While many of us were tanning on the beach or stuck in cubicles during our summer internships, senior Lauren Haviland was making a trip across the country on the back of a bicycle. In the midst of this 70 day trip, she and 30 other volunteers also spent time building and advocating for affordable housing. If you think you had an unbelievable summer just take a look at this incredible Campus Celebrity’s journey!
Explain a little bit about the Bike and Build program you took part in this summer.
This summer I participated in a program called Bike and Build, a nonprofit organization that runs cross-country cycling trips for affordable housing. There are eight cross-country trips that leave from the east coast and finish on the west coast. My trip biked from North Carolina to San Diego. The entire trip takes 70 days. Thirteen of those days we built houses with Habitat for Humanity and other similar organizations. Each rider is required to fundraise at least $4,500 to donate to the cause. We also advocate for affordable housing by doing research and giving presentations on the current crisis.
Lauren and other bikers working on a house
What made you want to join this cause?
I had heard about this organization from a neighbor who had completed the same trip. She claimed this was the best summer of her life and encouraged me to apply. She told me that almost everyone was a beginner cyclist and that the attitude is to enjoy the day, not to rush to the host destination. My parents are both avid cyclists and I have always volunteered with various organizations, so this trip was a great way to combine both of my favorite activities!
What was a typical day like on your journey?
On a ride day, our 31 riders usually woke up at 5a.m. Some days it was as early as 3:45am in order to beat the heat in the desert. We would complete our chore group tasks and start riding by 6:15. We rode in groups of five or less and stopped wherever we wanted. We went go-cart racing and strawberry picking, stopped at a vineyard, swam in multiple lakes, and played in plenty of hay bails. Generally, lunch was set up halfway through our mileage. The van would put out countless jars of peanut butter and whatever other food we had acquired on our trip (usually spaghetti). On 90 mile days or longer we had two lunches. When we completed our ride, we arrived at our host, which was usually a church, and prepared to shower. Typically, this meant a hose, but if we were lucky we got a YMCA shower. Then the church members cooked dinner for us in order to allow us to save money to donate to affordable housing. On a build day, we would get to sleep in until 7a.m. and then we would bike or get shuttled by the van to the work site. We would work on any of the tasks they asked of us, including framing, flooring, roofing, installing windows, siding, and various repairs (all of which were learned on the trip).
Lauren and some of the riders during one of the trips
What was something you learned from the experience?
I learned various things on this trip. I discovered that our country is unbelievably diverse. It is so important to travel within the United States and to see the alarming amount of poverty that is right around the corner from such wealthy neighborhoods. I also learned that there are countless beautiful views in places you would never expect, like Kansas. Finally and most importantly, I found that we need much less than we think. All of the stuff is so much less important than the people you are with and the memories you create. On this trip, we were allowed one duffle bag for our sleeping bag, thermarest, ride clothes, and build clothes. However, it was still the best summer of my life. I met the most fantastic people and all of us worked towards a seemingly impossible common goal, which every single person on our trip completed with the love and support of the other riders.
What is one piece of advice you have for people who aspire to take on this sort of project?
I firmly believe that anyone is capable of participating in this trip. Almost all of the riders started out as beginner cyclists, but after spending so much time on your bike, you learn so much about riding. The mental part is the most difficult. You need the support of other people to complete a task like this. There will be days that you sit on the side of the road and second-guess why you took this challenge on. There will also be days that are the most memorable of your whole life, like completing a ride across the country with 31 of your new best friends. This trip is mentally and physically demanding, but you will come out feeling the biggest sense of accomplishment, gratefulness and appreciation that you can imagine.
A map of the Bike and Build team’s cross country trip