We did it!
Ride Overview
Mileage: 39.0 miles
Elevation: +1,774 ft. / -1,916 ft.
Points of Interest: Vineyards, San Pablo Bay, Sausalito, Golden Gate Bridge
Tales of the Trail
Everyone slept well after last night’s activity. We had said our kind words for each other, signed jerseys to commemorate the achievement, and partied in our wild prom outfits until we ran out of energy. This morning was surreal because packing up our sleeping bags and bringing our bags to the van, we had the knowledge that this would be the last time. Whether or not we continue cycling, travel with another group, or even go for another Illini 4000, nothing will ever be the same as this team was at this time. Our last bowls of oatmeal, or no oatmeal for those who just couldn’t put up with it anymore, our last morning preparing the bikes and pumping tires, our final morning circle, all of this was treated with a respect that was not there during every day of our ride. Nevertheless, we were ready to get going to finish the final chapter of this journey, to see our loved ones, and to finish! Everyone chose to ride with their groups from Day 1 to bring back the memories from what feels like a lifetime ago.
Remembering Vikram
Before beginning our ride for the day, the team was told of news about 2022 rider Vikram Mubayi who had recently and unexpectedly passed away. Maaike had to play the difficult role of messenger for the team as she told all of us her connection and recollection of Vikram along with words from Marie Hubbard who was a ride leader on that 2022 team. This was hard to hear. All of us were just 30 miles from completing a ride across the United States and feeling the most strong, confident, and fearless we had in our entire lives only to hear that someone just like us had perished four years from this very moment. This put life and the gravity of what we do with it each and every day into perspective. The team fell silent. Vikram could have been at home on this team. Any one of us could have embodied his spirit and passion for cycling and the outdoors. The questions running through our heads were “How can we honor one of our own?” and “What can we do to learn and treat the time we have with respect, having seen so clearly that it can end?” We rode today for Vikram keeping him in our hearts and our minds and trying to picture him in the world around us. We never imagined that in just the 19th year of Illini 4000 we would be riding for a previous rider, but this day and Vikram will be remembered forever by the team and everyone affiliated with our organization.
With this newfound meaning for the day, our rollout from the stayover in Petaluma was more somber than it otherwise may have been. By the time we were a few miles up the road, we had made it to a frontage for the highway which had little traffic and gave us time to talk and reflect amongst ourselves. We were saying both how long and how short the summer had felt at the same time and wondering what was going to happen next. “Would anyone consider doing this ride again?” The California countryside with vineyards, mountains, and houses was a beautiful backdrop for our final day. We made it onto bike trails further from the city than we might have expected and started to see a few cyclists around who would only grow in number as we made it closer to our finish line.
Our first and only rest stop of the day was at a food truck called Consuelo’s Kitchen where we had some really amazing tacos and prepared our bikes for the final miles of riding before the Golden Gate Bridge. With all of the groups stopping together, we kept telling stories and memories from our ride. Sometimes we would learn of a funny moment that happened that we never knew of. Other times we would just be happy reminiscing on a good day or stayover.
The ride to the bridge was actually a little stressful. We have spent so much time riding only around ourselves and other vehicles on the road that it felt strange to be on busy bike paths with many other cyclists. The paths were full of casual and competitive riders alike meaning we had to watch out for people we were passing and those passing us. This was also a time during the ride where it felt more like we were a part of the world happening around us as opposed to in our own little world. As we came off the trail and onto the road leading to the bridge, it was a steep hill to climb. This would be the last of the summer, and we knew it, so everyone powered through the climb to finish valiantly.
At the lookout, Maaike, who had driven the start of the day, was waiting and in full kit ready to join the team along with Ed and Jaylen from the 2023 team who had graciously offered to drive the van to Crissy Field so that all 13 of us could ride together for the only time outside of Champaign this summer. It all really felt like a movie with the bridge in the background, pictures being taken, and cheers of congratulations. We picked up Anthony for a photo just as we had done when we started to get to know each other over the winter. Ed had digital and film cameras ready to capture the moments and immortalize us as the 19th team in Illini 4000 history to make the ride across the United States of America. Everyone huddled together for some words of motivation from Maaike, Cole, and Tada before setting off for the final 2 miles.
Parker led the team across the bridge in a line of 13. The views were incredible and the wind was unrelenting. We were yelling callouts all the way up and down the group and laughing at how funny that felt. The whole world was visible from up on that bridge and we felt a collective unity only being able to hear ourselves and the wind. Descending to Crissy Field was the final part and we all yelled “descent!!” as Ehsan had all summer. We rounded the corner wondering for just a moment where our families had gathered before catching a glimpse and riding through the parking lot over to the gathering. Cheers of encouragement came from the field and we rode around the final roundabout as a victory lap just as if we had finished a training ride in front of Allen Hall. Then, Parker pulled off and the rest of us followed suit. Hugs and kisses abound with new greetings coming as well. The people from these journals were real and had actually made it across the country for those in attendance. Families and friends had come together to provide all types of food, fruit, and desserts for the team as we celebrated.
The final pictures were taken of everyone in attendance and goodbyes began as the van started to be packed. Tada, Parker, and Aadit would be driving the bikes and any leftover equipment all the way back to Champaign. It was emotional to say our goodbyes and thank yous to all of our families, but slowly we started filtering out until Crissy Field was itself a memory and the rest of the day and our next chapters began.
Photos in the gallery below all taken by Ed Guo:
Now I, Cole, would like to leave some final words for you and for my team. This Illini 4000 team, the smallest to cross the country in our history, leaves behind an incredible legacy. We came together in less than a year to collaborate on fundraising, where we provided our beneficiaries over $70,000 in support, to plan and prepare a journey for the summer to spread our message and our mission, to hear and share the stories of cancer survivors and their loved ones, to train and build our bodies together to ride bikes across the country, to support cancer research and patient support services, and to conquer over 4000 miles of riding to make it from New York City to San Francisco. That is truly inspiring! Our bonds as teammates and friends will not be broken and we will always have this community to turn to in times of need. Thank you all for being the best teammates I could ever ask for! I am so excited to watch everyone grow in their lives and for when we encounter each other again. Thank you for reading. This was a memory worth creating.
