Bike Loud 2020 dipping their tires on the East Coast
Over the past 10 years, small groups of teenagers from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro, North Carolina area have given up their dull summer to take on the impossible - bicycling across the United States of America (dipping bicycle tires in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans). Honestly, each rider does it for their own reason - its incredibly difficult, my friends are riding, I want to see the country, it’s a good story for a college essay, I love the outdoors, I just don’t want to have another boring summer. However, when they finish, their experience is always the same “This was the hardest AND most incredible thing I’ve ever done.” [Bike Loud 2015, Bike Loud 2019]
The Route
As each Crew finishes, the next generation is born. Siblings, friends, schoolmates (even parents) all hear and see the results from the amazing adventure and want to be “next”. This year is no different. The Bike Loud 2020 Crew is made up of a close group of nine friends, all connected through Scouts. [The Crew] They have heard these stories, read the blogs and seen the pictures and for years have always imagined themselves riding the route. This year they start the trip by dipping tires in the sandy beach of Maryland and 3,500 miles later, arrive at the Pacific rocky beach of Washington State. [The Route]
But this year IS different. We are all struggling in the COVID-19 world. Isolated, stuck-inside, shackled to zoom meetings with no clear answers about what is to come or how best to make a difference. A very real set of questions for everyone, but acutely teens, to wrestle with.
The answers again come from the bike crews of the past and their long time partner - Be Loud! Sophie (BLS). A 100% volunteer organization, BLS was inspired by Sophie Steiner, an abundant gift-giver, a bluntly authentic teenager, a true renaissance woman, who passed from cancer but transcends through a mission to support teens and their families fight cancer. [The Cause] For the past 5 years, the bike rides have teamed with Be Loud! Sophie Foundation in support of their cross-country rides. The relationship between the bike crew and BLS is immensely powerful and symbiotic. As riders pull into each small town and inevitably are asked “Why are you doing this?”, the Crew has a clear cause and answer…“We are raising awareness and funds to support an amazing organization!” The answer inspires. The last two rides have raised more than $60,000 - all going to BLS and ultimately services supporting the teen cancer patients at the University of North Carolina Hospital. Less obviously, the Crew receives a tremendous gift from Sophie and BLS. When you are pedaling up a massive mountain pass, in the easiest gear, low on energy, in the rain, being passed by chipmunks, there is really only one true motivation - the thought that in a hospital nearby, someone is having a worse day…someone needs help…someone is alone but pushes on with treatment, infusions, chemotherapy, pain, fear, sadness and loneliness. But we are not alone, we have infinite support. They may not be riding behind us in a van full of spare bike tires and tubes, but they are there with us for every pedal, offering donations, places to setup our tent, inspiring words and hot pancakes. These are our supporters, or what we like to call them, our Paceline. Each taking their turn, to pull us from one side of the country to the other. [The Paceline]
So finally, why do we ride? What is our mission? We ride because it’s an insanely hard and amazing thing to do. But this summer specifically, it is for adolescent and young adult cancer patients, their unprecedented isolation and their gift to all of us - the inspiration to Pedal On!
“I want you to encourage me to keep going.” -Sophie Steiner
Please consider being a part of our Paceline and Donate to our ride.
