Each  year around Earth Day, I find myself asking the same question: am I  doing this again? And each year, the answer ends up being yes.

This September, I’ll take on my 16th Climate Ride — 1,000 miles over seven days in support of the Sierra Club. The  distance and pace are familiar by now, but this year’s ride will look a  little different.

Each  day, I’ll ride roughly 145 miles on my own. Then, at the end of the day,  I’ll switch bikes and ride another 25 miles on a tandem with my wife,  Lisa. It’s our way of marking our 25th anniversary, and it adds a  different rhythm to the ride. The long solo miles are still there, but  the day finishes with something shared.

The  route will take me through three national parks — New River Gorge,  Mammoth Cave, and Great Smoky Mountains — before finishing in Columbia,  South Carolina. It’s not the most direct way to get there, but that’s  never really been the point. The goal is to cover ground in a way that  brings attention to the broader challenge and supports the work being  done to address it.

I’ve  been doing this ride long enough to know what’s coming. There will be  long days, changing weather, and stretches where the miles feel harder  than they should. But over time, I’ve learned that the challenge is only  part of it. What keeps me coming back is the opportunity to take  something I enjoy and use it to support work that matters.

The  Sierra Club continues to play an important role in protecting our air,  water, and communities, especially at a time when progress is far from  guaranteed. Climate change can feel overwhelming when viewed at scale,  but breaking it down into something manageable — whether that’s miles on  a bike or steps taken locally — makes it easier to stay engaged and  keep moving forward.

This year, I’ll also be working toward a fundraising goal of $16,000.  That support goes directly to advancing the Sierra Club’s work, and  it’s what turns this ride from a personal challenge into something with a  broader impact.