Pedal for Peace 2008

Wheaton just wrote up an article about the P4P! Check it out here!

(Thanks so much to Sandra Coleman for all her help!)

Pete and I just did some serious riding. The hardest training rides we’ve done up to this point: 45 miles (for me) on Friday, 106 miles on Saturday, 104 miles on Sunday. Since we sent the bikes off Thursday, we were riding our “backup” bikes—not loaded down, but the miles were still the same distance!

On Friday evening after work, I rode back over Terrible Mountain (twice in one week is enough!), but this time w/o 35 pounds of extra weight on my bike! The 45 mile ride was no problem at all, though the feel for it was decidedly different. Instead of meandering at 14mph, I was instead stomping on the Willier at ~18.5mph—things don’t look quite so picturesque at that speed! That difference in speed is something that I was definitely aware of throughout the following rides and a perspective I really need to get into my head. As I wrote about earlier, I need a paradigm shift in my attitude towards cycling: it’s a journey, not a race!

Of Course, we had to have extreme weather warnings going off Friday night, with the weather channel showing that dark red forecast for southern Vermont and western Mass—no way to start off a weekend than 100 miles in torrential rain! Pete and I were prepared for the rain, to say the least, our first century we did together took us through the same route (down Rt 5) in an other torrential downpour!

Though, we both weren’t disappointed when it was a beautiful, albeit overcast, day! 100 miles of real, easy riding. We averaged 14.1 miles on the way down—not bad considering we wanted to go around the average speed we want to hit come June 16^th (12mph)! It was a beautiful ride replete with cider donuts and much shenanigans on the bikes.

Debbie and Tobe—Pete’s parents—threw one heck of a send off party! BBQ ribs, chicken, pasta, cake, champagne toast, and a whole bunch of Pete’s friends from high school! It was great to see many of them before the send off and to put some faces to names in Pete’s stories he’s shared through six years of lifeguarding!

Sunday morning, and it was back to the races—and the legs felt fresh! Though, my butt and wrists were KILLIN me! (Gloves and a much cushier saddle are the prescription for the coming journey!) Pete and I soldiered on through beautiful sunny day. Our stop in Brattleboro was a great halfway point—the Co-Op there is one of the best places in the world and I got myself a heck of a bagel with cream cheese, tomato, lettuce and avocado. Oh, and I picked Delilah up a bottle of salad dressing for her birthday, all in all, Brattleboro is the place to be (and were I’ll be after getting back from Nica in January 2009! Can’t wait!)

Pete and I rode 73 miles together and then we parted to go our separate ways. Me on 103 back to Weston, and Pete continuing up 5. And when we both made it back to our respective locales—we both told each other how we couldn’t possibly think of going across country without the other! When I turned onto 103 and rode towards Chester, I was hit dead-on by a 20mph headwind—I was going only 20mph down ½ mile long 8% gradients! It was so tough to do it by myself, and I sure wished Pete was there with me!

Those were some good miles to get in—get the legs a bit stronger before we fly out on the 14^th!

Finally! I finally got a chance to get out on the road with the LeMond fully loaded! And for 45 miles no less! Yesterday I rode the bike I will be taking across country over to Pete’s place in Hartland, VT from where I’m currently living in Weston, VT; a trip of 45 miles.

Man did it feel so good to get out there! The bike route took me over “Terrible Mountain” (No joke, that’s the name!) 5 miles uphill with the last 2 miles at a 12% grade! Wow, do I love my triple geared bike! Just cruising up it at nice even 5-6mph, not difficult fully loaded, it just takes a little bit longer than usual!

This was the first time I was able to get the LeMond out on the road and get a feel for what I’ll be riding for 65 days. And man, did it feel good! I was really apprehensive during December 2007, because every previous experience I had with the LeMond were decidedly negative, from pulling a hamstring while riding it to just a general uncomfortableness and uneasiness on it. When I bought my Willier and had it fitted at ATA Cycles in Concord, my whole perspective on the cycling world changed as the new bike fit like a glove because it was custom tailored to my biomechanics. So, instead of continuing to feel apprehensive about the coming bike trip on a bike that didn’t fit me properly, I did something about it. I took all my measurements from my Willier and fit it to the LeMond. What a difference! And today, I just felt good! I averaged about 14mph to Pete’s house. Real slow compared to the normal stomping average I do on the Willier, but real good considering the 35 extra pounds of weight and the big hills that central Vermont has to offer!

Pete and I had quite an ordeal getting the bikes all boxed up and ready to go. We got to his place at about 8pm-we had a list of about six things we wanted to get done before he drove me back to Weston later that evening. Wow, we only got through two of those things on the list, and I didn’t get dropped off in Weston until 2:30am! Pete didn’t get to bed until 3:45am! (Thank you so much Pete!) But we did manage to get the essentials together!

Pete’s bike got new tires, a new cyclometer, and new handlebar tape. And the simple process of changing tires which normally takes 15 minutes turned into an hour and a half ordeal as the tires he ordered are (figuratively) bullet proof and so thick that we kept popping tubes while trying to fit ‘em on! Those tire’s shouldn’t ever get a flat during the trip!

Most importantly, we got the bikes BOXED UP! We had to take off the saddles, turn the handlebars to the side, take off the pedals, remove the front rack from my bike, and wrap the bikes in more bubble rap than is necessary. The bikes are taped, reinforced, and ready for shipment tomorrow!

It’s hard to believe that a journey that we started counting down 22 months ago is really going to happen in less than 22 days! It’s getting real!

Pete and I have a HUGE ride planned this weekend to make sure that our legs are in shape come the 16^th of June. We’re doing back to back 100milers this weekend, from Hartland, VT to his parents in South Hadley, MA. Can’t wait to spend 7+ hours in the saddle with Pete this weekend!

It’s really happening!

In the previous post, I talked about Peter and myself’s tendency towards competition and our need to not be competitive and instead work as a team to achieve a common goal over succumbing to egoistic demands. With that goal in mind, there’s one story that has stayed with me throughout my years at college that I read while I was training for my black belt in Kenpo Karate at New Generation Martial arts during my time in highschool. It’s titled ‘Try Softer’:

Try Softer

A young boy traveled across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the sensei.

“What do you wish from me?” the master asked.

“I wish to be your student and become the finest karateka in the land,” the boy replied. “How long must I study?”

“Ten Years at least,” the master answered.

“Ten years is a long time,” said the boy.

“What if I studied twice as hard as all your other students?”

“Twenty years,” replied the master.

“Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”

“Thirty years,” was the master’s reply.

“How is it that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?” the boy asked.

“The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way.”

- Anonymous

While Pete and I will be working hard each day turning the pedals, we will both have to remember to try softer and allow the Way, the path, and the means to be revealed through our travels. While the ultimate goal is arriving in Boston safe and sound, we need to leave each moment open to figure out how to get there!

There’s a term in the cycling world that encapsulates one of Peter and myself’s biggest challenges for the coming bike-trip: “Half-Wheeling.”

‘Half wheeling is what they call it when two riders, side by side, are subconsciously trying to beat the other rider. One will inch forward just enough that his wheel is a half wheel in front of the other’s, who, in response, does the same thing. A typical addendum is that both riders start off after agreeing to go for an “easy ride”. So they start out at, say, 16 mph.

Then one guy slides forward just a bit, edging up to maybe 16.5 mph.

The other guy responds likewise, maybe upping the ante to 17 mph.

And, in 15 minutes, suddenly they’re furiously time trialing at 30 mph, trying to get half a wheel ahead of the other guy.’ (From Aki)

Peter and I are both extremely competitive individuals. It’s a trait that extends into both of our lives and is both a positive and negative aspect of our personalities. So, when we get together, naturally we’re both sure to want to beat the other person, though not in a mean-spirited or bad-natured sort of way, but in the friendly competitive, we’ll both work so hard to bring out our best. But when riding 4,600 miles across the United States, Pete and I definitely cannot be half-wheelin’ the whole time! This is one of the areas where we will both need to grow the most, to really make ourselves into the team we want to be. A team that leaves the ego at the door so we’re both working for the support of the other.

Because it’s bigger than our egos now. It’s about the goal, the destination and everyone that has helped us get to this point. After 22 months of planning, we’re less than 22 days from departure. And even if we flew out to the Left coast and were only able to make it a week, it wouldn’t be a failed trip in our books. But, that said, successfully riding across the country in 65 days is our largest goal. The goal that will be motivating us each day when we wake up with sore bodies, the air temperature being over 100 degrees, and 70 miles to go across the never ending straightaway that is Kansas (with a headwind nonetheless!).

To draw this thought of a goal back to the idea of “half-wheeling,” we’re going to have to learn that in order to make that goal, we’re going to have to conquer our latent tendencies to always want to work our hardest and go the fastest. The only way we’re going to make that goal is with the steady 12mph forward motion—when the legs are feeling great, and when the legs are feeling terrible. Steady and constant.

We’re ready for the challenge. And we’re only going to make it as a team.

what up brotha!!!!

I just wanted to share with you that I just received a huge weight off my shoulders for the bike ride. My front rack has been more than a pain in the butt trying to get it to fit my bike. I was contemplating just going with back panniers I was so freakin frustrated with it. I spent many late nights trying to get it to work. But the custodian from my school just made some insane mods to it and it is now stronger than ever and mounted beutifully! He is in support of my ride and was happy to help. Now after school today I’m gonna load up both racks for the first time and test her out! yeah!!!

Should we invest in a really good hand pump?

thanks for the list!!!
Peter d

Have pride in the past and faith in the future!

Your donation to FINCA through Pedal For Peace will enable new microentrepreneurs throughout Nicaragua to take advantage of their first microcredit loan.

Your donation’s impact:

• $50 can provide a first loan to a new FINCA Village Banker.
• $250 can provide one year’s worth of working capital to a new FINCA Village Banker.
• $1,000 provides start-up capital for 20 poor women to start their own businesses.
• $5,000 can sponsor a Village Bank in a region where FINCA currently operates.
• $60,000 can enable FINCA to enter a new region in a country where we currently operate.

See the impact of your contributions on FINCA’s Donation Calculator.

How your gift grows:

On average each dollar donated to FINCA International results in 3 loans being made with it in the first year. You see, each program participant usually repays his or her loan within four months. Moreover, each loan provides start up capital that will support a family that averages five people.
So each dollar given by generous donors like you touches the lives of hundreds of people in subsequent years.

Help share in this life-empower impact microcredit has throughout Nicaragua by donating today!

It’s been almost three weeks since the last post–and a lot has happened since then! But be prepared for posts on a much more frequent basis as we are t-minus 2 months until lift-off to California!

This website has been written, bit by bit, and is really starting to take shape (it sure is interesting learning all about html formatting and the like!).

I spoke with the Marketing Communications Manager at FINCA International earlier today and I’m really excited about Pedal for Peace (P4P) being a part of their forthcoming “Friends asking Friends” fund raising campaign! That means that the “Donation” button and more information about the allocation of donations will be up and coming very soon–I’m thinking less than two weeks!

Now that we’ve got an official channel for donations being set up, P4P can now get to connecting with our networks! We’re in the process of solidifying our partnership with Wheaton College (MA), World Learning and the SIT Graduate Institute and tapping into their resources to address Pete and mine’s personal expenses and further promote fund raising for new microcredit banks!

After we’ve got the specifics of those partnerships established, P4P will begin the promotion of our project through the marketing services of Linda Patch and Associates. Their marketing services will engage in traditional marketing practices and web 2.0 marketing strategies-viral marketing, blogging, podcasts, etc. This is going to start getting really exciting! Isn’t it great to have a mother who specializes in marketing?! She’s also a bike-nut, so check out her blog and her new tri-bike for Ironman Florida!

As for Pete and myself, we’re doing great and are now doing our countdown in DAYS!!! Oh man, I remember when Pete and I first started the countdown–the phone call from Nicaragua to the U.S. just to yell T-minus 12 months!! It’s hard to believe that we’re down to a mere 51 days!

Pete just got back from 10 days in Ireland with his brother where they were celebrating Jay’s graduation from college last year. 24 hours of sleepless travel and Pete was ready for 6am classes today at work!

As for myself, the deadline for the thesis is bearing down hard–I wish I could just focus on that and not worry about the 7-10 page paper I have due tomorrow for Urban Anthropology that I haven’t started… but hey, graduation is only 25 days away!

Well, that’s a lot for today, check in soon for more updates about the progress of the preparations for P4P!

Well, here’s the first post of what’s to be an amazing journey being carried out in the name of creating global interconnections to empower individuals, families and the community of Nueva Guinea, Nicaragua through the microcredit program of the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) Nicaragua.

On June 14th, Peter Driscoll and myself (Ryan Patch) will be flying out to San Diego with our bicycles in the belly of the plane to begin our quest of riding our bicycles across the country to spread global awareness about the life situation of individuals living in Nueva Guinea.

In February 2007, I left for six months in Nicaragua, a journey which during the process of would transform me at a fundamental level and open my eyes to the extent, severity, and meaning of poverty on the individual level. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 80% of the population there lives on less than 2 U.S. dollars per day. And two dollars not in their terms, but in our terms: if you were given 730 dollars for one year, that is the equivalent income of over 4 million people in Nicaragua.

Living amongst differing communities in Nicaragua helped me appreciate what these statistics cannot convey. This understanding is what Pete and I hope to bring to thousands of people over the course of our journey.

I spent 3 months living and working in Nueva Guinea, Nicaragua with microcredit. I won a Project for Peace grant sponsored by my university, Wheaton College in Massachusetts. I used these funds in the formation of microcredit village banks, and by the end of my time there I had started two banks, and funded them with the $5,000 from my Peace grant.

The benefit these loans provided for the new clients is best explained through their own words:

“We’re all ready and excited for this loan. This loan is going to permit us to buy more, sell more, and grow more. This truly is an aid that is going to help all of us.”
- Norma Estela Pavon Gonzalez

This summer, I am teaming up again with the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA), one of the world’s largest non-profit microcredit financers, the same organization I partnered with for my Peace grant. This bicycle journey across the United States is to bring the stories and realties of Nueva Guinea from coast to coast of the United States and helping people who hear this story find a way to affect positive change.

This bicycle journey is raising funds for FINCA, monies which will be distributed directly to the people of Nueva Guinea. This journey will raise global awareness while helping individuals in the United States share in the alleviation of poverty through the empowerment of new microentrepreneurs in Nueva Guinea.

Please join Peter and I, learn about microcredit, it’s life-empowering impact, and help help individuals in Nueva Guinea get their foot on the first rung of the development ladder through your donation to finance their loan.

We look forward to working with you and thanks so much for your time.