Tortoise or Hare?

This past weekend, in a brief trip home, I was able to squeeze in some rides totaling 45 miles in distance.  This brings my total miles ridden since starting the fundraising process for Bike & Build to 470 miles.  I'm getting close to my 500 mile commitment and my sweat equity commitment of working 10 hours with an affordable housing program.  My biggest hurdle is the $4,500 fundraising goal.  Please help me reach my goal by clicking the link below and contributing to my ride, regardless of the amount you contribute.  

Donate to Molly's Ride

Seize the Moment, Live Your Life

I only have a minute before I should really be getting back to my homework but I hope this 1 minute video is an inspiration to go explore.  It's never too late to see the world, to turn life into an adventure, to do something meaningful.  And without further ado: 

Class is In Session

It's a busy week for school with midterms well under way but that doesn't keep my mind from wandering to the dire need for more affordable housing across the United States.  While it might be a young person's dream to one day own his or her own home and happily live with loved ones, nowhere in America can a person work a full time job at minimum wage and pay off a 30 year mortgage on a very modest house.  Let's tackle this problem from both ends so that all families have a refuge at the end of the day, a place to make memories, and a haven where children can feel safe, no matter how quaint the size.  It's time for the availability of affordable housing to increase and the minimum to be waged to better reflect inflation over the past half century.  
Please take a few minutes to glance at these charts, ripe with useful information: 

As always, please please please consider donating to my ride across the United States this summer.  Help me make a difference in the lives of both Americans and immigrants in our country.  

Donate to the fight for affordable housing

Ice Ice Baby

It might not be the best day for a bike ride in these icy conditions but I'm looking forward to the coming warm weather and the many miles of training ahead.  

Classes cancelled at UNC as the staff head home and students hunker down for a mini academic hiatus

Crunch Those Numbers, Strengthen Those Muscles

For those lovely folks wondering about how my training is progressing, I have some raw statistics.

Miles ridden since May, 2011 (estimate): 5,300

Miles ridden over Christmas break: 425

Miles ridden this past weekend: 46 

I hope to keep these stats updated as my departure date this May 2014 nears so please keep tuning in and hold me accountable for the 500 miles Bike & Build requires riders to log between enrollment and departure (I only have 75 miles to go) and my own personal goal of 1,000 miles before May 16th.  

Fun fact: I first received my road bike for my seventeenth birthday, arguable the best present that has ever been given to me.  

What I Wouldn't Do...For A Good View

My cherished route follows the path my brother and I took the first time we ever went road biking together. 

It measures 15.2 miles or 24.5 km.  
My average time is 55 minutes amounting to 16.7 miles per hour.  
My fastest time is 52 minutes amounting to 17.5 miles per hour.   

Why do I continue to return to the same route?  Well, you would be hard pressed to find a better view of Lake Norman than the 360 degree visual at the end of Brawley School Road.  But it is my mission to find dozens of spectacular views this summer and share them so that everyone can enjoy my bike ride.  In the mean time, I hope these gems will suffice.  

And finally, please help make healthy communities and happy families a reality in needy areas across America by donating to my ride for affordable housing with Bike & Build this upcoming summer.

Donate to Molly's ride