Bicyclists ride through Uniontown
Thirty bicyclists raising money for Habitat for Humanity wheeled into Uniontown on Monday, staying at the Third United Presbyterian Church. In its 13th year, the Habitat Bicycle Challenge has a total of 90 riders split into three routes. The 4,000-mile journey started June 2 in New Haven, Conn.
The college-age riders from around the country each raised $4,000 before the trip began, according to the program’s Web site. As they go, they raise awareness about Habitat for Humanity and accept donations.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization in which volunteers build affordable houses for families in need.
Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 150,000 houses for families in need.
Trip leader Steven Felix said, “We’re on the south route and we end in San Francisco. The other two end in Portland and Seattle.”
“We’re done August 9,” participant Ali Weiss said. “We ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.”
Larry George of Third United Presbyterian Church has been in charge of the local stop for five years. He said the former pastor approached him about it.
“He asked me to be in charge of it because he knew I had gone on a lot of bike tours,” George said.
“I think it’s great these kids are doing this to raise money for Habitat for Humanity,” he said. “Our staff loves doing this for them.”
On traveling across the country, participant Sam Gutner said, “In every situation, they’ve been incredibly hospitable.”
The riders said they ate a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee Monday morning.
“The best breakfast ever,” Weiss said.
The group planned on visiting Fallingwater in Mill Run on Tuesday.
Lisa Green said the first week has been “very challenging but a lot of fun.”
“The first week is difficult because you’re getting there, your muscles are sort of prepared for the continuous bicycling and you’re dealing with the Appalachians at the same time,” Gutner said.
“We’ve gotten really strong in a matter of one week,” Andrea Laizer said. “We’ve trained for this, but you can only train so much. No one’s used to riding that much in a single day.”
Many of the riders, such as Morgen Goepel, said they heard of the program through friends, especially from Yale University, where it is based.
After Aug. 9, the participants will be heading in different directions.
“Some people already graduated (college), some people have to go back to school,” Gutner said, “different ones have to find a job, and some people have to go back to work.”
Weiss said, “All we have to do this summer is ride our bikes, eat a lot of food and sleep as much as possible.”
Felix said he enjoyed going through more rural areas.
“I’m from LA, so I’m used to very urban areas,” he said. “Going through places like Amish country, some really small Pennsylvania towns, has been very interesting.”
As far as future stops on the route, Felix said he is excited about Colorado.
“I’m really excited to bike through the Rockies,” he said.
For more information, visit online at http://hbc.habitatgnh.org/.