Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Adelaide Chen will start her bicycle journey June 16 in Seattle.

Saratoga student planning to bike across the country

By Mark Kregel

Some students work during the summer; some take summer classes. Saratoga resident Adelaide Chen, a student at UC-Davis, plans to bicycle 3,600 miles across America with Bike-aid.

"I think I'm going to have the time of my life," Chen said. "It's a great opportunity to see the country."

The trip, which lasts 10 weeks, will begin in Seattle at the Pike Place Market on June 16 and finish in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20.

Organized by the Overseas Development Network, this is the 12th annual Bike-aid program.

In addition to trekking cross-country, Bike-aid participants also do community outreach with an environmental focus. Rachel Glickman, outreach coordinator, said at least one day every week is spent doing community service projects, which range from urban gardening to trail rehabilitation.

"Bike-aid is a really unique experience," Glickman said. "It combines community service, physical challenge and raising international awareness."

Cyclists must raise at least $2,000 from sponsors to participate. The money donated to the cyclists is then pooled in Washington and given to a project the riders choose. The focus of this year's ride is sustainable transportation.

The riders will stay in towns along the way in churches, YMCAs and meeting halls.

After Seattle, Chin will peddle through Bozeman, Minneapolis, Chicago and Pittsburgh before finishing in Washington.

Donations to help Chen can be sent to Bike-aid, 333 Valencia St, Suite 333, San Francisco, 94103.