I'm what you might call a Bike & Build junkie.
This will be my fourth B&B experience (second XC trip) having done NUS06, CWM08, and CWM09. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer!
In my pre-Bike & Build life I rode an old mountain bike that I had brought from my parent's garage to college. Since B&B, I commute year round, worked in a bike shop for a couple years, and started bike racing. I've also gotten involved with the Chicago chapters of ReBuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity. Bike & Build has changed my life in such a significant way over the past four years and I can't wait to bring that experience to a whole new group of riders as a trip leader.
I was born in Denver, raised in Kansas City, and call Chicago home. I work as a Theatrical Scenic Designer and am currently in my first year of grad school at Northwestern. I don't own a car and use my bikes to get pretty much everywhere I go. Their names are Dusty, Willa, Bootleg, Ava, and the yet to be named cyclocross bike that I just bought this fall.
Oh, I also like to wear costumes when I ride bicycles. This started on NUS06 when we created excuses to dress up, such as Super Hero Day, Cowboy Day, Fourth of July, a random Wednesday... This tradition has continued on through the Chris Webber Memorial Rides and into my cyclocross racing.
Speaking of Chris Webber, I am especially looking forward to the Boston to Santa Barbara route because of it's connection to Chris. He was the Trip Coordinator when I first did Bike & Build and was there to meet us as we dipped our wheels in the ocean in Vancouver. I have also had the opportunity to spend time with his parents and brother through the CWM ride and look at this trip as a way to honor his legacy with the organization.
To fellow riders: Fundraise hard, train hard, and get ready for the best summer of your life. See you in June!
To everyone else: Thank you so much for your generosity and support. Bike & Build relies on people like you to fulfill its mission of supporting the affordable housing cause and empowering young adults.
