So, I have finally grouped up with Bike and Build!

I drove up to Nags Head on Tuesday with fellow rider Claire Waller. It was a 7-hour drive, and seemed a bit extreme for the lead-up to a bike trip. The morning after arriving at the coast, Claire and I took a 40-mile bike ride for training purposes or something like that. We then went to Nags Head Church, which was kind enough to house us for two nights. The first day was spent meeting our group, team-building, and such. It was great to finally meet the people I had been training so hard to join.

Today, we woke up bright and early for a session on bike maintenance techniques with the owner of Outer Banks Bicycles. We also talked to a guy named Jack, who is a 68-year old area native and ultramarathon cyclist. Jack imparted his knowledge on us, and was kind enough to lead us on our first “shakedown” ride, which was about 11 miles each way to the Bodie Island Lighthouse. While there, we met the son of the former lighthouse operator (he’s in his 90s now). It was a great trip. Our evening consisted of a pot-luck dinner, a presentation about Bike & Build, and bike repairs like crazy. I’m looking forward to actually starting tomorrow!

Jack with the former lighthouseman’s son.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse