Raise High The Roof Beam, Carpenters

I couldn't resist using the partial title as a means for introduction to this post, as J.D. Salinger is one of my favorite authors. If you've read any of his short stories, books, or even reviews of either, it becomes readily apparent that Salinger fashioned situations which not only revealed profound insights into his characters, but also into himself.

As I've recently reviewed my own writings, whether they be works of fiction or the banalities of some of my cycling posts, much of who I am and the passions that I exude are in my words and the topics I choose.

Given that, this week The Columbus Dispatch featured the story of some socially and environmentally conscious individuals who have brought a whole new meaning to the cycling term, hammerin'!

Hammer Time
To those in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket, the summer usually means a respite from school work, hanging out at the pool, catching up with friends, or working some odd summer job.

For the participants in Bike & Build, its an opportunity to "pedal to end poverty housing."

Groups of 30 young adults embark from various coastal locations cycling across the country and building affordable housing along the way. The group that was recently in the Columbus, OH area left Providence, RI on June 7th.

In its fourth year, over 400 individuals have participated, collectively raising over $750,000 for affordable housing groups like Habitat for Humanity.

You can follow certain individuals on their journeys through their respective blogs. Here are just a few:

Rachel Mollica (Central US)
Matt Vanderpool (NC to San Diego)
Caitlin Graboski (Southern US)
Rachel Hokanson (Providence to SF)

If you'd like more information on the group, are interested in participating, or would like to read some more blogs, head over to bikeandbuild.org.