my name is Dustin Barrientes and i'm from Fredericksburg, Tx. right now i'm a junior in school for Economics, though, i don't really have any interest in persuing much related to eco after college. i just want to eventually open up a bike shop, because bikes are really the only thing i want to do. as the saying goes, "the quickest way to make a million bucks in the bike industry is to start with two million." fine with me. it's not about the money, and i don't understand the idea of doing something just to be wealthy. a friend of mine is a bike mechanic capable of wrenching at World Cup races; no job, and no worries in the world except whether or not his tires are at 29psi. that's the life i want. what's the point of going through life being stressed every second of every minute? that's no fun.

To be honest, the first thing I thought about when reading the article in the Daily Texan was, "Man,that would be an awesome ride." Then it occurred to me that it was more than a ride, it was a chance to raise money for a very worthy cause. My mom and my grandfather both had cancer, and eventually it took over my grandfather's body. Mom is still working her 2 jobs and relaxing very little. Obviously, the cancer has not slowed her down at all. 3 years participating in the Ride for the Roses helped me realize that raising funds was not a chore, more of a challenge that really cannot be lost. And thus, raising the funds for Texas 4000 will be quite the test, but the outcome is sure to be nothing short of remarkable.