Along the way, we expect challenges that we've never faced, both physical an mental. We'll be crossing countless mountain ranges, the Nevada desert, and battling headwinds in the Great Plains. Our minds may also be our greatest adversary, as we battle our inner selves, overcoming the challenges of each day. This will be an amazing learning experience for all of us. The great outdoors will be our classroom, and we will learn things, and be enriched in ways that people much older cannot even conceive of.

Which brings us to the cause of our trip. We will be doing a charity ride for health and education, and while we are conditioning ourselves pedaling over 3000 miles, we will be touting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and a good education, both in the classroom, and in real world experienced. Along our journey, we will see first hand how people's level of fitness and education affect their quality of life, and opportunities. We will talk to people about the value of both a college education, and the value of a cultural and experiential education, however you may choose to get it. If you want to help our cause, you can donate to the American Heart Association or the Carolina Covenant Scholarship.

While we're on the road, we'll also be shooting a documentary on our travels and adventure. Our trip leader, Brian Burnham, has been in the travel adventure film business for a number of years now. His company Cirque Productions has released the film TREK, which is a feature length DVD on thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. He is also releasing Share the Road, which is a film about the previous cross country bike trip from the Bike America 2003 team.

Our film will document what happens when you throw seven high school kids on an insane adventure, and show what we get into, go through, and how we change, as we dare to dream, and bike across America before we go off to college. If you have any questions about the film, please email Brian. You can also meet us individually on our Crew Page.