Elk Grove student part of cross-country ride

Kelsey Lyles, 20, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, rolled into Millennium Park in Chicago about noon Thursday as one of 28 riders in this year's Illini 4000 cross-country bicycle ride to raise money to fight cancer.

Lyles, of Elk Grove Village, said the biggest surprise of the ride so far was that she hasn't had to camp out a single night, as churches and other groups have provided more assistance than anticipated, including access to regular showers.

“I was not expecting that at all. I thought it was going to be more roughing it.”

She expects that to change though, as the ride, which kicked off May 23 in New York City's Central Park, winds through the more sparsely populated western states on the way to an anticipated July 31 conclusion at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Lyles gets a two-night break with her family in Elk Grove Village before going back on the road. The time will include a ride in Chicago with friends and family. Many of the riders are from the Chicago area, including Katie Lindsey from Glenview and Ellie Spitz from Buffalo Grove.

The journey west resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Lyles, a global studies and Spanish major who is considering a career in law, said she had twin motivations for the ride. “It sounded exciting and I know a lot of people who have cancer.”

The emotional highlight so far has been the challenge of biking up and down the Appalachian Mountains, she said, especially Whitehorse.

Information about the ride, which so far has raised more than $120,000, is at illini4000.org. Information includes biographies of riders, blogs, route map, and a chance to donate.