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.