Riding from one Washington to another Washington to raise money for lung cancer research, 37 cyclists made a stop for lunch in Connellsville Monday.
"This is a fundraiser for the National Lung Association," said Fred Husak of Scottdale, who took part in the ride in 1996 and 2000 and has provided lunch for the cyclists for five years in Yough River Park.
The 2008 Big Ride Across America started on June 23 in Seattle, Wash. The 37 bicyclists will spend 48 days, eight of which are just for rest, and 3,300 miles traveling to Washington, D.C., ending the trek on Saturday.
Each cyclist was responsible for raising $5,500 to take the ride across America.
Husak said this year's group managed to raise over a quarter of a million dollars, half of which goes to the American Lung Association.
Following a gear truck that holds their tents and other supplies, the riders trickled into Yough Park around noon yesterday for meat or vegetarian hoagies, fruits, a variety of drinks and even ice cream -- the Cream of the Trail was open for all-they-can-eat ice cream.
"It's an awesome trip so far," said Chuck Field of Frederick, Md., who's been cycling for a year and a half.
Yesterday's journey for the cyclists was 88 miles between Washington, Pa., and Confluence.
Patty Campbell of Newark, Del., has been riding for two-and-a-half years, but is taking on the Big Ride for the first time.
"I wanted to do a fundraiser and always wanted to it with a bike ride," Campbell said. "I thought this was a good combination."
Campbell said the best thing about such a ride is the group dynamics and the friendships created along the long way. While she said it was nice to see America from the seat of a bicycle, the consistency of riding every day seems to be the most difficult thing all the riders face.
"I couldn't make it without my riding buddies," Campbell said. "We get through it together."
Austin Lee of Stockton, Calif., agrees.
"It's not just the ride, but it's hanging out with the guys after," Lee said. "It's been a blast so far."
Lee got into The Big Ride because he wanted to do something "bigger and better" than a friend of his who cycled from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
For Lee, the most difficult thing about the trip was seeing parts of the country that made him a bit homesick.
For more information on The Big Ride Across America, to see the route map and read cyclist blogs including Lee's, visit www.cleanairadventures.org/big_ride_across_america.
