Biking for the Developing World

By Dan Estabrook - July 15, 2008 (TNN) A group of recent college grads has taken to the road this summer to make a difference, with not much more than their road bikes and sleeping bags.  Michael Delorenzo, Tyler Heishman, Keith Kolakowski, Frederick Piumelli, Bryan Stinchfield and James Watson left Connecticut about 5 weeks ago and plan to arrive in San Francisco in early August.  While the ride alone would suffice for most athletes, this team decided to ride thousands of miles to spread the word and raise funds and awareness for microfinance. The six are all 2008 graduates of Bentley, Bucknell, and Fordham. The men were introduced to the idea of micro-finance through classes they were attending at their respective colleges and the group decided to form MicroBikeUSA.  Their fundraising will support ACCION International, whose mission is to to give people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty.

By providing microloans, business training and other financial services to poor men and women who start their own businesses, ACCION's partner lending organizations help people work their own way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride. With just a little capital, people can grow their own businesses. They can earn enough to afford basics like running water, better food and schooling for their children.

I spoke to Tyler and Freddy this afternoon as they took a break from their journey in Tribune, Kansas.  Tyler explained to me the micro-finance concept: "While micro-finance has been around for over 30 years, it's being viewed as a new form of philanthropy that helps people create sustainable businesses in a developing economy."  Freddy added that unlike a hand-out, micro-finance can help farmers and others in agricultural economies where their success benefits the local economy as a whole.  "And they maintain a sense of pride and dignity," he told me. Thus far, the team has raised $30,000 for ACCION and hope to hit $50,000 by the time they reach the West Coast. They have made their trip a moving classroom and have engaged with people from all walks of life they have found along the way.  Both mentioned the curiosity of people across the U.S. who see six slightly disheveled young guys on bikes.  Many have been willing to listen to their story, contribute food and sleeping space, and help spread the word about their ride.  A fireman in New York even invited into his fire house to cool off and rest for five hours during a recent heat ride through the area. As for particularly memorable moments, Tyler told me that due to weather, the team actually rode 125 miles in the middle of the night several days ago.  Freddy mentioned the sense of accomplishment he has had riding long days when early on, the group doubted its ability to even complete the ride.  As recently as this morning, the group was awakened when the restaurant lawn on which they slept suddenly came alive with water sprinklers. "In the first two days, with one of us doubled over with heat stroke, we actually did not believe that we could do this," Freddy reports.  However, they have developed a system where one rider is the "leader of the day," and that this move added much-needed structure and made them a team.  The leader is responsible for setting pace, determining breaks and meal times, and where the group will spend the night. Food is perhaps the most important element of deciding all of the above.  "Everything we do is based on how empty our stomachs are," Tyler chimed in. While they are proud of supporting a worthy cause, the most important take-away has been learning from one other, especially in terms of managing each other through planning and decision making. "I've learned to appreciate having fun while tackling a more serious issue," Tyler mentioned. All of us at Tonic couldn't agree more -- it is what we are all about, after all! Members of the team will head off to the working world at the end of the summer, so this newfound appreciation is perfectly timed. You can learn more and contribute to MicroBikeUSA here.  The team is maintaining a blog and photo library of the trip.  Check them out! All photos courtesy of MicroBikeUSA.