Wednesday, February 4, 2009

NC State's Technician features Bike Ride

Andrew Payne, editorial columnist for North Carolina State University's student newspaper The Technician, features the NC Inauguration Bike Riders in his weekly column:

Obama inspired all kinds of change, by Andrew Payne

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Independent Weekly's Post-Inauguration Issue

Matt Saldaña from The Independent Weekly mentions the bike riders in his article about his experience in DC during the inauguration:

Obama sets the course for change, by
Matt Saldaña

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Palestra.net Bike Ride Interview

Mitch Pittman from Palestra.net interviews the bike riders the evening they arrive in DC:

CNN Headline News Live Interview

Richelle Carey from Headline News interviews Darryl Jones live on CNN:

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Good Morning America mentions bike ride

This past Sunday's Good Morning America, on ABC, mentions the Inauguration Bike Ride. You can read a transcript of the segment here:

Inauguration Pilgrimage

We are still trying to track down the footage!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

South Hill Enterprise features bikers

South Hill, Virginia, our first stop on Day 1 of the trip, did a story about us in their local paper The South Hill Enterprise. You can view the original article here:

Locals attending Obama inauguration, by Lisa Andrews

Monday, January 19, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Photos from the Road - Day 2

In addition to the Day 2 photos, we've added new photos from Day 1. Be sure to check out Photos from the Road - Day 1 for more pictures from the first leg our our journey.


photos by Scott Heath





























A Note from the Support Car

By: Cory Livengood

Now that we've begun the 3rd leg of the trip, I thought I'd share how proud Scott and I in the support car are of Darryl, Matt, and Matt. They have already achieved an amazing feat and all signs seem to indicate that they will push through the cold and arrive safely at our final destination. If all goes according to plan, we'll arrive at the Lincoln Memorial as the Sunday evening concert is beginning, which should be a real treat. We most likely will have to lock up the bikes before we enter the concert due to increased security, but I bet by that time the riders will be happy to leave them behind, at least for a moment.

One of the things that has struck me most about this journey is the profound beauty we've encountered along our way, both in places we've seen and the people we've met. Too often it seems, folks whiz by at 80 miles per hour while real America passes by as a blur ("real" America, of course, includes the farmlands, the cities and all that lies in between). Scott and I have been taking the rural routes and country roads to not only to keep up with the guys, but to try to experience the countryside as they are and as the first generations of Americans did. Our trip takes us along routes our forefathers could have taken to get to the then new capital of this then new country. They didn't see the landscape as a quick blur on the highway and for the first time in my life, even after dozens of visits to Washington and beyond, neither am I. This is America. It is only a small part and this trip is our small contribution, but it is only through the combined influence of small acts that large goals can be achieved. The Obama campaign taught me that and our adventure serves to remind me.

These are my thoughts today. Thank you for reading and wish us luck as we start the second half of the NC Inauguration Bike Ride.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Halfway Point!

By: Matthew Huffman

I hope this finds everyone doing well at home, and in all the various places across the country where people are finding out about the ride!


photos by Scott Heath

We arrived in Midlothian, VA tonight around 8:30 while the temperature was reading a frosty 14 degrees. At this point, we've logged nearly 10 hours of riding, watched cattle chase after us, cycled through an active military base (we even saw a training exercise!), forded a river, and discovered that Google Maps was not averse to putting us on dirt roads.



Let me be perfectly honest and completely clear with you: these are temperatures that I have never experienced on the road before. I knew we were well-equipped to handle inclement weather, but I don't think I would have ever imagined what it feels like to have the wind beat at your face when the mercury drops into the mid-teens.

Despite the constant and unabating cold, the trip has gone very, very well so far. It's been a real honor to have people cover our ride on the way up so far; we've received comments all over both states from people who see us on the road and recognize us from the news.

From the frosty ponds and the open road, we're beginning to look forward to Washington, and the dramatic pomp and circumstance of the inauguration. Stay tuned!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

ABC11 and NBC17 Departure Coverage

ABC 11 and NBC 17 covered our departure from Raleigh this morning, as we set out on our 277 mile journey to DC for Obama's inauguration.

Bikers pedaling for Obama.
(ABC 11)

Cyclist hit the road for Obama Inauguration. (NBC 17)

CNN Coverage of the Inauguration Bike Ride

We made it on CNN!

Photos from the Road - Day 1

Our Inaugural Riders:


Matt Watts


Matt Huffman


Darryl Jones

The Bike Ride Support Team:


Scott Heath and Cory Livengood

Day 1 of the Inaugural Bike Ride:









































Stay tuned for more updates!