Traveling though 8 states, before biking through 13 states

= 19 different states by August 12th. 
(Yes, Oklahoma and Texas are the only repeat)

After 20 hours of van travel to Oklahoma City, OK -- after 3 races in the heaviest cross-wind at the National Championship, and a 3rd place finish -- and finally after 6 hours of plane travel and airports, I arrived in Charleston, SC to meet all my gear for Bike & Build, and set out on the best summer of my life.
-Brian


Day 1: Orientation (5/24): Charleston, SC
After waking up in Oklahoma City after ACRA Nationals for PSU Crew, Lance, Brad, and I headed over to the airport for a 6am flight to Charleston, SC. Once we landed, we met up with my mom who drove down all of our bikes, gear, and bags for Bike & Build - Thanks again mom!


We headed to downtown Charleston, into the College of Charleston campus, where we met up with the rest of the group at the host location. After unpacking our gear, setting up our bikes, eating lunch at Five Guys and saying goodbye, we went into your typical ice breakers and then dinner was provided by the Charleston Habitat for Humanity. After dinner, our four trip leaders (Megan - MOB, Natalie, Travis, and Brian - B$) hosted a training sessions for our Bike & Build presentation that will be presented to the community members and hosts along our route. We then picked up all of our new riding kits (jerseys, bibs, hats, and socks), along with our Thermarests (think 1 inch inflatable pool mattress) and headed off to bed.

Day 2: Orientation (5/27): Charleston, SC
After our first night of learning who snore, how uncomfortable Thermarests really are, and how stiff sleeping on the floor it, we did a practice run on packing up all of our gear, setting our bikes up, lubing the chain, checking the breaks, and inflating the tires. After breakfast, we reviewed the five chore group rotations (Dinner and Presentation, Laundry and Breakfast, Cooler Crew, Trailer Crew, Clean-up) and got changed for our 23 mile shakedown ride. After the cue sheet meeting (review of the ride's directions) we set out into Charleston towards the harbor and headed over the Authur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (the longest cable stay bridge in the western hemisphere) and out to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan Island. After spending some time on the beach finding a good wheel-dip ceremony location and taking pictures at the Fort, we headed back into town for dinner, donated by Sticky Fingers. 

Day 3: Orientation (5/28): Build Day
Before setting out for California, our last day in Charleston was spent working with the West Charleston Habitat for Humanity. This H4H has begun a new rehabilitation program, and assigned our group to reroofing one of their projects. The house location was located about 30 minutes from our host location, so we shuttled the B&B team over to the house and began our "Build Day Orientation". Once arriving, we met the home owner, the construction manager, and our project mangers. After a safety review, we climbed up onto the roof and began demolition. Our assignment was to demo all existing roof shingles and felt paper, replace roof sheathing, and then install new felt paper and roof shingles. After about one hour, the roof was bare, and construction began.  By the time lunch arrived, the first few levels of shingles we're completed, with the roof being capped off around 4pm. Once back at the host, we went over to the College of Charleston's basketball team's facilities to shower and clean up for dinner. After dinner we finished packing up, made last minute adjustments to our bikes, and headed to bed early in preparation for our first official ride day.

Let the 4200+ mile countdown begin...
-Brian