Collegiate Times

Andy Reagan and Catherine Atwood will be participating in the Bike & Build service project this summer.

Virginia Tech senior Catherine Atwood and sophomore Andy Reagan will spend much of the summer on their behinds, but laziness isn’t the cause.

Atwood, a fifth-year architecture major; and Reagan, a chemical engineering, chemistry and mathematics major, will set out on a nearly 4,000-mile bicycle ride as part of the Bike & Build program.

Bike & Build is a nonprofit organization that helps send young adults ages 18-25 on cross-country bicycling trips. Cyclists pause in various cities to offer fundraising money and muscle for affordable housing projects set up by other nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together.

Since its 2002 inception, Bike & Build has donated nearly $2.5 million and contributed more than 65,000 building hours.

Atwood pursued the opportunity because of her older brother’s prior Bike & Build experience. She said his enthusiasm upon his return convinced her to partake, though she needed his permission.

“My brother and I have this sort of relationship where I try not to step on his toes,” Atwood said.

Reagan began cycling in college and now competes with the Tech Cycling Club. He said a teammate’s personal cross-country journey inspired him, and another friend mentioned Bike & Build as a good way to follow through.

The 2010 Bike & Build season boasts more than 250 participants. They are broken into smaller groups to travel eight different east-to-west routes, beginning as far north as New Hampshire and as far south as Florida. Atwood and Reagan will start in Virginia Beach and end in Canon Beach, Ore.

But the two have several responsibilities before they pump the pedals.

“There’s three things you have to do before the trip,” Reagan explained. “You have to raise $4,000, you have to complete a 500-mile pledge, and you have to do sweat equity.”

Reagan is approaching $2,000, while Atwood is at a slight time disadvantage. She was on the wait list after the October application process, receiving a slot just before Christmas. However, a February fundraising event in Lee Hall boosted her funds.

Atwood and Reagan worked with Kroger on South Main Street to set up a donation-based dinner. Store Manager Mike Witt said they prepared approximately $80 worth of spaghetti, sauces and garlic bread. Intended for 30 to 40 people, the meal didn’t last.

“I had four pounds of noodles just laying in my room,” Reagan said, “and we bought two extra pounds of noodles and some sauce just as backups, and we ended up cooking all of that, too.”

About 70 attendees gave a collective $400, which Atwood and Reagan split. The pair said another potential fundraiser is a “spin-a-thon,” where they’d cycle in place for an entire day, discussing Bike & Build with passersby.

Otherwise, Atwood and Reagan plan to flood relatives’ mailboxes with letters seeking support.

Once Atwood reaches $1,000, Bike & Build will send her a bicycle for the trek; it already approved one of Reagan’s own bicycles. While Reagan will easily surpass the 500-mile pledge with the cycling club, Atwood needs that bicycle — and the time — to meet the mark.

“I’m a little nervous about it,” she said, “mainly because so much stuff is going on right now. I’m still trying to finish architecture and graduate and all that.”

Atwood said she has little cycling experience, therefore Reagan suggested she shadow the cycling club to find a rhythm.

“Monday and Friday they do a S.A.Y.G. ride,” he said, “which stands for ‘slow as your grandmother.’”

Yet cycling is only half of Bike & Build.

“They say trade in your bike for a hammer,” Reagan said.

Atwood and Reagan must log eight volunteer hours, or “sweat equity,” for a local housing organization.

In Jonesville, Va., Atwood spent a February day refurbishing homes with the Appalachia Service Project.

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A version of this article appeared in the Mar 16 issue of the Collegiate Times.