In just one month’s time, 190 riders will cumulatively bike a total of 60,000 miles to spread the message: climate change is the most urgent problem we face today, and it’s up to us to take action. Our 4-woman team with the alias of “Lean Green Two-Wheeled Machines” will be riding on behalf of Earthjustice, a recently added beneficiary of the fundraising efforts associated with the ride. In December, Earthjustice became one of the 30 teams participating in this 5-day bike journey, thanks to a recent partnership between Earthjustice and Climate Ride. Both non-profits focus on inspiring and empowering citizens to work toward a sustainable and clean energy future.

Throughout this biking journey, we hope to demonstrate that daily changes in our routine can drastically reduce our carbon footprint. By altering our lifestyles, we can make a big difference.

Our dynamic team members each bring passion for the environment and love for the outdoors:

• Erica Gulseth is the online fundraising manager of Earthjustice and has been an avid biker for years. After completing her first century ride, she was excited and inspired to finally participate in Climate Ride.
• Jessica Knoblauch, another team member, is our newest edition, with a recent interest in biking. She is our organization’s Content Producer/Associate Editor and brings climate change impacts to the public ear through weekly podcasts and interviews with activists like Bill McKibben.
• Lily Gilbert is a current graduate student at the University of San Francisco, where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Management, and as an environmental consultant she helps integrate sustainability measures into all projects.
• I also am pursuing my MS in Environmental Management and work in the Earthjustice marketing department. My goal is to build lasting partnerships to make a bigger impact; specifically with fantastic partners like Climate Ride.

Our training continues each week with 5,000 feet of elevation gain, but the pain is only temporary. Biking through towering redwoods and following streams is just one of the many reminders of why we do what we do: preservation and protection of nature is what is most important.