Day in the Life of a Bike and Builder (ride day)

5:30am - Rise and Shine!

Robe up in spandex and pack up that damn thermarest!

Apply BUTT'r to minimize unpleasant rubbage. (Repeat various times throughout the day).

6:00am - Get all belongings in bin and out to trailer to be packed up. 

This is our trailer, which we painted. Her name is Miss SUSie (after our Southern US route which is known as SUS).

6:20am - Trailer packed. I am on trailer crew this week. Chore groups rotate weekly. 

Once the trailer is packed, we can eat breakfast (set up by breakfast crew). 

During breakfast we have a route meeting to discuss any particulars about that day's ride. This 57.3 mile ride from Mobile, Alabama to Biloxi, Mississippi is a shorter day. Most ride days are 70-80 miles. 

Bike maintenance - Lube chain and check tire pressure, brakes, and gears. 

Camelback and gatorade bottles filled. Helmet, sunglasses, and safety triangle on...ready to ride!

7:00am (ish) - Roll out. Groups of 3-4 are best so we are more visible to cars, but can easily communicate amongst each other and aren't difficult to pass. 

Enjoy the ride!! 

Pop squats when necessary (which, when you are drinking 200+ ounces of water daily, is quite often).

#1 on our team charter: Stop and smell the roses. 

Half-way through the ride - spot our team alligator, David Hasselhoff. David represents LUNCH.

Grub.

Typical B&B lunch.

But with the proper materials we can get more creative. This is a nutella banana sandwich made with leftover pancakes.

Unfortunately, crashes do happen :(

But sweep (the 2 riders designated to ride in back for the day) comes with the first aid kit to save the day.

4:30pm (ish) - Arrive at host! (Usually a church).

Shower time - sometimes we are lucky enough to have a real shower, but often shower time looks like this.

Dinner - This night an amazing dinner was provided by our generous host. When it isn't, we go into restaurants looking famished, tell them about what we are doing, and try to get them to donate. Otherwise, dinner crew hits up the grocery store and we make something. Most important thing when it comes to dinner: QUANTITY.

Hang out with the host family!

Typical B&B debate: Do we eat the cookies now or save them for lunch tomorrow?!

Team Eat-Them-Now Wins!

When the church we are staying in isn't the biggest attraction the town we are staying in has to offer, we get out to explore. Biloxi is known for their casinos. 

Catch some shut-eye whenever possible. 

Make use of awesome church memorabilia. A rendition of Sister Act 2 followed. 

10:30 (hopefully) - SLEEP.