Hi, my name is Tucker Risman. I am 22 years old and am originally from Greenwich, CT. For the last 4.5 years I have been in NC studying at Duke University. I have a degree in Civil Engineering and just completed my Masters in Engineering Management. I plan to head back up the east coast to start working after doing some traveling and participating in Bike & Build. In addition to cycling, I like to cook, attend any food festival, tailgate, and build just about things.
I have wanted to take a trip like Bike & Build since I was in sixth grade and made my first bucket list. As I was getting ready to graduate and start the next chapter in my life, I decided now is as good a time as any to cross a few things off that list. I talked with a number of my friends who have biked cross-country and one of them told me about her experience with Bike & Build. I knew it was what I wanted, traveling with a group of people around my age, helping on affordable housing builds during days off, and getting to see the outdoors all the way. Growing up I spent my summers at a sleep away camp in Maine where I fell in love with camping and anything outdoors. I hope Bike & Build will remind me of that experience, as I meet new people and build similar friendships. THE ROUTE Date City, State Mi. 05/10 Jacksonville, FL 0 05/11 BUILD DAY 0 05/12 Jacksonville, FL 0 05/13 St Augustine, FL 40 05/14 Palatka, FL 39 05/15 Lake City, FL 78 05/16 Perry, FL 74 05/17 Tallahassee, FL 58 05/18 BUILD DAY 0 05/19 Apalachicola, FL 82 05/20 Panama City, FL 61 05/21 De Funiak Springs, FL 63 05/22 Pensacola, FL 98 05/23 Mobile, AL 96 05/24 BUILD DAY 0 05/25 Biloxi, MS 72 05/26 New Orleans, LA 69 05/27 BUILD DAY 0 05/28 DAY OFF 0 05/29 BUILD DAY 0 05/30 Baton Rouge, LA 115 05/31 BUILD DAY 0 06/1 Melville, LA 67 06/2 Alexandria, LA 73 06/3 Natchitoches, LA 53 06/4 Elm Grove, LA 53 06/5 Carthage, TX 70 06/6 Athens, TX 93 06/7 Dallas, TX 74 06/8 BUILD DAY 0 06/9 BUILD DAY 0 06/10 Decatur, TX 99 06/11 Wichita Falls, TX 92 06/12 Lawton, OK 59 06/13 Altus, OK 58 06/14 Memphis, TX 72 06/15 Amarillo, TX 107 06/16 DAY OFF 0 06/17 Dalhart, TX 80 06/18 Clayton, NM 47 06/19 Mosquero, NM 89 06/20 Las Vegas, NM 96 06/21 Santa Fe, NM 66 06/22 BUILD DAY 0 06/23 BUILD DAY 0 06/24 Abiqui Lake, NM 62 06/25 Dulce, NM 65 06/26 Durango, CO 111 06/27 BUILD DAY 0 06/28 BUILD DAY 0 06/29 Montezuma Creek, UT 88 06/30 Kayenta, AZ 90 07/1 Kaibito, AZ 66 07/2 Page, AZ 37 07/3 Jacob Lake, AZ 111 07/4 Grand Canyon North Rim, AZ 43 07/5 DAY OFF 0 07/6 Fredonia, AZ 79 07/7 Zion National Park, UT 41 07/8 St George, UT 39 07/9 BUILD DAY 0 07/10 Overton, NV 94 07/11 Las Vegas, NV 72 07/12 BUILD DAY 0 07/13 Pahrump, NV 81 07/14 Furnace Creek, CA 62 07/15 Panamint Springs, CA 55 07/16 Lone Pine, CA 50 07/17 Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek, CA 63 07/18 Lee Vining, CA 64 07/19 Yosemite National Park, CA 76 07/20 DAY OFF 0 07/21 Modesto, CA 116 07/22 BUILD DAY 0 07/23 Pleasanton, CA 92 07/24 Hollister, CA 86 07/25 Monterey, CA 47 Total Mileage: 4083 |
My love for construction has always led me to volunteer with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. It is a form of volunteering I enjoy to do, but also a charity I believe in. A home is something I feel everyone should have. People should be able to go home, feel safe, be with loved ones, and build memories. I grew up in a community where affordable housing wasn’t a visible issue and as a result wasn’t something that came up in conversation as much as other causes. However, I have spent a lot of time in New York City and traveling to places where affordable housing is a problem. Leading up to and during my participation in Bike & Build I hope to help educate people about this problem. Following my trip I hope to build a career in real estate development, during my career I would like to make affordable housing a consideration each time I look at a new development project.
I am really excited for Bike & Build to start. I can’t wait to see how the country changes as I travel. I can’t wait to spend nights around a fire looking up at the stars. I can’t wait to be biking and come across something so unexpected that I have to stop and take a picture. I have loved biking since I was very little and went for long rides with my dad. As I have grown and continued my love for biking, I have built up this trip in my mind. The only part of the trip I am afraid of is that it won’t live up to my expectations. However, I can’t wait to get underway and begin the adventure. |