“Someday” is finally here for an ISU custodian. Joyce Bricker, employed by Iowa State for over 30 years, is finally beginning her dream adventure with a cross-country bike trip.

“Someday. I’m gonna not wait for someday,” Bricker said. “Do whatever that thing it is you want to do and do it.”

Bricker began planning this trip in 2009 and will leave March 6, 2013. She finally decided to no longer wait to accomplish this dream and advises others to do the same.

Bricker took up cross-country biking because of her neighbor.

“He encouraged me to do this,” Bricker said. “He accomplished 38 RAGBRAIs and finished riding when he was 84 because of his Alzheimers. I really wish I can tell him about me doing this trip, but he doesn’t remember that he used to bike.”

She will be biking with Bubba’s Coast To Coast Ride and will bike through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to reach her final destination: Florida.

This trip will take one month to finish, and the bikers will ride about 85 miles a day.

“One lady has done this four times before; she scares me,” Bricker said.

During the times the bikers are not cycling, they will be getting to know each other.

“Bubba encouraged us to email one another and write up an introduction of ourselves so you have some kind of notion as to who you are going to be riding with,” Bricker said.

Bricker has been doing bike tours since 1980 and said the average age of the bikers on this trip is 61.

Bricker explained that because this trip is in the middle of spring semester, not many young college bikers can do it.

“I am lucky enough to have worked for Iowa State University for so long that they will allow me to take this much time off,” Bricker said.

Bikers pay a fee to be a part of this trip.

Steve Lauber, employee of Bike World in Ames, gave suggestions as to what Bricker will need for her trip.

Concerning her bike, Lauber suggests for her to ride, “the one she likes, but a nice road bike would be best.”

Bricker knows the dangers of biking; she has biked through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ne-braska, Montreal and more.

“I’ve been hit by a truck!” Bricker said. “One person has died [while on a trip with RAGBRAI].”

Of course, Bricker hopes to never see an accident, but she knows it happens.

“Bubba was a police officer before he retired, so he really thinks of safety,” Bricker said.

Over the years, Bricker has learned the dos and don’ts.

“Never ride alone when riding a bike,” Bricker said.

Bricker is very excited to finally accomplish her cross-country dream. “My husband is nervous; he said if I wanted to give up he would come pick me up,” Bricker said. “But I never gave up a ride before,” Bricker said.