Lydia Morris-Kliment and her fellow cyclists pedaled through the seemingly-endless rolling hills of rural North Dakota. The mid-July heat beared down on them as they conquered hill after hill with no end in sight.
The sun blazed through a cloudless sky as a nasty headwind countered to impede the team's progress with every strenuous pedal.
"The downhills weren't steep enough to help get us up the next hill," said Morris-Kliment, a rising junior on the Swarthmore women's track & field team. "It was actually torture."
After enduring miles of sun-drenched hills, Morris-Kliment's persistence was finally rewarded. Conquering another grueling climb, she looked in the distance and saw a flat stretch of land, nestled in a beautiful green landscape and dotted by surrounding lakes.
She immediately forgot about the arduous journey, and was overcome with gratitude.
"I had no idea North Dakota was so beautiful," said Morris-Kliment. "It literally took my breath away. And instead of worrying about the next climb, I spent the rest of the ride enamored with what I was passing. It wasn't anything extravagant like Glacier National Park, but it was so peaceful."
On June 7, Morris-Kliment joined 30 fellow cyclists from Bike the US for MS on a 4,295-mile trek across 15 states to raise funds for those battling multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing inflammation and damage to nerve fibers.
Connecting Bar Harbor, Maine to Seattle, Washington, the 71-day journey is scheduled to finish on August 16.
The first half of the Northern Tier Bike Route stretches from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River, riding through Niagara Falls, the upper mid-west and Great Lakes Region. The second half, connecting Minnesota to Seattle, includes the Great Plains, Badlands, Rocky Mountain ranges, Glacier National Park, and endless acres of farmland in between.
Amounting to 164,365 feet of total elevation gain, the team averages anywhere from 50-100 miles per day, with several days eclipsing the century mark. At night, the cyclists camp in tents or sleep in local churches and community centers.
"While biking so many miles every day presents its challenges, I've enjoyed seeing parts of our country I otherwise would never get to see," said Morris-Kliment. " We've gone through many mountain ranges, including the White Mountains, Green Mountains, Adirondacks, The Rocky's and we are about to go through the Cascades."
Despite its natural beauty and landscape, the cross-country expedition has not been without its challenges and tragedies. Biking 4,295 miles across the country is not only a demanding athletic endeavor, but presents its own dangers along the way. Several riders have had to drop out due to accidents and injuries, while the team tragically lost one teammate in a fatal car accident in Illinois.
Three weeks into the trip, Morris-Kliment's mother had to go home after experiencing atrial fibrillation on the side of the road. Morris-Kliment originally accompanied her on the trip to support her long-standing goal to bike across America. She was only supposed to ride with her mom for half the journey, but decided to complete the entire trip after her mom dropped out early. Her mom was taken to the hospital and has recovered since returning home.
"I needed to carry on and finish the country in her honor," said Morris-Kliment. "I'm finishing this ride for my Mom, my teammates, those living with MS and other life altering auto-immune diseases, and in honor of my late teammate who will never make it to Seattle."
For Morris-Kliment, one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey has been her newly found community. She has met several extraordinary people along the way, while forming a strong bond with her teammates.
After pushing the limits through the elements and unforgiving terrain, her most rewarding part of each day is pulling into camp - celebrating and having a meal with her teammates.
"It feels like coming home," said Morris-Kliment. "Same with dinner. People who were once perfect strangers now feel like family. As the days blend together, I can't remember every campground or church I've stayed at, but I know perfectly how happy cooking and eating with my teammates makes me feel."
While cycling is often seen as an individual sport, this journey has been a true team effort for Morris-Kliment and her fellow cyclists.
On the road, everyone looks out for one another. Morris-Kliment admittedly had little cycling experience before joining, tagging along mainly to support her mother. But when her mom had to return home, she leaned heavily on her teammates, who supported her at every pedal.
The group's riders and route leaders have passed their experience along to Morris-Kliment, teaching her how to ride more efficiently, care for her bike, and handle the challenges of the road. In turn, they all support each other, making sure no one is ever left behind.
"I've relied on my teammates so much," said Morris-Kliment, "especially since my Mom had to go home. We place our lives in each other's hands everyday on the road. I wouldn't make it without them."
Over the 71-day journey, rest days are few and far between - only seven, to be exact. For Morris-Kliment and her teammates, these days are used as service opportunities. Every week and a half to two weeks, the team puts a pause on its journey and takes time to help out locals living with multiple sclerosis.
These service days look different depending on the community and its needs. Her team has spent days painting decks, cleaning houses, doing yard work, building ramps, and more. During their time in the Great Lakes Region, the team also visited the Cleveland Clinic Lab, which researches MS, and the MS Achievement Center in Minnesota.
"These service days have been a highlight of the trip," said Morris-Kliment. "I love connecting with new communities and each experience reminds me that this journey is so much bigger than myself."
As the remaining miles shrink and her team pushes closer and closer to Seattle, Morris-Kliment feels overcome with a sense of gratitude.
She had struggled through the rolling hills of North Dakota, battling the mid-summer heat and harsh headwinds. Now resting at the top of the hill, she was able to appreciate the surrounding beauty, while feeling grateful for the miles ahead.
"That moment really changed my trip," said Morris-Kliment. "I spent more time experiencing my surroundings, enjoying the company of my teammates, and appreciating my body for enabling me to see parts of our country I probably wouldn't have ever seen otherwise.
"The past weeks have been a continuous practice of radical gratitude. How blessed I am to have legs capable of pedaling, how lucky I am to have food and drink to nourish myself with, how fortunate I am to struggle with a challenge of my own choosing. This blessing became abundantly clear throughout the trip, especially as we lost teammates."
To learn more about Bike the US for MS, meet Morris-Kliment's team or support to their cause, visit its
website.
