway, where we took a long time to cool off after a long stretch of riding. Some of us were shuttled to the stayover, while the group planning to continue on the ride took a well-needed nap under the shade! 

After a long lunch stop, we finally got back on the ride and formed a bigger group to finish out the day, as there were fewer of us riding! We had a speedy stretch, as the team practiced a rotational pace line, giving everyone more time to draft. The Illinois countryside was nice and flat, but the strong winds and beating sun tired us out. After a strong stretch, we found a Casey’s to take a quick rest stop, and Harbin got an extra-large ice cream serving! We got back on the ride and tackled an intermediate climb, while taking short rest stops in the shade to cool off and take quick breathers. Soon, we found ourselves on the Mississippi River and stopped in Port Byron to fuel up before our final stretch. The team was amused by a giant statue of a bicyclist, which stood out as a centerpiece of the town and sat on the shore of the Mississippi. We enjoyed the last stretch of our ride on a trail bordering the Mississippi River, and we had our eyes on Iowa just on the other side! We soon crossed the Centennial Bridge leading into Iowa, where we took pictures with both the Illinois and Iowa crossing signs (we were never able to get one entering Illinois). The last stretch of our ride was a piece of cake until we faced three big climbs at the end. We charged up the final hills with the cathedral in sight and made our way into the stayover for the night. After eating and showering, the team was ready to call it a night. Thanks to the community of Sacred Heart Cathedral for providing us with an amazing dinner and giving us a place to sleep for the night!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Yuncong Geng 

How are you feeling today?

I think I'm feeling pretty good because I was very afraid of the wind yesterday, and I thought I couldn't manage it at all. But today, I learned for the first time how to stay in someone's draft. So that is, that is very good, and yeah, I just feel like I learned something new. I think ultimately, I will become stronger. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I only completed the first three stretches, and then I went to the van. The first one was wind with climbing, and the second and third one were pure wind. If I need to pick one favorite, I would say the second one (stretch of the ride). The first restaurant was really nice (our first rest stop). I had a big meal. I like big breakfast, so that was really comforting. 

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I think the fact that I joined I4K is a purely random event because I have no connections with cyclists or like, athletic people on campus in general, and I never went to “Quad Day” except for the one last year. My friend, my lab mate, asked me if I wanted to go to Quad Day and I said, okay, fine. It was a very hot day and we just went to the edge of the Quad Day and went back. But I think the I 4k table was located at the edge of the quad, and I just signed up randomly. I didn't even have a bike, and so it's so random, but somehow, I think, like, there's some necessity behind every random event. So somehow I survived all the training rides, and I am here. I like the cause of I4K. We actually like, raised a non-trivial amount of money for cancer research, it’s really good. Also, on this trip, I realized how deeply everyone is affected by cancer, and in all the stories that I've heard are very amazing, and there are different characteristics, different perspectives, but are all very amazing and insightful.

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?

The last time that I biked was probably seven years ago, when I was doing my undergraduate in China and I commuted with a bike, but that was very minimal. I don't think I'm athletic at all, but I do have some hobbies like boxing and hiking, but I think that doesn't count. Those don't count.

What is your bike's name? Model?

I don't know how to pronounce it properly, but it's Rousseau. It's a French philosopher. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I was very nervous about my rheumatoid arthritis, because before the ride I had flare ups after all the weekend training rides, and that lasted for several days. So I'm worried that I was not able to ride most of the days on this trip. But it turns out that it's not that bad. I've been sagging maybe half of the time,  I'm doing better than I expected.  I also  feel like as long as I ride in the correct posture, I won't get joint pain or that kind of stuff. Jason (our designated bike mechanic) has helped me a lot with the bike fitting stuff. So I think things will get better. My current goal is to ride three days in a row, and the next goal is to ride completely three rides in a row, and then I will move to four and five, so that's the challenge in the beginning. Before this ride, I wasn't convinced that I could actually survive this lifestyle, because I have a very sensitive nerve, and I need to keep a very strict sleeping schedule, and any noise or light will disturb my sleep, and I will get super anxious, and I will lose my sleep. Also, I needed to shower every day (before the ride), and, you know, I'm kind of like, living in a very unconventional, on the move lifestyle, I guess.  I didn't think that I would get used to this kind of lifestyle. But actually, I think I'm now a completely new creature. I'm used to, like, all the dirt, mud, it's a very new thing to me, actually. So I'm glad that I've changed. I am also excited to know everyone more deeply, yeah, that's nice.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I want to give a shout out to the van driver, because I know how stressful it can be. I think all the van drivers are doing an amazing job on choosing the rest stops and organizing things in the van, and also the van buddies, like they're good too, yeah.

Day 20: Illini Ride Along | Elmhurst, IL to Rochelle, IL

We started the day with a crowd awaiting to send us off from Stephanies house to begin our ride for the day. The first 12 miles of the day were a ride-along with any friends and family members that wanted to join, we had a great turnout and it was a blast being able to bike alongside loved ones for part of this journey. As the day went on, it became hotter, super hot, and super windy. The wind was no different from the training rides in the spring, but the heat kept us on our toes.

quote of the day

“You ride well in the rain. Is that because it reminds you of swimming?”

— Yuncong (to Katie)

ride overview

Mileage: 74.1 Miles

Elevation: 1,602 ft. 

Points of Interest: Kline Creek Farms, Old School Pizza (in Malta) 

Ride Dedication: Seungpyo Yang

tales of the trail

The morning started out great in the Yang household, with an amazing breakfast of steak, eggs, bagels and coffee. After fueling ourselves ahead of a long day, the team prepared for our second ride-along of the trip! Friends, family, and alumni joined us for a relaxed ride along the Prairie Path and Great Western trail. It was great to have some new and familiar faces on the ride, although a group somehow found their way off route and enjoyed a detour. After our 12.5 mile ride-along, we stopped at Kline Creek farm to say goodbye to the family and friends who joined us, and we continued on our way to finish the hot and humid day ahead.

After finishing our ride-along, we spent a large chunk of the ride on shaded trails as we left the Chicagoland area. Even though we were riding in the shade, temperatures started to rise into the 90s, and we all felt it affecting us. Fortunately, Stephanie’s parents were gracious enough to donate us Jimmy John’s at a rest stop, where we were all able to chill inside the restaurant to get some much needed AC. Afterwards, we started hitting more of the country roads, which meant we had nowhere to run from the sun. Stops with shade to take a quick breather on the side of the road were difficult to find, and the crosswinds we encountered almost made us tip over on our bikes!

The last rest stop of the day was at Old School Pizza in Malta, IL. It was quite a find, in a town with little surrounding it. The interior of the restaurant took the team back in time, they had statues of older stars like Elvis Presley, and a massive selection of older video games. The vibes were there. While some checked out the inside, part of the team decided that this was the stop to get some much needed rest in the grass, a classic move.

The team’s day wasn’t over when we got to the stayover. Once we got there, our van driver for the day, Matt, had to vote on which group's handshake was best for the day, and boy were there some creative takes! The team also finally decided what to name our support van for this ride. Will it be… Sav? From last year’s team? Vanny? Katherine? Our van’s name for the 2025 team is (drum roll please).................. Gloria (aka glorious van)!!!!

Thank you to the Rochelle United Methodist Church for hosting us tonight and providing us with dinner and floor space to get some much needed rest for the day ahead!

Cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Sofia Sivilotti

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling great. It was a  hot ride today, but it was fun. I'm glad. I'm glad I got showered and we're in a stayover with some AC.

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

The ride along where I got to ride with my roommate and we stopped for milkshakes at like 20 something miles in, and the milkshakes were delicious, and then it just started to get hotter. But riding on trails is very nice too.

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I have been biking for a while as part of triathlon club, and I've had some friends that did it (Illini 4000), and they always talked highly of it. I kind of wanted to see more of the US, and what better way to do it than on a bike. My grandmother had cancer when she was 63 and fought it, and was very involved in like, rights to the cure stuff, and so very proud of being a cancer survivor. So I kind of wanted to do this, to give back to her as well and kind of honor her.

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've been involved in triathlon club all four years of college, and before that, into cross country. So I kind of slowly became less of a runner and more of a cyclist. Then this is kind of the culmination of me being kind of done with running and slowly biking. So I feel like I've done a lot of biking, but this is a totally different experience to like wake up and bike every single day and spend, like, pretty much every day on the bike for the whole day, it’s hard to prepare yourself for that. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

I've played around with a few different names, but I feel like she kind of gives horse energy. So I'm going with Pegasus for now, and model is a Specialized Dolce, 2017, I think. Yeah, I’ve had her since I started riding and loved it. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I'm excited to get out west and see some national parks because I haven't seen really any national parks, so I'm excited to camp in them and ride through, I’ve heard they’re beautiful.

Anything else you want to talk about?

It’s been great. I’m just happy to be on this trip!

Day 18+19: Chicago Reunion | Kankakee, IL to Elmhurst, IL

We started the day bright and early, eager to roll into Chicago for yet another rest day. The team enjoyed a nice and flat day, with a good chunk of the ride on shaded and sandy paths. It was great to have a more relaxed day on our way into Chicago, but the roads did get busier as we entered the Chicagoland area. Luckily, we all arrived at Stephanie’s house, and a crowd of parents was waiting for us! During our rest day, everyone had time to visit bike shops, get some laundry done, and clean their bikes. In the evening, some I4K alumni joined us for a yearly tradition, and everyone enjoyed each other’s company!

Quote of the Day

Yuncong gifts Andres sun sleeves

Andres: “Awwww, thank you, I’ll buy you a coffee or something.”

Yuncong: No. Buy me a tomato.”

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 69.9 miles

Elevation: 1,272 ft

Points of Interest: Joliet, Chicago, Stephanie’s House

Ride Dedication: Gavin

Tales of the Trail 

Day 18

The team woke up at our usual time with an amazing breakfast donated by the Adventure Christian Church. It was nice to take a break from oatmeal, with some well-needed eggs and coffee in the morning. The team started the day with some flat roads and decent weather, and not too much happened. As we rolled into Joliet, the team rode on a shaded path, which cooled us down from summer’s heat. We had a rest stop just before continuing the trail and ate lunch under a shaded gazebo. The team also started to build a bouquet of flowers that we picked throughout the ride.

We spent a large portion of the ride on shady and sandy trails, giving us an opportunity to talk and take it easy. We also found a cool waterfall – shoutout Kev for showing us a spot! After some trail riding, we got back on the roads and were greeted by the busy streets of the Chicagoland area. As we were close to ending our ride, my group came across a flooded underpass that forced us to reroute, while other groups chose to trek through the murky waters. We finally arrived at Stephanie’s house with a crowd of parents waiting for us, and many of us got to reunite with our loved ones. The team celebrated with a dip in the neighbor’s pool, and many of us dispersed throughout the Chicagoland area. 

Day 19

Most of the day was spent relaxing as most of the team dispersed throughout the Chicagoland area to spend time with family and friends. Some went to bike shops to get new parts, and others took it easy by slowly repacking things and reevaluating what was needed for the rest of the trip. There was an I4K reunion at Stephanie’s house later in the day where I4K alumni, parents, and family joined together to feast and update each other. Plenty of food was provided; the parents of our current riders got to know one another, while the alumni got to know our current riders for this year. The reunion was a great time to reconnect with others from the organization and share stories of our adventures. After the reunion, the team settled in for the night as the day ahead was gonna be a hot one. Thank you to Stephanie’s family for hosting the team the last two days and providing us with food, a place to cool off (the pool), and for hosting our annual I4K reunion!

Day 17: A Race Against the Storm | Champaign, IL to Kankakee, IL

After a relaxing rest day in Champaign, we rolled out of Allen Hall (our training ride starting point) and set out to Kankakee. During our ride, we saw many familiar places and enjoyed the flatlands of the Midwest. Unfortunately, our team couldn't escape the rain, and we were forced to seek shelter during a powerful thunderstorm. The team still finished out the day and remained unfazed by the rain – we’ve really gotten used to it!

quote of the day

Micah: “Did you order duck?... because you have a bill!”

Dev: “??... I ordered french toast”

ride overview

Mileage: 83.4 Miles

Elevation: 864 ft

Points of Interest: Ott’s Drive In, Cindy’s Roadside Cafe, Dairy Queen

Tales of the Trail

The team had one objective today - to beat the thunderstorm. Most of our training rides during the spring were met with rain and surprise surprise, the moment we bike into our home state, it treats us the same, whether it's the spring or summer. Our team was prepared to combat the rain later in the day in case we couldn’t make it to our stayover in time before the rain hit. Kev, an alumni from I4K also joined us for today’s ride! We rolled out of our beloved Allen Hall in the morning and made our first rest stop at Ott’s Drive In in Rantoul. Despite our mission to beat the gloomy clouds, the team was hungry and couldn’t resist the diners menu. Many teams opted in for a classic breakfast with eggs, bacon, and toast, while others got something more sweet with a french toast or pancakes.

As we biked further into the day, it became eminent that our biking power may not be enough to beat the dreary clouds hovering above us. The clouds followed us as we biked along our path. The goal was to make it to the third rest stop of the day at a Dairy Queen, where we could enjoy some ice cream and wait out the thunderstorm that was scheduled. Two out of the three teams were able to make it to the Dairy Queen in time for shelter. Not to worry though, the last group saw lightning around the time they were near a gas station, and were able to take shelter there while the storm began to rage outside. As the storm settled, Hanxi, one of our riders, took the brave decision to drive from the Dairy Queen to the last team at the gas station four miles away to deliver them lunch! Some classic Costco hotdogs and pizza definitely hit the spot while waiting out the storm. Once the storm passed, the third team caught up with the others at the Diary Queen, where we then all headed out for our last stretch of the day to our stayover. We got hit with some rain along the way, but nothing too terrible that we weren’t used to.

Once we got to our stayover, the team shuttled to a nearby Planet Fitness to get clean. Afterwards, our stayover, Adventure Christian Church, treated the team with some tacos for dinner! They were delicious and were followed up by some brownies and ice cream. Subsequently, the team was able to speak with Levi and Robert (Bob) about their cancer experiences. Hearing people’s stories and their experiences with cancer is a huge part of I4k and being able to spread awareness; We loved hearing both of their stories and appreciate their willingness to open up about their experiences (Their stories will eventually be shared in the future via the Portraits Project so stay tuned!) The team then relaxed for the night by playing air hockey, Ping-Pong, pool, or just by hanging out in the main area. Thank you so much to the Adventure Christian Church for hosting us and providing us with dinner and breakfast the next morning. Thank you for everything you provided for us during our stay.

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Nicole Tchorz

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling pretty good. Definitely wet, but I like the rain so it was fun. 

What was your favorite part of today’s ride?

I had multiple favorite parts of today's ride. One of them was eating at Ott’s Drive In because I got some well needed food at the rest stop. The other part is probably listening to Bob’s story because I value listening to other people's experiences with cancer. Their stories are very meaningful to me and I learn a lot from others when I listen to their stories and their perspectives, so I enjoyed doing that as well. 

What motivated you to join Illini 4000?

I joined Illini 4000 for two reasons, one of them being the physical aspect of it and being able to bike across the country because I get to challenge myself physically while exploring the U.S. The other aspect was for the cancer portion because I’ve had family members and friends who have had experiences with cancer, so knowing that I can do something to help combat cancer also made me wanna join the organization by raising funds and awareness about 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?

I didn’t have much bike training before I4K. The most I’ve ever biked beforehand was 26.2 miles, and that was just to make a pretty map of my neighborhood for when I recorded the bike ride on my phone. I played soccer for a good chunk of my life so I think that somewhat helped me with my endurance and the strength needed in my legs to bike. 

What is your bike's name? Model?

I have a Trek Domane. Its name is Sisu. Sisu is a Finnish concept, I’m not Finnish in any way but stumbled across the word a while ago. It stands for something like resilience and strength, which is definitely needed on this ride. My bike is also black, blue, and white, and the Finland flag is blue and white. I like the colors and felt like it sort of matched. 

What are you most nervous/excited about?

I am most nervous about the mountains out west and how the roads will look there if the shoulders are narrower on the roads and what that would look like if the streets are more busy. At the same time I am also very excited to head out west to the mountains because it should be beautiful to bike through there and visit some national parks. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

I just want to shout out to the whole team for working together throughout this ride, as well as the van drivers who have spent good time finding good rest stops for the team and setting everything up each day. 

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.