Apply to the 2026 Bike America Team
The 2026 Bike America Team application closes on Saturday, September 20th, 2025.
Follow Illini 4000 on Instagram (@illini4000) and fill out our Interest Form to learn more about the ride, get updates on info sessions happening in late August through early September, and find us at Quad Day on August 25th.
Email contactus@illini4000.org if you have any questions or concerns.
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No. While Illini 4000 is a physically challenging ride, we provide all the endurance and bike training you'll need to prepare for a successful trip. We do conduct an informal workout interview, but your physical fitness or biking experience is not considered in the admissions process.
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Our gear program and scholarship opportunities help make Illini 4000 more financially accessible to more students. The gear program rents equipment to riders for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Scholarship opportunities can help offset or waive rider fees and are determined with your acceptance offer once interviews are complete.
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Riders are each assigned 2–3 cities to arrange accommodations for the team. These are typically churches, community centers, alumni homes, or other generous hosts. On some nights, especially in national parks, the team camps outdoors.
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No. We rent a van that carries all the team bags and gear, and provides support throughout the day should someone need help or need to take a break.
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Teams typically have around 9 rest days built into the 76-day trip to allow time for exploration and recovery. Riders are also encouraged to take a break and ride in the support van when they’re not feeling up to biking at any time.
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Illini 4000 is not a race. We do the ride for completion, as a team.
Illini 4000 is not a vacation. While there are many beautiful and exciting places we visit and days off, the trip is a journey with it’s ups and downs.
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Applying to Illini 4000 two years ago felt like stepping into a wild adventure. It was hard to imagine how everything would come together, but I knew this was something I had to do. With each step of preparation, the dream moved closer—until Day 1 in NYC, when we rolled out of Central Park, bound for San Francisco.
There’s no doubt that Illini 4000 is a long and sometimes difficult journey, but I truly believe the experience you’ll have—and the impact you’ll make—will positively change your life and the lives of others.