Ride Like A Hurricane!

Arthur DeWitt Start Date: Dec 11, 2020 - End Date: Jun 10, 2021
  • Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
  • Denver, CO, United States of America
  • Grand Marais, MN, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Arthur DeWitt Start Date: Dec 11, 2020 - End Date: Jun 10, 2021
Hello, friends!  My name's Thomas, and I'm a graduating highschool senior who bikes like a maniac.  Earlier this summer, I had a serious riding accident and damaged my bike beyond repair; my front rim was bent in half, my shock internals were crushed, and my fork was ripped out of my head tube, destroying the frame.

Since I spend most of my time in school or at work, mountain biking has been a crucial escape for me.  It enables me to escape the chaos of everyday life and clear my head, and also provides a critical connection to nature, to say nothing of it being ridiculously fun, and I've become a passionate rider since taking it up.  It's taken me all sorts of places; for example, the hills and cliffs around the Great Lakes, in the photo above.  When I regained consciousness after my crash and was aware enough to realize that I had wrecked my bike, I was devastated.  My access to the sport was ruined, and the thing I've grown so passionate about was thrown out of my reach.  I'm trying to save everything I have for college, and my job hours have been cut due to the pandemic; I simply can't afford to buy a new bike.  I've dreamed of joining or starting a college MTB team, but now that dream is out of reach - I simply don't have anything to ride.  I'm supposed to race the mountain biking leg of an offroad triathlon this summer; now, I'll be lucky if I can find a decent bike to borrow or rent somewhere, and my team is thinking of replacing me because I don't have anything to ride.  A new bike will mean that I can keep my place on the team; even more than that, it will give me the chance to keep pursuing my dream of making a college team.  Most importantly, it'll give me the chance to get out and ride hard - that's what matters most to me.

Thank you so, so much for taking the time to read a little of my story.  If you choose to donate - thank you.  I'm deeply grateful to you for trying to help me out here.  It means the world to me.
  • Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
  • Denver, CO, United States of America
  • Grand Marais, MN, United States of America