Brian Wegner is gearing up for the ride of his life.
This summer, the physiology sophomore and Eagle Scout is participating in Bike & Build, a nonprofit organization that organizes cross-country bicycle trips where young adult-volunteers cycle from coast-to-coast — building houses along the way. Participants also organize events to raise awareness and support for affordable housing in the towns they pass.
Wegner was inspired to participate in the trip by one of his best friends from high school, Mike Lauckner. Now a student at Western Michigan University, Lauckner did a trip for Bike & Build last year.
“(Lauckner) told me it was the best time of his life, he had a blast, and it was cool to see so much of the country,” Wegner said.
Before Wegner can take part in the trip, there are prerequisites to be met. He must raise $4,500 dollars and log 500 miles on his bike, which is provided to him by the organization when his fundraising goal is met.
Beginning on May 24 in Charleston, S.C., and ending on Aug. 10 in Santa Cruz, Calif., the trip will comprise 4,264 miles — the longest trip in the organization’s history.
To prepare, Wegner trains about three times a week.
“I’m going to the gym and doing stationary bike work or lifting,” Wegner said. “I also have to raise a bunch of money, and I’m getting myself more educated on the affordable housing movement.”
Andrew Marsh, an MSU Bikes Service Center employee and avid cyclist, detailed what it takes to make this coast-to-coast trek.
“You don’t really have to be excessively strong so much as you have to be conditioned to have the long miles in the saddle,” he said.
Wegner sees this as an opportunity to not only fund housing projects, but help those who are in need.
“I’m from Saginaw, so here (in East Lansing) and there, homelessness is pretty common, so I’m hoping to see how it affects other cities in the nation and gain a better understanding of what I can do to fix the problem,” Wegner said.
Justin Villere, director of operations and outreach for Bike & Build, said participants are encouraged to become familiar with the affordable housing crisis in order to be better advocates for the cause when on the road.
“If they learn about the affordable housing cause, it allows them to become very effective agents for change as they develop into contributing members of society,” Villere said.
Wegner recognizes the size of the challenge, but is more than willing to meet it.
“It’s definitely a little nerve-racking, but I’m very excited to do it,” Wegner said. “It will definitely be life changing, for sure. Not many people can say that they’ve biked across the country.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
