Confessions of an Amateur Cyclist

My name is Katy, I'm 26 years old, and I live in Missoula, MT. This summer I'm co-leading a cross-country bike and service trip for an organization called Bike & Build, and I need your support (see the Donate page). Now I could spend the rest of this post trying to convince you of my accomplishments as a cyclist and credentials for leading such a journey - how I bike every day to work uphill both ways, how I've spent weeks at a time on a bike riding hundreds of miles on my buns of steel, how I can take apart a bike and put it back together with my teeth. Instead, I'll just share the truth.

My first bike - may she rust in peace.

Until last spring I didn't even own a decent bike, but rode on rusty hand-me-downs that clicked and clanked like an old typewriter. 

I've never ridden more than 60 miles in a day.

I've never ridden long distances for more than two days consecutively.

I've never patched or replaced a flat tire or tube, but this one time my friend showed me and this other time I watched a YouTube video, so I say that I can.

I'm in average shape, unless you compare me to my superfit friends in Missoula, which would knock me well below average.

I consider any of the following reasons legitimate excuses for NOT riding my bike to the school I work at:

• It's raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing, groppeling, windy or icy outside. (note: it is one of those things 90% of the time in Montana.)
• The temperature is below freezing (brr, too cold to bike) or above freezing (much too warm with all those layers.
• It's a Monday.
• I didn't wake up early enough because my arm fell and landed on the snooze button.
• The dog ate my helmet.

So am I ready to lead a nearly 4,000-mile ride cross-country, biking up to 100+ miles per day, scaling thousands of feet in elevation, and battling desert heat in the summer all while managing the morale, needs, and sanity of 25 young adults? You bet.

Come along for the ride!

 

I may not be a hard-core cyclist, rather an amateur at best. But this soft-core cyclist has a hard-headed determination, sense of adventure, and willingness to do whatever it takes to meet the challenge at hand.
I hope you'll explore the pages of this blog to find out more about the adventure and even choose to support me with your words of encouragement and donations.