6footsix

welcome trek!!!

Welcome Trek!!!

I am so excited and honored to announce Trek as a major sponsor for my BIG Green Road Trip!  (See BIG Green Road Trip blog below.)  Trek has agreed to build a customized bicycle for me to ride from various campsites to volleyball events across the United States next season.  I spoke with Michael Leighton, industrial designer and Eric Bjorling, marketing director, today to discuss the super-size bicycle plans.

Trek sells bicycles to everyone.  From world class athletes like Lance Armstrong to little kids that ride tricycles, Trek can design and build a bicycle for riders of all sizes and needs.  They are excited to take on the task of building a bicycle for me for a couple of reasons.  First of all and most obvious, I am not shaped like the average rider or even the average athlete.  I have a 40 inch inseam which presents a challenge for Michael and Trek’s engineers to design a longer frame.  Fit is extremely important for the efficiency of the bicycle as well as the comfort of the rider. Trek was moved by my story since my BIG Green Road Trip fits in with their own green project titled “1 World, 2 Wheels.”  We are going to work together in inspiring more people to use bicycles as transportation vehicles.  Michael and Eric also mentioned their excitement to use new and experimental green practices when building this particular bike since it will be a major vehicle in the BIG Green Road Trip.

What work goes into customizing a bicycle?  First, measurements must be taken.  Thanks to Paul at Cycle Werks here in Costa Mesa, Trek now has their starting point.  Now it is time for Michael to connect with Trek’s engineers to draw a diagram using the measurements in order to get a visual of what the bike is going to look like.  From the diagram, parts are ordered and a prototype bicycle is made.  Once the prototype is measured to the rider, small adjustments are made and the construction of the actual Trek bicycle comes together.  Trek has brilliant artists that customize the paint to match the rider’s style.  

Thank you Michael, Eric, and Trek for taking on this challenge!

coming next season: the BIG green roadtrip

I do my best to encourage people to live their lives passionately while taking the Earth’s needs into consideration.  Do you want to climb Mt. Everest?  DO IT!  Do you want to completely change careers and become your own boss?  DO IT!

I want to travel across the United States for one entire volleyball season (6 months) and I am going to DO IT next year.  But how can I achieve this goal while honoring my promise to make choices that effect the Earth positively?  Most road trips include lots of gas fill-ups, numerous hotel stays and quite an impact on the Earth for the traveler’s personal pleasure and vacation.  

Introducing the BIG Green Road Trip.  With help from a few key sponsors, (Trek already holding one position and single donators helping out along the way,) I plan to drive a vehicle fueled by biodiesel to a camp site near a volleyball event, camp out overnight and then ride my awesome custom made Trek bicycle to the volleyball events.  This plan is not only honoring my promise to the Earth, but allowing me to live my dream, accomplish personal goals and live more financially free of expensive airline tickets and hotel room stays.  

My two pups, Daisy Mae and Zula have made the commitment too and are going to help me spread my message along the way.   

Stay tuned for BIG Green Road Trip updates!