The Bike & Build community suffered a tragic loss this month with the death of P2SF'07 alumna Ariel Shaker. Ariel passed away on Wednesday, October 7 due to injuries sustained from a horseback riding accident the previous Thursday. She was a member of the Harvard Polo Team and was exercising a horse in Ipswich, MA when the accident occurred.
Ariel was the type of person that threw her whole heart into what she did, and to know her was to love and respect that about her. Ariel's ever-ready smile, vivacity, and wit will be sorely be missed by P2SF07 and the rest of the Bike & Build community.
P2SF'07 compiled pictures from their trip into a tribute to Ariel, which can be viewed on YouTube. Read her obituary in the Boston Globe.
Fall is here again and in the office we’re wrapping up 2009 and rolling full force into 2010. This summer we donated more money and hours then ever before, in addition to distributing money to a significantly increased number of different organizations. This was due to a change we made this year that allowed each rider to donate $500 to any affordable housing organization of their choice. Interest in our program continues to skyrocket, and we already have more people signed up so far this year than we did in December of last year.
While we’re obviously incredibly excited by these accomplishments, the recent passing of Ariel Shaker has sent a somber ripple through the entire Bike & Build community. Ariel was just like everyone else who has ever done Bike & Build: an energetic, enthusiastic and idealistic young person with a desire to create positive social change through individual action. Though only a small group of you have known her, the jolting reminder of the mortality of youth is hard to accept, especially when it hits so close to home. Please keep Ariel’s family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult time.
It’s easy to get caught up in the depressing aspect of situations like this, though it is often harder to overlook the tragedy of the situation and instead celebrate the accomplishments people are able to make in such an abbreviated life. Today, Oct 20th, is also Chris Webber’s birthday. Yet another example of someone passing away before he should have, Chris was still able to touch countless others during his time. In the years that have gone by since his death we’ve formed an annual ride that doesn’t just memorialize his life and impact, but also brings people together to continue the work that he loved and continue to positively impact the world.
Someone once told me that when they died they wanted to be remembered not for all the good things they had done, but for all of the good things they would’ve continued to do if they had the chance. I think Ariel and Chris’ lives are great examples of this. While it may be hard at times to understand why people can be taken away so soon it’s important to remember their accomplishments and the impact they had on people that continue to carry out their ideals.
In remembrance,
Brendan Newman
brendan.newman@bikeandbuild.org
It's that time of year again, and CWM10 is finally upon us. Fundraising will be $375, and that includes the highly sought after collectible CWM shirts (which are poised to be even better then last year's tie-dye). Check out the CWM page on the B&B site for more info and an FAQ.
Last year's trip was full and we're pretty sure we'll have an equally high demand this year. Enrollment will start next Monday, 10/26. If we have more applications than spots available we will go to a lottery system. PLEASE NOTE--- YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A SPOT UNTIL YOU HEAR BACK FROM THE OFFICE. DO NOT BUY PLANE TICKETS, ETC UNTIL YOU HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR ENROLLMENT IN THE EVENT.
12/28 Orlando - "Re-orientation"
12/29 Cocoa Beach 60 miles
12/30 Ft Pierce 70 miles
12/31 West Palm Beach 65 miles
01/1 Ft Lauderdale 46 miles
01/2 BUILD DAY
Registration is now open. Just go to bikeandbuild.org/login.php and you'll see an "Apply for CWM" option on the left hand side after you log in.
On the weekend of Sept 12-13 more than 30 Bike & Build alumni from as far back as 2003 congregated in Philadelphia for Bike Philly weekend, making it the largest alumni gathering besides the CWM ride. Coming from as far away as Florida, these intrepid bikers turned up in full force to represent B&B at the 2009 Bike Philly event.
Many people arrived early, and on Saturday a group of 20 or so went on a leisurely ride out to Valley Forge, taking time to reconnect with old trip-mates as well as getting to know people from other routes. A post ride “barbeque” (actually just a catered burrito bar) wrapped up the day, complete with a live fire-spinning show.
The main event took place on Sunday morning and saw a swarm of blue jerseys leading out the 4,000+ person pack, riding alongside Philadelphia’s mayor Michael Nutter. In true Bike & Build style the group was highly energized and worked hard to get people excited, from getting the DJ to put on Bodies in Motion to starting a 4,000 person wave. In the words of one of the event organizers, “[We] really made [our] presence known at the start line.”
All in all it was an amazing weekend, and we’ve already been invited back to lead out the pack again in 2010. Though it’s certainly a bit far away now, you should definitely consider penciling Bike Philly 2010 into your calendar now.
Howdy! My name is Noah Aptekar and I was a leader on the 2009 Providence to San Francisco trip. On one of our build days in Moab, UT this summer, we got to play with mud (aka build with earthen plaster) with a unique affordable housing organization called Community Rebuilds. They work to replaces dilapidated single-wide trailers with simple, beautiful straw bale homes. I sought out a job with this upstart-nonprofit, and I am now responsible for recruiting interns to build our FIRST EVER home this spring from January 15-May 30.
Continue the commitment to affordable housing you started by going on Bike & Build: apply to be one of our eight interns this spring! This is an unpaid internship, but all our interns get free housing together—with beds not Therm-a-rests!—and a partial monthly food stipend.
In four and a half months you will build an entire straw bale home, with the help of a natural building expert and general contractor. And in your days off, you will get the canyons and singletrack of the Southwest to yourself!
Please find our application and recommendation forms on our website: www.communityrebuilds.org. Email me questions at noah@communityrebuilds.org.
Yup, we still have good stuff for sale. Not only that, we're also thinning out part of the B&B vehicle fleet. Now is your chance to own one of the best pieces of memoriabillia ever - a genuine Bike & Build van! Imagine the looks on the faces of friends and family when you show up in a beautiful, heavy duty vehicle that can carry 14 of your friends as well as tow a boat or even a camper!
Prices are as follows:
- 2000 Dodge 3500 Van If you've ever done the CUS trip you probably used this van, also affectionately known as "Loretta" or "Betty." Now is the chance to bring those B&B memories into your driveway! It runs, and has less than 100k miles! $2000
- 2001 Ford E350 Van What's mostly green, has a white rear door and usually runs? THIS VAN! You may know it as "Angus," or possibly "that van that was on Southern in 2007 but didn't have working A/C" [it's fixed now]. It just finished its last cross country journey and is looking for a new home. Despite its looks it actually runs very well, has current PA inspection and a brand new hitch on it. $3000
- A trailer 5x10 enclosed cargo trailer, used to be used on SUS trips. This is the perfect size trailer for a traveling band! Has a "one of a kind" paint job. 2" coupler, 4 flat wiring. Excellent condition. $1000 (Buy it together with a van and save $250!)
- 2008 Jersey $35
- 2009 Jersey $45(also specify male/female)
- Shorts $60 (also specify male/female)
- Bibs $65 (also specify male/female)
- Caps $8
- 2009 Rider Shirts $8 (no large left)
- 2009 Giant Defy 2 The OFFICIAL B&B team bike - sizes XS, S and M available. $700+ shipping
- SHIPPING via USPS Priority Mail- $5 for 1 item, $10 for two or more.
- Buy any combination of bibs/shorts and jersey and get a free B&B t-shirt.
Please e-mail gear@bikeandbuild.org to let us know what you're interested in purchasing (remember we need sizes and m/f specification on the shorts and 2009 jerseys).
- $662,200 donated in 2009
- $163,280 more than 2008
- $2,597 donated/per rider
- 170 people already enrolled for 2010
- 2 # of B&B vans for sale (see the last article!)
- 0 other things I can come up with right now
Are you coming back again? Want to lead a trip? Have some friends that want to sign up?
2010 applications are online NOW! We already have almost 40 leader applications and 170 people enrolled, don't delay - sign up today.
"You should really help us out. If you have skills in PHP/mySQL/etc let Brendan know. We have a TON of things we're trying to accomplish this year and could use some more help!"; ELSE failWhale(you);
We're on the hunt for 2,000 fans on Facebook... give us a hand (and for those of you paying attention - yes, we were hunting for 1,000 in the August newsletter) . Join us at facebook.com/bikeandbuild. Alternatively, you can text "fan bikeandbuild" to FBOOK from your cell if it's registered with Facebook (carrier charges may apply).
What's the big push with Facebook anyway?
Bike & Build is a word of mouth organization, and our Facebook presence helped with our amazing increase in enrollments for 2010. We also run ads, so the more people that are fans the more our ads will have the "Your friend John Doe is a fan of Bike & Build" below them, and they in turn have a much better chance of getting people to check out our page!
Let others know about your experience with Bike & Build so we raise more awareness of affordable housing and expand the impact of Bike & Build’s work throughout the country .
Join a city specific mailing list to stay up to date with B&B in your area. Connect with fellow alums and meet participants for the upcoming summer.
E-mail Kristian with suggestions for new cities.
When the Bike & Build community rallies together, we can accomplish great things! Stay involved with Bike & Build and help us in some of the following ways:
Connections & Sponsorships
Bike & Build needs your help to connect to businesses, foundations, individuals and organizations that can support Bike & Build financially or through in-kind donations (such as food, fuel, gear, professional services, vans etc.) We are working to make partnerships but could use the ideas, resources and connections of our alumni and friends!
Contact Rosemary rosemary.dirita@bikeandbuild.org to help or learn more!
Donate
Bike & Build appreciates your past support and invites you to give again.
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