Happy to report I fell ZERO times with my clipless (as I was corrected) pedals. Had two close calls where I screamed to John, "I'm going to fall, I'm going to fall, can't get out, can't get out!" and then managed to free my foot at the very last second.

Now, the question remains, if I did/do fall, what hits the ground first?

Clip-in shoes + clip pedals = fall?

Last night, I went to Janesville to have dinner with my parents. As part of their unending support for my trip this summer, they purchased bike shoes from Janesville's local bike shop, Michael's Cycles. They are super nice and it's great to be able to support a local business. 

Now I just need to figure out how to ride my bike with shoes and pedals that look like little stubs of metal. I've heard all of the horror stories from fellow bike riders about falling off of their bike when they can't get out of their pedals. I'm about to bike over to my boyfriend's house so we can do a longer ride today and I am deathly afraid of taking a giant spill. I'll update post-ride today! 

New Route

So, as of today, I officially switched routes from B2SB to the Northern route. Overall, I am incredibly excited! Why?!

This route has some of the best stops ever!

1. Janesville - my hometown. I cannot wait to have a little reunion with friends and family in my hometown  after about a month on the road. Not only will I get to see some familiar faces, but there is also a Build Day in Janesville! It is going to be SO gratifying to actually see results of my efforts for this cause happening in my very own hometown! I haven't even left for my trip, and I already cannot wait for July 17th!

2. Madison - my home away from home. Madison is the place I've called 'home' since 2006. Having been a Badger at UW-Madison, I have spent the last five years enjoying the wonderfulness that is the isthmus known as Madison. I can't wait to spend one of the few days off we have with my fellow B&B'ers, wonderful roommates, boyfriend, and best friends that will be enjoying the magic of a Madison summer.

3. Glacier National Park - Last summer I had the privilege of working out in Glacier National Park (most beautiful place in the country, if you ask me!) at a cafe famous for its homemade pies! I made some of the best friendships I've ever had out there, and almost all of my fellow "trons" (as we call ourselves) will be returning to the Park Cafe this summer. I can't wait to go back to the beauty of the Going to the Sun road and relive some of the amazing times I had last summer in Glacier - all over again!

I'm a little bit sad that I will be leaving behind my friend Max, and the other amazing people on the B2SB trip, but where I leave one Janesville/Madison-ite behind, I join another Janesvillian (Miss Kate Terry) on the Northern Route. I am so proud that Janesville has so many of its able, enthusiastic, and excited citizens participating in Bike & Build!

Biking so far is going alright. I have put in about 50 miles (kind of pathetic, I know) but I have really only been getting serious about training in the last week. Homework and exams kind of get in the way of having time to train. On Tuesday, fellow Bike & Builder Max from B2SB and I biked around Lake Mendota, which is about 25 miles. On the Northern side of the lake, it was super windy, so I feel like I'm getting mentally and physically prepared for the grueling winds I have to look forward to all through North Dakota. Gah!

All in all, I am getting more and more excited about my trip! Just a little more fundraising to go - and again, I couldn't do this without the generous support of all who have donated, so THANK YOU!

Sarah

Wonderful, sunny Madison!

I am sitting in my research lab, but in 20 minutes I will be out to enjoy the beautiful Madison weather on my bike! It's nice having my friend Max, who is also on my route, to train with! I just got a brand new helmet last night (thanks Mom and Dad!) so I'll be looking extra stylish as I pedal through the arboretum this afternoon. With weather like this, it's hard not to be incredibly excited for the adventure I have ahead of me.

A giant THANK YOU to all who have donated thus far. Still a long way to go, but I am making great progress! I am continually amazed by all the generosity!

$500 Reached

Ah, I am so overwhelmed by how generous my friends are! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL HAVE DONATED SO FAR! I hit my $500 mark today, which means Bike & Build will let me stay in the program :) That means I am a little over 1/8th of the way there!

Fundraising has commenced!

So far, I've raised $270. That's a little over half of the money I need to raise by December 30th. Pretty easy, considering my donations were submitted before I had even asked for any! I think it goes to show what a great program this really is - people have been really supportive!

Today, I wrote 18 letters to family friends and mailed them out. I am excited for people to find out what I am doing and hope that they will be moved to contribute to such a wonderful cause.

The bike model has been posted - and the bike is beautiful! I cannot wait to start training, even though by the time I get my bike, it will likely be the middle of winter... in Wisconsin. I feel lucky that I have one friend on the route with me whom I can train with and some other friends who are cycling enthusiasts. Plus, Madison is such a beautiful city to bike around. I should have no problem finding the motivation to get those 500 miles in.

Fundraising!

My goal this weekend is to come up with my contact list and figure out how I am going to raise $4000 by the time I leave for my trip in June. Seems like a daunting task, but I think I can do it! Anxiously awaiting getting a bike so that I can start training!