Written by: Kim Eisenbarth
I love this group!
Continue readingTag Archives: fuller center bike adventure
So much more than a bike ride
Written by: Diane Bies
Fields of yellow, white, lavender, and red flowers. Dogwood and Redbuds in bloom. Sunny skies with puffs of white clouds providing some shade along with the many trees. What a beautiful show of God’s glory!
Continue readingEven laundry day is an adventure
Written by: Melissa Safran
I’m writing this afternoon with a perfect view of the beautiful Mississippi mountains … of laundry. Laundry day is such a special time on the bike adventure; everyone’s opportunity to fully give into the adventure and throw their smelly bike clothes into a pile with everyone else’s smelly bike clothes and trust it all comes back a little cleaner. And the Bike Adventure’s true saints shine – the laundry team, who hauls it all to the laundromat (extra heavy today – everything is soaked from two rainy days in a row) and loads it into the machines with their bare, saintly hands.
Continue readingA great story day
Written by: Pat Heck
I love listening to others tell stories. Sometimes those stories are about something fun or adventurous. Sometimes it may be a tale of accomplishment and– at my age – it is often the accomplishment of a child. If I classified all the stories I’ve told and heard, the category with the most stories is the one with stories that are about overcoming adversity. But there is another category that I particularly love; stories about Amazing Service. Things such as a time when someone came to our aid unexpectedly or maybe a call to customer service where the company went above and beyond to take care of us. And for the riders today we’ll be sharing about this day for many years to come because we experienced both on our ride from Duck River, Tennessee to Collinwood, Tennessee. We received amazing hospitality from two different churches and we rode on a day when almost all experienced riders would have just said, “Nope!”
Continue readingThe mission
Being new to the Fuller Center Bike adventure, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Other than what my friend Kim filled me in on.Continue reading
A week of work, a lifetime of positive change
Written by: Coy Ward
Hi, my name is Coy. I have ridden a bike for more than 50 years. Yes, I started really young. I met my wife in a bicycle club so bicycling has played a significant role in my life for a long time. My children were riding in a bicycle trailer when they were just toddlers or younger. Continue reading
A segment rider’s view
Written by: Rebecca Martinez
I have always loved to ride bikes and have been given a few opportunities to ride “long” distances in my life, but the Fuller Center Bike Adventure has been a great opportunity. It is truly a challenge to join a group of “strangers” and test your physical abilities, all while trying to keep a good attitude and not feel ill from fear and dehydration.Continue reading
One of the originals
Written by: Tony Campbell
Two things. First, I have ridden some part of FCBA every year except 2013 since being one of the original 8 from San Diego to Savannah in 2008. Second, I’ve ridden 2 days now with 20 people who have a 7-week head start on me. Okay, three things: I’m 10 years older than in 2008.Continue reading
Generosity lives here
Written by: Mike Scotty
I am most fascinated on these Fuller Center bike adventures by the participants, both bikers and hosts, and their varying levels of faith and contribution. The churches that host us every night along the road go to great lengths to make sure we are comfortable, often making meals for us and getting the whole congregation involved. As grateful as we are to them for the shelter and meals, they seem as or more grateful to us for the work we’re doing.Continue reading
Fuller family … meet my family
Written by: Luke Zavala
FULLER FAMILY…MEET MY FAMILY.
My name is Luke Zavala. I’m from Chicago, and this is my 4th ride with the Fuller Center Bike Adventure. I’ve ridden down the west coast, across the country, and now I’m riding a couple of weeks through the Midwest. This mission has a special place in my heart. My wife and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary by riding the cross-country route with FCBA in 2016. I’ve met some of my closest friends on this ride. It’s a privilege to get to do life alongside them, serving together to do a small part to improve the lives of one another, as well as the covenant partners across the United States.
Like most of the FCBA riders, it’s sometimes hard to explain to others, at home, the draw of punishing yourself for 75 miles a day—day after day—as you pedal for the better part of every day. Since 2012, I’ve talked to my friends and family back home, and tried to convince them to just buy-in and come along. Last year, my Uncle Mike joined us for a week on the West Coast. He finished his week with a deeper understanding of the draw of the ride, and the amazing work the Fuller Center does.
This year, Uncle Mike is back for 2 weeks. And my Aunt Barbie and Uncle Brian are also joining for one segment, from St. Cloud to Madison. And my brother is joining the ride from Madison to South Bend. It’s been an incredible experience, being able to introduce my blood family to my Fuller Center family. Getting to ride in a pace line with so many people I love is a feeling that is hard to put into words. Getting to walk alongside my family as they jump in with both feet to support my wife and I, and this mission, makes me realize what a lucky guy I am. I look forward to many more years, and many more relatives, getting to smash pedals across the country and support the FCBA’s amazing mission.
