Ride Bikes Save Earth

Quite a few people, thoughts, and ideas have been behind the Root Ride, which you’ll gather after reading About the Root Ride.  And we’re going to have many to thank along the way – already the numerous farmers and gardeners who have welcomed us to come by, offering tours of their farms and often offering us fresh food as well.  We’ll be sure to fill you in on these places as we ride through…but ultimately, we would not even be on this trip right now, if we had not have had the sponsorship of Las Vegas Cyclery/Escape Adventures and the words of wisdom from a few diligent researchers and writers.

So, a big thank you to Jared and Heather Fisher of Las Vegas Cyclery and Escape Adventures, the first carbon-neutral outfitter offering spectacular bike and multi-sports tours.  I first sent Jared an email from Macau back in February letting him know our ambitions for the summer and that somehow I wanted to get LVC and Escape Adventures involved.  His first response was, “Can I come?”   And then he tells me to send him a laundry list of what we need.  In the end, he has helped us more than we could have imagined, but with everything that has been needed.  He has hooked us up with Cannondale Touring 2 bikes, Pearl Izumi shoes, Ortlieb panniers, pedals, tubes, and water bottles.  And to top it all off, Jared and Heather drove the bikes up to his dad in Anacortes, WA, where we were able to pick them up after flying into Seattle from the other side of the world.  So, if you’re ever in Vegas and looking for a place to ride, just call on Las Vegas Cyclery and they’ll help you out…it’s also worth noting that Jared has personally built and maintained the majority of the mountain bike trails in Vegas.

Another group I’d like to acknowledge in the coming together of this trip is LocalHarvest.org.  This online community became an instrumental tool in locating farms and farmer’s markets along our route.  Local Harvest is an incredible resource for finding the most local and sustainably grown foods near your home or anywhere in the States if you are traveling.

There are numerous books and readings that have contributed to the motivation of visiting and thanking small farms along our route.  For good reads full of research and information, check out any of the following:

Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Fast Food Nation Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Fresh Food from Small Places by R.J. Ruppenthal

Food, Inc edited by Karl Weber

And last, but certainly not least, Soul Acrobats – making an art of the Impossible – is always in our thoughts and minds as we continue to push the limits of what we think we can do.