'Bike and Build' cyclists rest their legs in Linton

Sean Findlay shows how he would oil up the chain. The cyclists must perform maintenance on the bikes daily to keep them in good shape and to prevent accidents. (Greene County Daily World/By Julie Preble) [Order this photo]

A group of 32 cyclists rode 46 miles to Linton on Saturday afternoon and spent the night in the Saron United Church of Christ.

The group left Bedford, around 7 a.m. on Saturday morning and arrived in Linton throughout the afternoon. They continued their journey west by cycling 83 miles to Effingham, Ill. on Sunday.

The cyclists are riding for an organization called 'Bike and Build', and they also work closely with Habitat for Humanity.

The first cyclists to arrive at the Saron Church. From left: Clarissa Samiley (Victorville, Ca.), Sean Findlay, Ryan Ellis, Libby Cavagnaro and George Zisiadis. (Greene County Daily World/Julie Preble) [Order this photo]

Local Habitat board member Harry Huber was happy to see the cyclists arrive in Linton.

"You meet incredible people in your life...I look forward to this every year," Huber said.

The Habitat chapter provided dinner for the cyclists at Pizza Villa, and Huber, Tom Fisher and Rodney Walker provided breakfast on Sunday morning.

Clarissa Samiley demonstrates how daily maintenance is performed on the bikes. This maintence is crucial on such a long trip. (Greene County Daily World/Julie Preble) [Order this photo]

It is through Habitat that the Saron Church became involved with the Bike and Build organization. The church has been providing hospitality to the cyclists for the past three years, and Huber said that involvement would continue as long as the organization asks.

The cyclists left the church early Sunday morning to continue pedaling across America and creating awareness for the affordable housing crisis.

Their journey began in Providence, R.I. on June 3, and it will end on August 13 when the group crosses the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco between 12 and 2 p.m.

Cyclist George Zisiadis inspects his bike to make sure it is ready for the next leg of the journey. (Greene County Daily World/Julie Preble) [Order this photo]

This 4,075-mile road trip has the cyclists riding across 18 states and helping out with 10 different Habitat for Humanity build sites across the country.

Cyclist Sean Findlay, from Yorktown, Va., said that he had always wanted to take a road trip across America.

"What better way to see the country than without windows," cyclist Ryan Ellis added. Ellis is from El Dorado Hills, Ca., and he has been cycling for the past couple of years.

Finding the Bike and Build organization was a way for Ellis to combine his passion for cycling with his desire to create awareness for the affordable housing crisis that is afflicting so many communities across America.

Cyclist George Zisiadis, from New York City, mentioned a surprising fact about the housing crisis. He said that there is no county in the U.S. where an individual making minimum wage can buy or rent a house at fair market value.

Fellow cyclist Libby Cavagnaro, from Bradford, Pa., added that the individual would have to earn at least $17 and hour to be able to afford that house.

This is the kind of problem that the Bike and Build organization is working alleviate and, according to their according their web site, the organization funds projects that have been planned and completed by young adults.

In the past six years, the organization has donated $1,643,145 and has pedaled more than 3.1 million miles.

To learn more about the Bike and Build organization, track the progress of the riders or donate money to the cause, visit the web site at http://bikeandbuild.org.