We paired a shorter training ride with some errands to get all 1 million pieces of equipment for the upcoming ride.
Madeleine riding through Goleta, CA
Stopped for a lunch with Concerned Mother #1
We went rock climbing in the evening to mix it up:
Madeleine
Sophie
T-minus 12 days until our March 5th blast off, we went for a 47 mile training ride around the Goleta/Santa Barbara area.
Stopping for a mid-ride Ginger Ale to cure what ails:
The cure-all
We did some bike mechanic-ing with the help of our cheer dog, Stetson…
… and started the uncomfortable process of breaking in our new beast warrior Brooks leather saddles:
Goals for January and February: get in shape via any and all athletic pursuits, getting sponsors for equipment, plan route, gather equipment, learn how to fix our bikes, such things. Missions more or less accomplished:
Checking the surf during a training ride
At the top of a Gaviota Peak hike
Madeleine surfing
Hiking at Joshua Tree
Madeleine working on some bike mechanic skills
Jump rope at the gym
Planning out the bike route
Sophie swimming
Sunset walk
Projected first part of route
WHO:
WHAT:
A cross-country bike trip to raise money for a new program initiative with STOKED, a NYC and LA-based non-profit organization that works to close the opportunity gap for underserved youth. The goal is to raise $50,000 to create a series of “Live A Big Life Scholarships” so that, after completing the 4-year program with STOKED and graduating high school, select youth can go on a trip to broaden their horizons, meet new people, learn new things and learn to live their Big Life.
WHERE:
Starting in Santa Barbara, CA and ending in Brooklyn, NY.
The major cities we’ll hit are: Santa Barbara, CA; San Diego, CA; Phoenix, AZ; El Paso, TX; Del Rio, TX; Austin, TX; New Orleans, NO; Atlanta, GA; Myrtle Beach, SC; Wilmington, NC; Virginia Beach, VA; Rehoboth Beach, DE; Cape May, NJ; Brooklyn, NY.
We are using the extensive resources of the Adventure Cycling Association, piecing together sections of the Pacific Coast, Southern Tier, and Atlantic Coast routes. Follow the “Blog” and “The Route” for more details as we go along.
WHEN:
Start date: March 5, 2014
End date: Early-mid June, 2014
WHY:
The opportunity to go new places, find challenges outside of your comfort zone, be forced to overcome obstacles and problem solve will fundamentally change any person. We are lucky enough to have the opportunity to do this, and we want to create that same opportunity for the youth in STOKED.
Thank you for visiting liveabigliferide.com!
The Live A Big Life Ride is a bicycle ride across the United States, that is a fundraiser for the Live A Big Life Fund and STOKED. The Live A Big Life Fund is in memory of Cameron Howe, a young man who passed away in the fall of 2012, and the fund supports STOKED, a Brooklyn, NY based non-profit organization which uses action sports, after school programs and mentoring to close the opportunity gap for inner city youth in New York City and Los Angeles.
Living a big life is living to your fullest potential, taking risks, and going for what you want out of every day. Cameron lived a big life, we’re living our big life, and we’re off to cross the country to find out how people across America live big lives every day.
Please use the links at the top of the page to find out more about us, the ride, the what this funds!
Sophia and Madeleine
Donate to help underserved youth live their big lives today.
