We are two students from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and members of the UMass Women's Division I Rowing team. As inductees to the National College-Athlete Honor Society: Chi Alpha Sigma, we are attempting to bike the country and raise money for a scholarship for a fellow student-athlete. Riding experience? Not so much. Both of us are pretty new to the idea of distance cycling. Isabella's family had somewhat of a cycling background, touring back home in Italy, but Kathryn's longest ride was barely 30 miles -- on a straight, flat, paved bike path. You've got to start somewhere, right? Before the trip began, we visited numerous bike shops to get an idea of the task ahead of us -- and on more than one occasion, we were laughed at for our lack of experience and 'humored' with a tour of their equipment. They didn't take us seriously, but we were too driven to care! After much searching we finally found a GREAT shop (Competitive Edge Ski and Bike of Hadley, MA) -- and off we went! Unfortunately, Isabella had to duck out due to injury in DC after the first ~ 750 miles but Kathryn continued her way to the Pacific coast, country crossing paths with a handful of other riders along the way.
Profiles below are from the UMass Athletics Online Player Bios:
http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-rowing/mtt/kern_kathryn01.html
http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-rowing/mtt/donadio_isabella00.html