By Mike Rutherford
Monday was the start of our second riding week on the Gulf Coast ride. Everyone has felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment with the two works days around Hammond.
By Mike Schuck
We entered Wyoming yesterday and spent the night at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in the little town of Newcastle. We were expecting a fairly difficult day of riding since the weather forecast called for temperatures in the 90s and headwinds. In reality the temperatures only reached the low 80s and we had a crosswind or tailwind for most of our 72-mile ride which was a blessing. However, greater blessings were to come.
San Diego to Savannah: 3,300 miles
Whole way riders: 8
Segment riders: 8
Homes worked on: 7
Total funds raised: $135,000
Bicycle Adventure founder, Ryan Iafigliola, set out on the inaugural adventure with his crew of 8 intrepid adventurers. It was the journey of faith and purpose that started it all!
Photos from the 2008 adventure
Michigan to Florida: 1,400 miles
Whole way riders: 14
Segment riders: 10
Homes worked on: 12
Funds raised since 2008: $199,000
One year under our belt and we decide to make a slightly shorter journey… but with no less adventure!
Niagara Falls to New Orleans: 2,500 miles
Whole way riders: 6
Segment riders: 21
Homes worked on: 10
Funds raised since 2008: $325,000
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Fuller Center for Housing, founded to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Bike Adventure rides the shape of a “5” down the east coast toward New Orleans.
Washington to Washington
(Seattle to D.C.): 3,600 miles
Whole way riders: 23
Segment riders: 35
Homes worked on: 12
Funds raised since 2008: $502,000
In 2011 the Bike Adventure headed across the country again, this time under new leadership. As founder Ryan Iafigliola shifted his focus to the Fuller Center’s international programs, Allen Slabaugh stepped in to keep the adventure going.
In 2012 the Bike Adventure took a big leap with the addition of the Spring Ride in March!
Natchez Trace Spring Ride: 400 miles
Spring riders: 25
Homes worked on: 5
Funds raised since 2008: $535,000
The Bike Adventure selected the Natchez Trace Parkway for the beautiful biking (it was named one of America’s ten best biking routes by ESPN!) but we were met with even greater love and hospitality, and more opportunities to serve those in need of a simple decent place to live. By the end of the week on the Trace it was decided that this week-long ride should become an annual event.
Meet the 2012 Spring Riders
Photos from the 2012 Spring Ride
East and West Coasts: 3,700 miles
Whole way riders: 30
Segment riders: 24
Homes worked on: 4
Funds raised since 2008: $683,000
In another leap of faith the bike adventurers embarked on two consecutive rides in the summer of 2012, starting the summer riding from Maine to Key West then skipping to the west coast to bike from Seattle to San Diego. Following the west coast ride, trip leader Allen Slabaugh decided to move on to his life’s next adventure and in the fall of 2012 Bike Adventure veteran, Melissa Merrill, took the lead.
Natchez Trace Spring Ride: 400 miles
Spring riders: 29
Homes worked on: 2
Funds raised since 2008: $711,000
As promised, the Spring Ride down the Natchez Trace Parkway happened again in March of 2013. We were blessed with the added joy of visiting with old friends we met along the route last year, and promises to come back again!
Meet the 2013 Spring Riders
Photos from the 2013 Spring Ride
Savannah to Vancouver: 3,700 miles
Whole way riders: 15
Segment riders: 22
Homes worked on: 18
Funds raised since 2008: $826,000
The 2013 Bike Adventure headed across the United States again, crossing our first international border on the final day of the ride to finish in Vancouver, British Columbia!
Natchez Trace Spring Ride: 400 miles
Spring riders: 36
Homes worked on: 11
Funds raised since 2008: $861,000
We enjoyed our third annual ride on the beautiful Natchez Trace. The weather was very cold, but it brought us together! It was also the first ride sponsored by Cafe Campesino.
Meet the 2014 Spring riders
Photos from the 2014 Spring Ride
Atlantic City to Astoria: 3,600 miles
Whole way riders: 18
Segment riders:39
Homes worked on: 25
Funds raised since 2008: $1,064,000
In 2014 the Bike Adventure traveled all the way across the Northern United States for the first time ever. Along the way the riders stopped and helped the most Covenant partners of any route yet and they celebrated when the Bike Adventure met their one million dollar fundraising goal.
Meet the 2014 riders
Photos from the 2014 adventure
Silver Comet Fall Ride: 165/128 miles
Fall Riders: 36
Funds raised since 2008: $1,069,000
The first annual Silver Comet fall ride featured a fun two-day weekend event that felt like a family reunion with so many returning riders. We camped overnight at the Chief Ladiga Trail Campground in Piedmont, AL. The first year was a great success and a great way for some new riders to get to know the FCBA experience.
Natchez Trace Spring Ride: 400 miles
Spring riders: 35
Homes worked on: 4
Funds raised since 2008: $1,112,000
We enjoyed our fourth annual ride on the beautiful Natchez Trace. Holding it in April for the first time, the weather was beautiful and the fields were literally full of flowers — blues, yellows, whites, and reds. We love visiting many of the same churches year after year.
Meet the 2015 Spring riders
Photos from the 2015 Spring Ride
Oceanside, CA to Portland, ME: 4,000 miles
Whole way riders: 23
Segment riders: 50
Homes worked on: 25
Funds raised since 2008: $1,308,000
In 2015 the Bike Adventure traveled the furthest it has ever been, 4,000 miles over 10 weeks. Along the way the riders stopped and helped on six planned builds, and a few more impromptu ones as well. The riders raised about $220,000 pushing the total to-date to over $1.3 million.
Meet the 2015 riders
Photos from the 2015 adventure
Silver Comet Fall Ride: 165/128 miles
Fall Riders: 23
Funds raised since 2008: $1,315,000
The second annual Silver Comet fall ride featured a fun two-day weekend event that felt like a family reunion with so many returning riders. We camped overnight at the Chief Ladiga Trail Campground in Piedmont, AL. A quite brisk morning in the second week of October encouraged us to have the ride in September in future years.
Thanks for reaching out to us, we’ll be in touch with you soon!
