Dedications and Acknowledgments

To my dad who taught me how to ride a bike, especially that cool way to mount it like a horse. To my mom who resisted the temptation to institutionalize me when I told her I was going to ride across the country. To Hope who couldn't relate, but supported me in every other way. To the friends who made the daily grind a little finer: Beth, Felicia, Shani, Rachel and Rachel. To my pledgers, some friends and family, some complete strangers, who took a chance on a young kid. To the Bike-Aid staff and interns: Rachel, Jonathon, Darcy and Janet, and the riders of the 1997 San Francisco route: T, Katy, Omar, Rommel, Courtney, Brian, Danielle, Doreen, Janet, Susie, Alexa, Heather, Sanjeeva, Nancy, Arthur, Amy, Nancy, Jamiel, Jeff, Kara, Dazzle, and Adrienne. To the individuals and families who went out of their way to accommodate my logistical problems to be interviewed. To Nancy and Pam, Kyra and Mike, Sara and Rob, Vaunda, and Sara who made me so at home when I wasn't. Bike on.

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