Chandler couple riding Sea to Sea to aid poor

The six-day-per-week routine goes something like this: Awaken at random soccer field or campsite by 5:30 a.m.. Pack, take down tents and load nearly 200 people's clothing and equipment into a truck. Eat, make a sack lunch and get on the bike between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Ride an average of 72 miles per day (depending on weather and terrain), get to the next stop before dark, help those in need, and set up tents and equipment by dark. Eat, then sleep until 5 a.m.

Repeat for two months and 3,881 miles, from Seattle to the New Jersey shore.

"This was not on my plan or in my knowledge of my future," Chandler resident Liz Meyer said in a phone interview Wednesday from Baker City, Ore.

Not for her, her husband Dave, or Dave's father, Larry.

What's the saying? Life happens after you make plans?

In this case, the lifestyle is temporary.

The Meyers are among 218 riders in the Sea to Sea bike tour that is pedaling across the country to take donations, stop in towns to perform community service projects and raise money (the goal is $10,000 per person, each of the Meyers is at $7,000) to fight poverty.

The riders are flanked by two large trucks carrying their supplies, plus medical and support vehicles in case of accidents or riders needing assistance. In a couple of towns, there are even police escorts.

There are two goals: Raise money and make sure all are accounted for before dark.

"The great thing is there's not a race," Dave Meyer said. "It's not about beating anyone, it's about finishing."

The program is spearheaded by their Christian Reformed Church, but the Meyers, the only Arizona residents riding, said they aren't doing it strictly in the name of religion.

There's also the youth factor. Larry is 59 and lives in Wisconsin, while Dave is 25 and Liz is 24.

A flier came in the mail one year ago and the Meyers said yes. Liz had spent a month in Haiti doing community service projects, but that didn't involve two months of roughing it every day. They started riding bikes during lunch hours, longer rides one night a week when possible, and drove to Tucson on weekends to train on hills.

Their Chandler apartment lease conveniently expired in June. They put their belongings and two cars either in storage or left them with friends and flew to Seattle.

"It's the kind of opportunity you have to grasp a hold of," Liz said. "We don't have kids or a mortgage, the things that will weigh us down later."

There are 18-year-old college kids and 77-year-old seniors among this group, which will pick up more riders once it reaches Denver in two weeks.

There are 30 project stops in towns such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Madison, Wis., and Fremont, Neb. The groups collects donations, serve meals to the poor or do chores for those who struggle physically.

"The cool thing is being in the towns and you go buy a smoothie and they ask what you're doing and they're really interested to know why would you do this," Dave said. "People have donated $10 on the spot and have been incredulous and don't believe you.

"It's hard for me to believe, let alone anyone else."

Six weeks to go, through heat, humidity, rain and some steep mountain treks. The Meyers will return to the East Valley on Sept.2 in time to celebrate their two-year anniversary.

They'll have to find another apartment in which to create the next stage of life, but it won't be a big deal if they give others a new lease on their own.

"Selfishly, I wanted to enjoy being 'unconnected,'" Dave said. "Just the simple things, like we don't know what's going on in the presidential race in the last week - not checking e-mail everyday.

"The world keeps going without us."

Sea to Sea Bike Tour

What: A 3,881-mile bike ride from Seattle to New Jersey

When: June 30 through Aug. 30

Why: Raise money and perform community service to help poverty

For more information, visit www.seatosea.org

Chandler residents Dave and Liz Meyer are blogging along the route at

www.bikermeyers.blogspot.com