Starting on April 13, all that training was put to the test. The Ride Across California began near the state’s border with Arizona. The temperature was about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The riders traveled 17 miles—the shortest distance of any day during the trip.
On the other days, they biked for 30 to 60 miles, taking breaks for snacks and lunch. Parents and volunteers watched the kids closely and made sure they had plenty of water. In the evening, everyone set up tents at campsites. One of Elsa’s favorite memories was listening to Bueker tell ghost stories around the campfire. But most nights, she was mainly focused on getting some rest.
“You’re just so tired,” Elsa explains. “You just want to eat dinner and then conk out on your bed.”
The riders’ biggest challenge came on the fifth day of the trip. They had to pedal up a section of Route 78 called Banner Grade, which climbs into the mountains.
“Banner Grade is basically 6 miles uphill, and it’s really twisty,” Elsa says. “So you bike a long time and you’re like, ‘Oh man, I only went this far?’”