Climate Ride 2008 - Day 4 - Holtwood, PA to Baltimore, MD

Last night was amazing, Zip Lines, Cycling, Beer and good conversation plus and hell of a lot of T-Shirts. (check out the T-shirts post). And now we're off for probably the toughest day of the ride. Not because of the distance and not because of the hills, but it's a combination of the two, plus the whole peloton is extremely tired. They're getting stronger, but have had less sleep over the past few days than they are used to. And today, many got up long before we took off to partake in the live news feed to promote the ride. Needless to say, it was an exciting start to a long day.

Early morning call.

Leaving St. Andrews Bible Camp





The Tofurky Tatoo. HOT!

Construction on the Bridge.













One of our fearless leaders: Caeli Quinn.

Climate Ride 2008 - Day 3 - Valley Forge, PA to Holtwood, PA

Yesterday was something else, but more importantly it was a learning experience. How do you capture 125 riders over the course of an entire day, tell their story and attempt to have the surroundings be topical and present in the photos? Gregg and I did OK on Day 2, but without a mass start in the morning (all riders leave whenever they are ready) it provides an additional obstacle to hurdle. First things first, you get up early and get to work early.

Marc Ledoux: Master Mechanic
(he knows a little about getting up early: 125 bikes - wow!)

Valley Forge Foundation, PA

Marc looks good in every picture I take of him.

Save the Polar Ice Caps...Save the Polar Bears!











Beautiful Mennonite Country

But very hilly.

Trasher Picker Upper
(each rider who biked with the globe picked up trash all along the way and put it in the back)

I waited all day for this shot.

A Bike Friday Bike: Fits in a suitcase!
(check them out!)





On top of another hill - the riders hated when I did this. "Why can't you get me on a downhill?"
(Because you're going to fast and I'll only get one shot - plus, you just look cooler.)

Climate Ride 2008 - Day 2 - Princeton, NJ to Valley Forge, PA

Why Day 2 you ask? Well, that all begins with the one-man show I'm doing over at Ford's Theatre called History of Foot. And since we haven't been able to secure an understudy yet...the show must go on--which means I go on. But that's not a problem, in fact it's a little gift because that allowed me to say yes to Mary Kate when she called me to 2nd shot a wedding on Saturday. Do a show, 2nd shoot for a wedding and document Climate Ride? Um...yes, please! Problem was I had no idea how to get to Princeton in time (Sunday morning) without driving myself up there. All the buses and trains would either get me in too late or go no where near Princeton. I hadn't even begun the ride and already I was being converted into a mass transit evangelist. No wonder we have problems with our environment! And now, I have to drive up to Princeton. Good for convenience, but horrible for the earth. Already, I'm way in the hole on living up to what this ride should be about.

So with the show and wedding out of the way (be sure to check out Steve and Brienne's photos when I get them posted) I head home, pack a few things and realize if I leave now I'll get in around...Oh...3:30am. GREAT! And for a moment I almost throw in the towel. I was too tired to make the drive. But I did make it with a little help from my black cherry flavored ClifShots (caffienated of course) and strolled into the YMCA parking lot in Princeton. Before me stood a sea of tents. Climate riders resting for Day 2. It was too late to pull out the tent (I had to be up in 2:30 hours) so I pulled down the seat and rested my eyes. When I opened them, this is what I saw...

A Sea of Tents

No paper plates here.

How does one keep fueled? Well, this is one way.

And no disposable cups either.

125 riders = 125 bikes
Brita and Clif Bar - unbelievable sponsors!

Crossing the Delaware River


Gregg Bleakney: A Fellow Photographer and Companion all week.
(great photographer--check out his work)

The crew from Good Focus
(a sustainable production company)



Blake working hard to decal the media car.
(i.e. my car with colored marker on it)











Every Night the riders had Guest Speakers about the Environment.

Brita Climate Ride 2008

After a long summer of training (Ironman Wisconsin and Race Across America) I was looking forward to having some down time before the fall marathon season kicked up. Emphasis on the "was." A few weeks after we finished RAAM, Patrick received an email from someone at Climate Ride. And to this date I'm not really sure who it was that contacted us, but the jist was: 5days, 300+ miles, and 1cause...mother earth. Apparently someone who knew someone heard about Xtreme4's pledge to be carbon neutral and put two and two together---if they were so revved up for the environment and RAAM, perhaps they would want to join Climate Ride.

Well, after months of planning and asking for tons of donations---not to mention we were all very tired, we were flattered at the invitation but couldn't foresee any of our bosses giving us more time off of work. Well, except maybe for me. And since I would be just finishing IMWI, maybe I could show my support and photograph the ride instead. Well, that one little thought has now turned into what I would consider one of the most wonderful and exciting weeks of my life.

After several phone calls and numerous e-mails with one of the founders and directors, Caeli Quinn, Climate Ride gave me the green light to document the entire ride. A whole 5 days of nothing but shooting, shooting and more shooting...with some pesky hours of editing...sleeping (little) and then even more shooting.

Needless to say, I'm excited and I hope the next few entries in this blog will inspire you to do whatever you can for the environment. Here's to Mother Earth, the future and to every rider whatever their ability maybe on this epic ride.

Ride on Riders!