Members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity rode their bicycles down Northwest 83rd Street Monday morning in two parallel lines.
They arrived at the ARC of Alachua County, an organization for the developmentally disabled, and were greeted by cheers from ARC residents and staff.
The students were riding for Push America's "Gear Up Florida," an 800-mile cycling trip from Miami to Tallahassee with the purpose of raising money for the mentally and physically handicapped.
The group of cyclists is made up of brothers in Pi Kappa Phi from schools all over the country.
Since May 18, they have been riding their bicycles and making stops in cities like Clewiston, Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando.
This was one of the many "friendship visits" they will make on their way up Florida, said Cody Bourque, crew member and on-the-road public coordinator.
Dick Bradley, executive director of the ARC, helped get ready for lunch and watched as cyclists mingled with residents of the ARC.
"They've been very generous to us," Bradley said. "We really appreciate them and their support."
The cyclists average 70 miles per day. Monday was a relatively light day: They were awake at 6 a.m. and on the road by daybreak for the 45-mile ride from Ocala to Gainesville.
The cyclists only had one minor complication.
"You know the rumble strips on the side of the road that keep your attention if you happen to fall asleep?" asked Jeff Altieri, one of the riders. "That's like hell for us."
The cyclists' journey could not be accomplished without their crew. The seven crew members assist the cyclists by providing CPR training and bicycle maintenance.
The crew also drives ahead of cyclists to mark turns and set up water stations every seven miles.
The "Gear Up Florida" team donates money at all of their stops.
They gave a $750 check to the ARC on Monday, and the cyclists raised all the donations before they hit the road.
The riders head for Jacksonville today, followed by Live Oak and Tallahassee, a total of 245 miles in three days.
However, Altieri has high spirits and is proud to spend his summer assisting people with disabilities.
"I'm not sacrificing my summer at all because I'm getting more out of this than I would just sitting on the beach somewhere," he said. "Maybe I'll have a better beach body when I get done with it."
